PERMANENT RESIDENCE

First Step: Submission of the Request

The request for approval of permanent residence is submitted to the competent organizational unit of the Service in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, the request is submitted to the Service through the diplomatic-consular representation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The foreigner personally submits the request to the organizational unit of the Service or to the BiH CPD, and for an incapacitated foreigner, the request is submitted by the legal representative. Along with the request for approval of permanent residence, the foreigner is required to provide biometric data. At the time of submitting the request and deciding on the request for approval of permanent residence, the foreigner must have an approved temporary residence in BiH.

Second Step: Decision on the Request

The foreigner's request for approval of permanent residence is rejected if:

1. the conditions for approval of permanent residence are not met,
2. the evidence submitted with the request is obtained by fraud, falsified, or unlawfully altered,
3. incorrect information is provided or relevant circumstances for the approval of residence are concealed,
4. they have been finally convicted of a criminal offense, and a prison sentence has been imposed, and the conviction has not been expunged,
5. the presence of the foreigner poses a threat to public order or security in BiH,
6. the foreigner is registered in the records of criminal or misdemeanor offenses of law enforcement authorities as a repeat offender,
7. the Service has information from competent authorities or security services in BiH that the foreigner is participating in any criminal activity, especially organized, cross-border, or transnational crime, or is a member of an organization planning or participating in such activity, or other activity that may jeopardize public security or order in BiH, or
8. there are other reasons determined by international law.

The foreigner's request for approval of permanent residence is dismissed if:

1. the request is not personally submitted by the foreigner or the legal representative for an incapacitated foreigner,
2. the foreigner refuses to provide biometric data when submitting the request.

The procedure for approval of permanent residence is terminated if the foreigner:

1. withdraws the request,
2. if within 60 days from the date of delivery of the call, they do not collect the decision on the approved request and the permanent residence permit and do not inform the Service of the reasons for not collecting it.

When temporary residence is approved based on employment with a work permit or blue card, the foreigner is issued a decision on approved temporary residence and a temporary residence permit. The residence permit is issued in the form of a sticker indicating the approved residence and is considered a decision on approved residence. The residence permit sticker affixed to the valid passport of the foreigner serves as authorization for crossing the state border of BiH during its validity period.

A decision on the approved temporary residence and temporary residence permit, or decisions rejecting or dismissing the foreigner's request or decisions suspending the procedure, may be appealed to the Ministry within 15 days from the date of delivery of the decision. In the decision rejecting or dismissing the request for approval of temporary residence or in the decision suspending the procedure, the period within which the foreigner may voluntarily leave BiH is determined, which cannot exceed 30 days from the date of delivery of the final decision.