Issuance of BiH visa to Citizens of Kosovo

Since March 2012, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the authority to grant a BiH visa on a separate sheet of paper to holders of passport of the Republic of Kosovo.

BiH Embassies in Skopje, Podgorica and Belgrade are authorized to issue visa to holders of Kosovo passport, after receiving the approval from the MoFA of BiH.

Apart from a filled out application form for BiH visa, the applicants needs to have an invitation letter from the host/organiser.

In case the host/organiser is an accredited mission to BiH  (EU Delegation, Embassies, OSCE, CoE etc), the host/organiser needs to send a letter to the MoFA requesting BiH visa. The letter needs to contain the names of the persons invited, the purpose of the visit and the time period for the visit. Within three working days the MoFA shall provide feedback to the host/organiser with a copy to the three BiH Embassies concerned. The host/organiser needs to inform the invitees and ask them to apply for a BiH visa at one of the above mentioned BiH Embassies. The BiH Embassy/Consular section then need up to three working days for security check and if cleared proceed with issueing the visa.

The visa applicant has to come to the BiH Embassy in person (exempted are those who are holders of diplomatic and service passports). The visa applicant do not need to come in person to pick up the passport.

In case of TAIEX, the invitation needs to come from the host in the country (institution, ministry, agency etc). No need for any note verbal from the EC or EU Delegation side.

In case the visit is private (visit of friends and relatives or business related), the invitation letter needs to come from the invitor and be stamped by the Service for Foreigners Affairs (SFA). This can be done in Sarajevo, but also in any of their field offices.

Besides the invitation letter, the normal supporting documents, such as a valid travel document, a photo, and a receipt of paid fee in the amount of 31 EUR etc., needs to be provided together with the application.

There is plenty of information available on the websites of the BiH Embassies. The staff of the Embassy can also further support on what is necessary.

According to the BiH MoFA, they have 10 times more visa applications in the last two months compared to the same period last year. So far, only one applicant was rejected. All applicants are cross checked with the database for Interpol warrant, pending court proceedings and previous deportation.

As for any visa regime, it takes a week or two. Therefore, we would recommend everybody to apply 10 working days before the event/seminar in order to be on the safe side.
 

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