The below services were available in Bosnia and Herzegovina when this page was last updated. Services are subject to change and discontinuation at short notice.
- Information regarding the process of determining refugee status*: UNHCR, Vaša Prava (UNHCR’s free legal aid partner), the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, the Sector for Asylum of the Ministry of Security, and the Border Police;
- Free legal assistance: UNHCR, Vaša Prava (UNHCR’s free legal aid partner), and office of provision of free legal aid under the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina ;
- http://www.mpr.gov.ba/organizacija_nadleznosti/Besplatna_pravna_pomoc/default.aspx?id=12546&langTag=bs-BAInformation and support on legal pathways and family reunification: UNHCR, and Vaša Prava (UNHCR’s free legal aid partner);
- Information on restoration of family links: Red Cross;
- Legal guardianship for unaccompanied and separated children: UNICEF, CSW, BHWI;
- Information if you want to voluntarily return to your home country: IOM;
- Medical attention and access health services: DRC, and the emergency services;
- Sexual and reproductive health care: UNFPA, DRC;
- Food distribution: the Red Cross, IOM, Independent Volunteers;
- Accommodation: UNHCR, IOM, Centres with accommodation capacity;
- Access to education and services for children: UNICEF;
- Access to free online courses for refugees: Coursera via UNHCR and Vaša Prava (UNHCR’s free legal aid partner);
- Psychosocial support and counselling: the Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Initiative, DRC, and UNFPA;
- Interpretation: the Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Initiative, Vaša Prava (UNHCR’s free legal aid partner), IOM.
* The role of UNHCR in Bosnia and Herzegovina does not include receiving and/or processing asylum or resettlement applications. Staff from UNHCR and Vaša Prava BiH (UNHCR’s free legal aid partner) can inform you of how and where you can apply for asylum with the relevant authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the asylum process is administered by the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs and the Sector for Asylum of the Ministry of Security. If you are in need of international protection you first need to express your intent to seek asylum with the Border Police or Service for Foreigners’ Affairs. More information on asylum in Bosnia and Herzegovina is available here.