From Monday, March 30, all the country’s airports for passenger traffic will be closed. Freight transport will continue. For more information about coronavirus, see the section Health.
Safety
The daily security in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is largely satisfactory. The country is still marked by the war of the 1990s, and undone mines continue to pose a real danger in many places. The terror threat is present, but is not considered significant.
Crime is low in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), but one should exercise caution and caution, and pay close attention to valuables for pocket theft. The daily safety in BiH is largely satisfactory.
It is warned against flocks of wild dogs, including in Sarajevo, which can be aggressive. You should avoid traveling alone in certain areas late at night/ night. Theft should be reported to the police.
Landmines and other undisturbed explosive elements after the 1992-95 conflict still pose a real danger. Densely populated areas have now been cleared for mines, but large natural areas are still mined. Therefore, it is not recommended to go anywhere other than where there is asphalt or concrete substrates. For walks in the woods and mountains it is recommended to bring an experienced guide. For more information about the mine danger, see the BiH Mine Action Center and the Norwegian People’s Aid website.
BiH is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious community, characterized by Bosnian / Muslim, BiH Serbian Orthodox and BiH Croatian Catholics, as well as Jews and secular. Bosnian Muslims largely follow a liberal interpretation of Islam. There are simply small pockets of fundamentalist Islam (wahabbi), a few hundred BiH citizens have traveled as foreign warriors to Syria and Iraq, and a few isolated terrorist attacks have taken place. However, the terror threat is not considered significant.
However, the war years have produced a society with many traumatized individuals. There are still large quantities of weapons in circulation after the war.
If you are going to drive around Bosnia and Herzegovina, you need to have a valid insurance document (green card) and road card. The road standard varies. The car park – especially heavy transport – is characterized by a large number of old and slow moving vehicles. This slows down the average speed on the main roads and causes many risky bypasses. It is recommended that the distance rule be observed. Dark driving should be avoided.
While the youth in the country speak good English, the English skills of both police and public health are very lacking.
Important telephone numbers: Police 122, Fire 123, Ambulance 124, Road Assistance 1282.
All these numbers must work from Norwegian mobiles. The country code for Bosnian number is +387.
Entry and health
Coronavirus (covid-19): Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed the first cases of the coronavirus on March 6. Norwegian travelers should keep abreast of the development of the corona virus. Feel free to follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation. Travel and coronavirus information, as well as a list of local telephone numbers in case of suspected covid-19 infection, can be found on the Corona virus website for Bosnian authorities.
From Monday, March 30, all the country’s airports for passenger traffic will be closed. Freight transport will continue.
At the same time, entry bans are introduced for all foreign citizens, with the exception of diplomats, NATO, EUFOR, medical personnel, health workers and humanitarian aid personnel. Everyone arriving in the country should be checked by health inspectors at the border. The inspectors check the travel history and health status, and can order isolation. The 14-day “home quarantine” is mandatory for anyone arriving from abroad.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not create travel advice because of the risk of infection.
You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.
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Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Norwegians do not need tourist visas to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Passport, which is the only valid travel document for Bosnia and Herzegovina, should be valid six months after entry.
Norwegian citizens staying in Bosnia and Herzegovina for short or long periods are advised to take advantage of the offer for registration of foreign stays.
In the event of a crisis, it can be advantageous if the embassy knows that you are in the country.
The Institute of Public Health recommends having active vaccines against hepatitis A, as well as diphtheria and tetanus for travelers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For more information see the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
It is relatively good food hygiene. Water can usually be drunk from the tap, but can contain a lot of lime and chlorine.
The options for medical assistance are variable. There is a low material standard in public hospitals, but there are private clinics of relatively good standard in the larger cities.
Practical information
Official languages are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. Many speak English, especially in the capital Sarajevo. German is also spoken by relatively many.
Sarajevo is characterized by its multicultural history and identity. Mosques and Orthodox as well as Catholic churches characterize the cityscape. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a multi-ethnic community, and one of the few countries in Europe that has a Muslim population majority. Bosnia and Herzegovina has three so-called constituent groups; Bosnjaks, BiH Serbs and BiH Croats. In addition, there are Jews, Roma people and other national minorities.
Power is 220 volts, 50 Hz, the same as in Norway. This applies to electrical outlets as well. Landline and mobile network are well developed.
Phone code: +387 (allcitycodes)
Time Zone: CET (GMT/UTC +1)
Taxis are cheap and easily accessible. In Sarajevo there is also a well-developed network of buses and trams. There are trains on some stretches. The road network is of varying standard.
The currency in Bosnia-Herzegovina is convertible mark (BAM). Euro is not normally accepted as a means of payment. It is recommended to take out BAM (commonly referred to as KM) by ATM at the airport. Taxi is payable in BAM. Exchange rate: 1 BAM = NOK 4.54 (date: 08.02.2017).
ATMs are easily accessible in the major cities and can be used with Visa or Master/Eurocard. An increasing number of shops and hotels accept credit cards, but the main rule is still cash payment.
Normal opening hours for shops are 09.00 – 20.00, banks from 08.30 – 18.00 and public offices are open from 08.00 – 16.00. Cafes and restaurants are open until late in the evening.
When visiting someone’s home, one should take off their shoes. If you are going to visit a mosque, you have to take off your shoes, and women have to cover your hair, shoulders and knees.