Bosnia Visa for UAE Residents: Who Needs One, the Schengen and US Visa Rule, and Applying in Abu Dhabi

The short answer: Emiratis can visit Bosnia and Herzegovina for up to 90 days without a visa. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals need a visa, but there is a shortcut: if you hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa, an EU visa or residence permit, or a US visa, you can enter for up to 30 days without a Bosnian visa. Everyone else applies in person at the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Abu Dhabi. A short-stay visa costs €60 (AED 238), paid by card, and processing takes up to 30 days.

Sarajevo, Mostar's old bridge and the Kravice waterfalls are about six hours' flight from Dubai, and Bosnia has become a popular summer trip from the Gulf. Here is what each group of UAE residents needs.

Bosnia visa for UAE residents at a glance

Question	Answer (October 2026)
Emirati passport	No visa, up to 90 days
India, Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka	Visa needed, unless you hold a qualifying Schengen, EU or US visa
Multiple-entry Schengen visa, EU visa or residence permit, or US visa	No Bosnian visa needed, up to 30 days
UAE residence visa	No concession on its own; it decides where you apply
Where to apply	Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Abu Dhabi, in person by appointment
Fee	€60 (AED 238) for a short-stay visa, card only
Processing	Up to 30 days; don't book an appointment within 30 days of departure

Visa-free travel for Emiratis

The Bosnian embassy in Abu Dhabi says UAE nationals are exempt from the visa requirement for stays of up to 90 days. Carry a valid passport, your return ticket and your hotel details. Like every visitor, you can be asked at the border to show that you can support yourself: Bosnian law sets the amount at 150 KM a day, about €77, in cash or cards.

Bosnia's summer visa waiver, which runs from June to September, covers Saudi, Bahraini and Omani citizens. It does not extend to UAE residents of other nationalities.

The Schengen, EU and US visa shortcut

This is the rule that saves most expats a visa application. According to the embassy in Abu Dhabi, foreigners travelling from the UAE who hold any of the following can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina and stay up to 30 days without a Bosnian visa:

• a multiple-entry Schengen visa
• a visa issued by an EU member state
• a residence permit from a Schengen or EU country
• a US visa

Three things to watch:

• Single-entry Schengen visas are not on the embassy's list. If yours is single-entry, apply for a Bosnian visa.
• UK visas are not on the list either, so don't rely on one.
• Validity: the embassy's page doesn't spell out how long the visa must remain valid. Travel with it valid for your whole stay, and check with the embassy if in doubt.

If you are planning a European trip anyway, see our Schengen visa guide. A multiple-entry Schengen visa can make Bosnia, Montenegro and Albania much simpler, though each country sets its own conditions.

Who needs a Bosnian visa

None of India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka is on Bosnia's visa-exempt list for ordinary passports. Egypt is exempt only for diplomatic and official passports. A few visa websites claim otherwise; Bosnia's own lists are what the border police use.

Your UAE residence visa does not exempt you. It decides where you apply: residents of the UAE apply to the embassy in Abu Dhabi.

How to apply in Abu Dhabi

There is no Bosnian e-visa. You apply in person at the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Abu Dhabi, which covers the UAE and Bahrain:

1. Book an appointment on the embassy's website, one appointment per applicant.
2. Attend the interview in person with your documents. The embassy doesn't accept applications by email or post, and it rejects incomplete applications, so you would need a new appointment.
3. Pay the fee by Visa or Mastercard. The embassy doesn't take cash.
4. Wait for the notification that your visa is ready before you go back to collect it.

Documents

• Passport and a copy. For a visa, it must be valid at least three months beyond the end of the visa.
• One photo, 35 by 45 mm
• The visa application form, completed and signed
• Emirates ID or a copy of your UAE residence permit
• Return ticket or itinerary
• Travel insurance covering at least €30,000 or USD 50,000

For a tourist trip, add:

• A travel agency voucher or proof of paid accommodation, showing the trip is paid in full
• A no-objection letter from your employer or sponsor
• Bank statements for the last three months
• Birth certificates for children under 18

Visiting friends or relatives needs an invitation letter from a Bosnian citizen or resident, certified by Bosnia's Service for Foreigners' Affairs. That takes longer, so start early.

Fees and processing time

• Short-stay visa (C): €60, charged as AED 238, single or multiple entry
• Long-stay visa (D): €95, charged as AED 376
• Processing: up to 30 days, and longer where an invitation letter is needed

The embassy asks you not to book an appointment within 30 days of your departure. For a summer trip, book the appointment six to eight weeks ahead. A short-stay visa allows up to 90 days in any six months.

Flights from the UAE

flydubai flies non-stop from Dubai to Sarajevo in about six hours, with more flights in summer. There is no longer a non-stop flight from Abu Dhabi: Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, which flew to Sarajevo in summer, closed in September 2025. Schedules change by season, so check with the airline before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Bosnia?

It depends on your passport. Emiratis can stay up to 90 days without a visa. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals need a visa unless they hold a multiple-entry Schengen visa, an EU visa or residence permit, or a US visa.

Can I visit Bosnia with a Schengen visa?

Yes, if it is multiple-entry. The Bosnian embassy in Abu Dhabi says holders of a multiple-entry Schengen visa, an EU visa or residence permit, or a US visa can enter from the UAE and stay up to 30 days without a Bosnian visa.

Do Indians in Dubai need a visa for Bosnia?

Yes, unless they hold a qualifying Schengen, EU or US visa. Otherwise they apply in person at the Bosnian embassy in Abu Dhabi, at least 30 days before travel, and pay €60 (AED 238).

Where is the Bosnia visa office in the UAE?

Applications go to the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Abu Dhabi, in person and by appointment only. There is no VFS centre or e-visa for Bosnia.

How long does a Bosnia visa take from the UAE?

Up to 30 days, and longer if you need a certified invitation letter. Don't book your appointment within 30 days of your flight.

Is there a direct flight from Dubai to Sarajevo?

Yes. flydubai flies non-stop from Dubai to Sarajevo in about six hours. There is no non-stop flight from Abu Dhabi.

Planning a trip to Bosnia

Five to seven days covers Sarajevo, a day in Mostar and the Kravice waterfalls. Add Montenegro or Serbia for a longer Balkan trip, after checking each country's visa rules for your passport. See our visa services for help preparing your application, browse holiday packages, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Serbia visa for UAE residents
• Montenegro visa for UAE residents
• Albania visa for UAE residents
• Schengen visa for UAE residents

Last checked 9 October 2026 against the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Abu Dhabi's visa information page, Bosnia's Service for Foreigners' Affairs entry rules and visa-exemption lists, and airline schedules. This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current requirements with the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Abu Dhabi before you apply or travel.