Bosnia-Herzegovina
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Unclear restrictions - it is not clear to what extent restrictions apply.
The types of restriction are:
- HIV testing/disclosure required for residence.
- Ban on residence.
Restrictions on entry to Bosnia-Herzegovina
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have any HIV-related entry restrictions.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Bosnia-Herzegovina
It is unclear whether Bosnia and Herzegovina imposes restrictions on short-term stay of people living with HIV.
UNAIDS reports that HIV testing is required for work and study permits.
Detailed documentation required for each visa type is available in the Service for Foreign Affairs website. Work and study visas generally require a ‘medical attestation issued no latter than three months prior to the date of submitted application indicating that the alien does not suffer from a disease presenting a threat to public health in BiH’. It is not clear if this would include HIV testing and disclosure.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Bosnia-Herzegovina
It is unclear whether Bosnia and Herzegovina imposes restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV.
According to UNAIDS, Bosnia and Herzegovina requires HIV testing for work and study permits. HIV testing is also required for residency permits (longer than 90 days), and permits are denied on the basis of HIV status.
Detailed documentation required for each visa type is available in the Service for Foreign Affairs website. Work and study visas generally require a ‘medical attestation issued no latter than three months prior to the date of submitted application indicating that the alien does not suffer from a disease presenting a threat to public health in BiH’. It is not clear if this would include HIV testing and disclosure.
According to the Rulebook on the issuance of long stay visas (Visa D) and the procedure of issuing these visas, ‘a medical certificate proving that the alien does not suffer from a contagious disease if coming from the territory on which there is an epidemic of a contagious disease.’
Treatment access in Bosnia-Herzegovina
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, it is not clear whether non-nationals are able to access this treatment in the same way as nationals.
Residents with valid permits can access Bosnia’s public healthcare services, which are organised at the entity level: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, each with its own health administration. Public healthcare covers basic and emergency care, general consultations, maternity services, and preventive care.
Contributions to the national health insurance scheme are mandatory and may be arranged through employment or paid voluntarily, depending on one’s resident status.
Once registered with health insurance, residents receive a healthcare card, which grants access to state-run hospitals and clinics for a variety of services, though additional fees may apply for certain treatments or specialist care.
General practitioners (GPs) provide primary care and can refer patients to specialised services.
For EU residents or those visiting from countries with reciprocal health agreements, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may cover emergency services during short-term stays in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A full list of HIV testing centres in the country is available here.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Bosnia-Herzegovina page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Migrants are able to access HIV services | N/A |
Refugees and asylum seekers
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
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This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.
