Bosnia and Herzegovina

UNHCR has been present in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) since 1992, when it led a large-scale humanitarian operation during the conflict in former Yugoslavia. Over the years, our operational footprint has been progressively reducing, shifting focus on UNHCR’s core mandate activities related to asylum, inclusion and statelessness, and expanding advocacy efforts. UNHCR operates through a Country Office in Sarajevo and two Field Units in Tuzla and Bihać, consisting of 30 national and six international staff.

UNHCR in BiH works with three government partners:

• the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs
• the Sector for Asylum of the Ministry of Security
• the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees.

UNHCR also has agreements with civil society organizations, namely:

• Vaša prava BiH
• the Bosnia and Herzegovina Women's Initiative
• the Catholic Relief Services.

UNHCR’s main objectives in BiH are to:

• strengthen the identification and referral of individuals in need of international protection
• ensure access to legal aid
• provide psychosocial support
• facilitate accommodation and educational/recreational activities for asylum-seekers with specific needs.

We also support BiH in integrating refugees and those under subsidiary protection, including improving the legal framework.

As of October 2024, 474 refugees were residing in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including 45 with refugee status, 190 under subsidiary protection, and 239 in refugee-like situations. In addition, approximately 1,900 formerly stateless individuals have acquired or confirmed nationality in BiH since 2008, through collaboration between the authorities, UNHCR and partners.

Additional information

For information about our work in Bosnia and Herzegovina: