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.
Social Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Benefits, contributions, and how the system works for expats.
Bosnia and Herzegovina operates parallel social security systems in the Federation of BiH (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS). Each entity has its own pension fund (zavod PIO), health insurance fund (zavod zdravstvenog osiguranja) and unemployment service (zavod za zapošljavanje). Contributions are mandatory for all employed persons and self-employed individuals. Expats working in BiH have the same social security rights and obligations as Bosnian citizens. The system covers pension insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance. Family and child benefits are administered at cantonal and municipal level in FBiH.
Unique Master Citizen Number
Jedinstveni matični broj građana (JMBG)
The JMBG is issued at birth for BiH citizens and upon registration of legal residence for foreigners. Foreign nationals receive a JMBG when their temporary or permanent residence permit is registered at the local police administration (MUP). Present your residence permit, passport and accommodation confirmation. The JMBG appears on your biometric residence card (boravišna karta). Registration with pension and health insurance funds (M-1A form) follows automatically once employed.
- Mandatory registration with the pension insurance fund (FZPiO / PIO Fond RS)
- Registration with the health insurance fund (Zavod zdravstvenog osiguranja)
- Unemployment benefit registration and payroll tax submissions
- Opening a bank account
- Tax identification (the JMBG also functions as the tax ID)
- Healthcare access, prescription collection and specialist referrals
- Voting registration (for BiH citizens)
- Vehicle registration and property transactions
Benefits & Support Payments
Unemployment Benefit
Naknada za nezaposlenost
Cash benefit for employees made redundant through economic or technological reasons (not disciplinary dismissal). Provides income replacement while job-seeking.
Employees who have paid at least 8 months of unemployment contributions in the last 18 months, who were not dismissed for disciplinary reasons, and who register at the cantonal Employment Service (Zavod za zapošljavanje) within 30 days of job loss.
Register at the Zavod za zapošljavanje in your canton immediately after job loss — benefits are not backdated before registration. Bring: termination notice (otkaz), proof of contribution history, ID/residence permit, and bank account details.
State Pension (Old-Age)
Starosna penzija
Monthly pay-as-you-go pension for insured persons who have reached retirement age and have the required qualifying contribution years.
Age 65 (both men and women as of 2026) with a minimum 15 qualifying contribution years. Full pension requires 40 qualifying years. Early retirement possible at 60 with 40 qualifying years (reduced pension).
Apply to FZPiO (Federalni zavod za penzijsko i invalidsko osiguranje, mio.gov.ba) for FBiH contributions, or PIO Fond RS (fondpiors.rs.ba) for RS contributions. Submit: M-4 contribution record, employment history, ID/passport, and bank details. Processing takes 3–6 months.
Disability Pension
Invalidska penzija
Monthly pension for persons with medically certified work incapacity due to illness, injury or occupational disease — available at any age.
Medically certified work incapacity (assessed by the relevant pension/disability fund medical commission) with a minimum contribution period depending on age at the time of incapacity.
Application to FZPiO or PIO Fond RS with medical documentation, employment history and M-4 contribution record. Medical assessment by the fund's medical commission. Processing: 3–6 months.
Maternity and Parental Leave Benefit
Naknada za porodiljsko/roditeljsko odsustvo
Paid maternity and parental leave entitlement. Maternity leave is 12 months total in FBiH (42 days at employer expense, remainder from cantonal health fund). Paternity leave varies by canton.
All employed women who have made health insurance contributions. Must be registered with the cantonal health fund. RS has a similar system through the RS Health Insurance Fund.
Notify employer as early as practicable. Employer initiates the first 42-day payment period. For the cantonal fund portion, the employer submits documentation to the cantonal Zavod zdravstvenog osiguranja on your behalf.
Child Benefit
Dječji doplatak
Monthly means-tested cash benefit for families with dependent children. Helps cover costs of child-raising for lower and middle-income families.
Employed or unemployed parents with dependent children (typically under 15, or up to 26 if in full-time education), subject to household income thresholds. Both parents and child must be legally registered residents of the canton.
Apply at the cantonal Centre for Social Work (Centar za socijalni rad) or the cantonal child benefit authority. Bring: birth certificate, household income evidence, residence confirmation.
Birth Grant
Naknada za novorođeno dijete / Jednokratna pomoć pri porodu
One-time cash payment to parents following the birth of a child.
Parents who are registered residents of the canton and who have the child registered immediately after birth. In some cantons, a minimum insurance contribution period is required.
Apply at the cantonal Centre for Social Work or municipality within 30–60 days of birth. Bring: birth certificate, parents' ID, proof of residence, and health insurance confirmation.
Health Insurance Coverage
Zdravstveno osiguranje
Mandatory health insurance covering GP visits, specialist care, hospital treatment, prescription medicines on the formulary, maternity care and children's dental.
All employed persons and their registered dependents (spouse and children). Unemployed persons registered with the employment service. Pensioners. Uninsured individuals can apply for voluntary coverage.
Registration is automatic upon employment through the employer's M-1A registration form submitted to the cantonal Zavod zdravstvenog osiguranja. Self-employed register directly. Obtain a health booklet (zdravstvena knjižica) from the health fund office.
Contribution Overview
Total social contributions in FBiH: Employee 31% of gross (pension 17% + health 12.5% + unemployment 1.5%). Employer 10.5% of gross (pension 6% + health 4% + unemployment 0.5%). In RS: employee 33% total; employer contributions structured differently within the gross. Income tax: flat 10% in both entities. Contributions and income tax are deducted at source by the employer and remitted to the Porezna uprava (Tax Administration). Self-employed pay both employee and employer shares.
International Social Security Agreements
BiH has bilateral social security totalization agreements with: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Turkey, Egypt and all former Yugoslav republics (Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia). Under these agreements, qualifying contribution years from both countries are combined when assessing minimum pension entitlement. Citizens of agreement countries are not subject to double social security contributions on BiH employment income.
The BiH social security system is fragmented along entity and cantonal lines — rights and benefit amounts can vary depending on where you work and live. Always verify your registration with the health fund (M-1A form) and pension fund within 8 days of starting work. Keep copies of all contribution records (M-4 annual statement). For cross-border pension portability questions, contact FZPiO (mio.gov.ba) for FBiH or PIO Fond RS (fondpiors.rs.ba) for RS contributions.
Social Security
Unlock the complete Social Security guide for Bosnia and Herzegovina — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.
Become a SupporterSupport the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere