A Bosnia visa is not required of citizens of Azerbaijan, and this is one of the few destinations in the Balkans that does not count against Schengen. Sarajevo, Mostar and Blagaj have grown popular among travellers from Azerbaijan in recent years: a familiar culture, halal food, cheap prices and visa-free entry.
But Bosnia has one rule many people do not know about and end up fined for: within 48 hours of arriving in the country you have to register. For those staying in a hotel that happens automatically; for those in a rented flat it does not. In this article we explain the conditions of the visa-free regime, the registration rule and the way from Baku to Sarajevo.
Do you need a visa for Bosnia?
No. Since 2017 Bosnia and Herzegovina has applied visa-free entry to citizens of Azerbaijan unilaterally. On an ordinary passport you can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies to tourism, visiting relatives and business meetings; to work and to study a separate permit is needed.
| Is a visa required? | No |
| How long can you stay? | 90 days within 180 |
| Passport | Valid for at least 3 months after departure |
| Registration | Within 48 hours of arrival, the hotel does it |
| Does it count against Schengen? | No, Bosnia is not in Schengen |
| Direct flight | None, via Istanbul |
| Currency | Convertible mark (KM), pegged to the euro |
The 48-hour rule: no Bosnia visa, but there is registration
Under Bosnian legislation every foreign citizen arriving in the country must register within 48 hours at the address where they are staying, with the police or the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs. If you are staying in a hotel, a hostel or an officially registered flat, the host does it and all they need from you is your passport.
The problem arises for those staying in rented flats and in relatives’ homes. In that case you and the owner have to go to the local police station together and register. Staying unregistered means a fine when you leave the country and trouble on your next entry. When you book a rented flat, ask the owner in advance who will do the registration. The official rules are set out on the page for foreigners of Bosnia’s Ministry of Security.
What do they ask at the border?
The passport’s validity must run at least 3 months beyond the date you leave the country. The border officer may ask for your return ticket, the address where you will be staying and a document confirming your means of support, but in practice tourists are mainly asked for their passport. Insurance is not required, but is advised.
The days you spend in Bosnia do not count against Schengen
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a member of neither the European Union nor the Schengen zone. So the days you spend here have no effect at all on the 90/180 limit of your Schengen visa. For those building a long route in Europe that is a useful point: Croatia is in Schengen but neighbouring Bosnia is not, which means that when you cross from Dubrovnik to Mostar your Schengen counter stops. The same rule applies to Serbia and Albania.
Read next: Do you need a visa for Albania? A detailed guide for citizens of Azerbaijan
How do you get from Baku to Sarajevo?
There is no direct flight. The most comfortable route is via Istanbul: Pegasus and Turkish Airlines fly daily from Istanbul to Sarajevo, and the Istanbul–Sarajevo flight takes about 2 hours. The whole journey with the transit is 7–9 hours. Splitting the ticket in two and buying the legs separately is sometimes cheaper; compare Baku–Istanbul ticket prices against the Istanbul–Sarajevo ticket separately. But on separate tickets the risk of a delay is yours, so leave at least 3 hours for the transit.
For those heading to Mostar the alternative is Croatia’s Dubrovnik or Split airport, but that requires a Schengen visa. For anyone wanting to travel visa-free the only way is via Sarajevo.
Things to know before the trip
- Money. The official currency is the convertible mark (KM), pegged to the euro at a fixed rate, with 1 euro at about 1.96 KM. Take euros from Baku and change them there; cards work in the big cities and in smaller places you need cash.
- Season. May–June and September are the most comfortable time. Bosnia’s Jahorina and Bjelašnica resorts are also a cheap option for skiing in winter.
- Food. Halal food is everywhere, and ćevapi and burek count as symbols of the country.
- Car rental. Convenient for getting around the country and crossing into Croatia, but for the border crossing be sure to get the “green card” insurance from the rental company.
- Holidays. In the run-up to Novruz the flow of travellers from Azerbaijan to Bosnia rises and the hotels in Sarajevo fill up; among Novruz tours the Balkan routes are usually booked early.
Frequently asked questions about the Bosnia visa
Can you stay in Bosnia more than 90 days without a visa?
No. To stay longer, to work or to study you need a visa in advance and a temporary residence permit inside the country.
Can you cross from Bosnia into Croatia?
Only if you have a Schengen visa. Croatia has been in the Schengen zone since 2023 and Bosnia’s visa-free regime is not enough to get you there. You can cross into Serbia and Albania visa-free; Montenegro, though, has required a visa since January 2026, and only holders of a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa can enter there visa-free for up to 30 days.
Are extra documents needed for children?
The child must have their own passport. If they are travelling with one of the parents, the other parent’s notarised consent may be required when leaving Azerbaijan.
In closing
No Bosnia visa is needed, you can stay 90 days visa-free and those days do not count against Schengen. The only rule to remember is the 48-hour registration. The Viza.az team helps with building the route via Istanbul, booking flights and hotels and planning trips that link the Balkan countries.
You can read more about the Bosnia and Herzegovina destination or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. A visa-free regime can be changed unilaterally, so check the official sources once more before your trip.
