Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a Balkan gem combining Ottoman heritage, Habsburg architecture, Adriatic mountain scenery, and one of the lowest costs of living in Europe.

Capital: Sarajevo

Region: Europe

Language: Bosnian

Currency: BAM (KM)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 27)

Emergency: 112

Digital Services

Digital ID, e-government and essential apps in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

E-Government Portal

https://moj.ba

BiH e-government is developing but fragmented between entities and cantons. Many services require physical office visits for final collection. FBiH has 10 different cantonal systems; RS is more centralised. English-language support is minimal across all portals. Most transactions still require a visit to the relevant office — use e-portals primarily for information lookup and form preparation.

Available services

moj.ba (FBiH e-Government Portal) — birth certificates, property extracts, document submissions, utility paymentseUprava RS (euprava.rs.ba) — Republika Srpska administrative services and e-filingsUIO Portal (uio.gov.ba) — VAT registration, PDV return filing, indirect tax account managementPorezna uprava FBiH (pufbih.gov.ba) — income tax, social contributions, e-PD salary reportingAPIF RS (apif.net.ba) — online business registration for RS sole traders and companiesGruntovnica / ZK ured — online land registry searches at municipal courts

Essential Apps

ExpatCheapRent

Free

Housing

Expat-focused cheap rental finder at expatcheaprent.com — compares listings across major rental portals to help newcomers find affordable apartments.

Nekretnine.ba

Free

Housing

Bosnia and Herzegovina's main real estate portal for apartment and house rentals in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and other cities.

Free

Communication

Dominant messaging app in BiH — used for all personal and business communication, landlord-tenant interaction and group coordination. Essential from Day 1.

Bolt

Free

Transport

Primary ride-hailing app in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar. Significantly cheaper and safer than street taxis. Also operates electric scooter sharing.

Raiffeisen Mobile BiH

Free

Finance

Mobile banking for Raiffeisen Bank BiH — account management, transfers, currency exchange, bill payments. Essential for expats using Raiffeisen (recommended bank).

Viber

Free

Communication

Widely used alongside WhatsApp, especially by older generations. Free calls and messages. Good for regional Balkans calls.

BH Telecom App

Free

Communication

Manage your BH Telecom mobile or internet account — data balance, bill payment, top-ups. Essential for BH Telecom customers.

EasyPark

Free

Transport

Parking payment app for Sarajevo city centre zones (A, B, C). Replaces scratch cards and coin searches. Accepted across the zone system.

Wolt

Free

Food

Food delivery app operating in Sarajevo — wide restaurant selection. Bolt Food also operates in Sarajevo.

Google Maps

Free

Navigation

Google Maps covers BiH well — local streets, businesses, public transport directions. Download offline maps for mountain areas.

Meteogram / Yr.no

Free

Weather

Mountain weather is critical for outdoor activities and mountain driving. FHMZ (Federalni hidrometeorološki zavod) app also provides local forecasts.

Duolingo (Serbian track)

Free

Language

Learn Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian — Duolingo Serbian is essentially the same language. Basic phrases dramatically improve daily life and local relationships.

Mobile internet coverage (4G LTE) is excellent in Sarajevo and along main roads. Mountain and rural areas have variable coverage — download offline maps (Maps.me) before heading off-road. SIM cards are free or KM 5 from BH Telecom, m:tel or HT Eronet shops — bring your passport. Prepaid data plans: KM 10–20/month for 10–30GB. Fibre broadband is available in major cities at KM 25–50/month for 100–1,000 Mbps.