Is It Safe to Travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2026?
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Bosnia and Herzegovina, often referred to as Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southeastern Europe. Situated on the Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to the north and southwest, with a 20-kilometre-long (12-mile) coast on the Adriatic Sea in the south.
Is It Safe to Travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2026?
Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to risk of crime, landmines, and terrorism. Crime rates are high in Sarajevo, particularly for property-related offenses, and petty crime is common in tourist areas.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- terrorism
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: risk of crime, landmines, and terrorism, high rate of property-related crime in Sarajevo, recent unrest has been politically related.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a heightened risk of petty crime, particularly in tourist areas of Sarajevo, where thefts like pickpocketing are common.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to the high crime rate and potential for civil unrest, particularly in urban areas.
Families with children should be cautious due to the risk of landmines in certain areas and the high rates of property crime, especially in Sarajevo.
Remote workers can find reliable internet in urban centers, but should be cautious of crime and ensure safe work environments.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Bosnia and Herzegovina has an overall threat severity of 4.0 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 5.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 51/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Convertible Mark (BAM)
Language
Bosnian / Croatian / Serbian
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Bosnia and Herzegovina
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
▶Is it safe to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina?
▶What vaccines do I need for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
▶Is Bosnia and Herzegovina safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
More Bosnia and Herzegovina Data
Partly Free — 51/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.