Bosnia and Herzegovina Citizenship for Special Merit — How to Obtain It
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Bosnia and Herzegovina has a special procedure for granting citizenship to foreign nationals considered to provide significant benefit to the country. From the beginning of 2023 through July 2026, 43 applications were approved on this basis, most of them involving business and sports, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Special Procedure for Obtaining Bosnian Citizenship
A Bosnia and Herzegovina passport can be obtained under a simplified procedure if the authorities consider a foreign national’s activities to be of particular value to the country. The special procedure is established by Articles 15 and 31 of the Law on Citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The law does not set a fixed minimum investment, require the purchase of real estate, or establish other financial thresholds. Applicants are also exempt from the standard requirements to be over 18, to have held permanent residence in Bosnia and Herzegovina for at least three years, and to renounce their previous citizenship. Such cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Between January 1, 2023, and July 1, 2026, the authorities received 56 applications and approved 43. Of these, 19 were related to business, 17 to sports, three each to science and healthcare, and one to culture. The number of approvals increased slightly, from 12 in 2023 to 13 in 2024 and 15 in 2025. Another three applications were approved in the first six months of 2026.
Requirements for Applicants
The simplified procedure does not remove the main requirements for naturalization. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of one of the languages officially used in the country, have a stable source of income or sufficient funds to support themselves, and meet their tax obligations. The authorities also check criminal records, pending criminal proceedings, and potential risks to national security and public order.
A substantiated recommendation from an authorized body is mandatory. It may be issued by a state ministry, the government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska or Brčko District, the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina, or the chambers of commerce of the Federation and Republika Srpska. Athletes may be recommended by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina or a registered national-level sports federation.
The recommendation must explain how the applicant would benefit Bosnia and Herzegovina and provide supporting evidence. The document does not guarantee approval but is required for the application to be considered.
How to Apply for Bosnia and Herzegovina Citizenship
Applications are submitted to the Council of Ministers through the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The ministry receives the documents, checks whether the file is complete and, if necessary, requests additional information. Once the review is completed, the case is forwarded to the Council of Ministers.
Applicants must provide a birth certificate, proof of current citizenship, documents confirming marital status and registered residence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They also need certificates confirming the absence of a criminal record and pending criminal proceedings, evidence of income or sufficient financial resources, proof that tax obligations have been met, and confirmation of proficiency in one of the languages used in the country. A recommendation from an authorized body and documents demonstrating the applicant’s value to Bosnia and Herzegovina must be submitted separately.
Foreign documents must comply with the country’s requirements for the recognition of official records. Depending on the country of issue, an apostille or consular legalization may be required. Documents in other languages must also be translated in accordance with the applicable rules.
Once the file is complete, the Ministry of Civil Affairs forwards it to the Council of Ministers for a final decision. Official sources do not provide an average processing time for such applications. Immigration advisers sometimes cite an estimated period of 1.5–2 years, but this should not be regarded as guaranteed.
What Bosnia and Herzegovina Citizenship Provides
A Bosnia and Herzegovina passport allows visa-free short-term travel to countries in the Schengen Area. Holders may stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Bosnia and Herzegovina is included on the list of countries whose nationals are exempt from short-stay Schengen visa requirements.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a member of the European Union. It has EU candidate status, meaning its passport does not automatically provide the right to live and work in EU countries under the same conditions as EU citizens. The authorities prepared new regulations governing citizenship for persons of special benefit in the summer of 2026, but they have not yet been adopted.
The country’s economic and political environment should also be taken into account. The IMF forecasts Bosnia and Herzegovina’s GDP to grow by 2% in 2026, following 2.1% growth in 2025, while inflation is expected to reach 5.4%. The fund identifies weak European demand, high energy prices, declining competitiveness and domestic political tensions among the main risks. EU-related reforms are progressing slowly, while cooperation between the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska remains limited. Further uncertainty comes from the general election scheduled for October 2026.