Yes, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina need a visa for Vietnam when they travel on a Bosnian passport. The simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Bosnian citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
On this page, “Bosnian” means every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, from either entity or Brcko District. Many also hold a Croatian passport, which has been visa-free for Vietnam for up to 45 days since August 2025. A Serbian passport, by contrast, still needs a visa. Below you will find which passport to use, how to apply, timing, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Bosnian citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Bosnian passport: visa needed. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- Croatian passport: visa-free for up to 45 days. Serbian passport: e-visa needed.
- Best option on a Bosnian passport: e-visa, up to 90 days, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 6 hours ahead of Sarajevo in winter, 5 in summer.
- Embassies: Vietnam covers the country from Budapest; Bosnia and Herzegovina covers Vietnam from Kuala Lumpur.
How many Bosnian visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 678 arrivals from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2019. The figure fell to 28 in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and climbed back to 173 in 2022. In January 2023 alone, 90 visitors arrived, more than half of the previous year’s total. Citizens who entered on a Croatian passport are counted as Croatian, so the real number is higher.
Vietnam visa for Bosnian citizens: which passport to use
| Passport | Entry rule | Maximum stay | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | E-visa or other visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple |
| Croatian | Visa-free | 45 days | Free |
| Serbian | E-visa or other visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 single / US$50 multiple |
| Any, Phu Quoc only | Visa-free on the island | 30 days | Free |
Choose one passport and use it for the whole trip: for the airline check-in, Vietnamese immigration on arrival and departure, and the hotel registration. For a stay longer than 45 days, a Croatian passport holder can apply for a 90-day e-visa on that passport. Check the full Vietnam visa exemption list before you decide.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa from Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages. The identity card is not accepted for Vietnam.
- Type your name without diacritics. Copy the spelling from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, which show how letters such as č, ć, š and ž are written there.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry, matching the airport where you land.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Bosnian citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Pay by international Visa or Mastercard. Most cards issued in Bosnia and Herzegovina work for online payments in US dollars, but turn on online payments with your bank first. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
When to apply: holidays and the time difference
Vietnam is 6 hours ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina in winter and 5 hours ahead in summer. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at noon on a Friday in Sarajevo arrives after office hours in Hanoi, and processing starts on Monday. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Bajram and Christmas: many families travel over Bajram, Catholic Christmas or Orthodox Christmas on 7 January. Apply at least 2 weeks before those dates.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers fly from Sarajevo through Istanbul, Dubai or Doha to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City; Zagreb and Belgrade offer more connections.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Bosnia and Herzegovina. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Sarajevo. Instead, the Embassy of Vietnam in Budapest, Hungary, is accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina. For a paper visa, contact the embassy in Budapest or the Vietnamese embassy in the country where you live. You do not need any embassy for an e-visa.
Bosnia and Herzegovina for Vietnam. There is no embassy or consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Vietnam. Its ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is also accredited to Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the embassy in Kuala Lumpur or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sarajevo. Croatian passport holders can also ask Croatia’s foreign ministry for help.
Worked examples
- Family from Mostar, 2 weeks in Hoi An: all hold Croatian passports, so they travel visa-free for up to 45 days.
- Engineer from Tuzla with only a Bosnian passport, 1 month in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa (US$25).
- Couple from Banja Luka with Serbian and Bosnian passports, Vietnam and Thailand in 5 weeks: multiple-entry e-visas (US$50 each) on either passport, as neither is exempt.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Bosnian citizens
Do citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes, on a Bosnian passport. With a Croatian passport, you can stay up to 45 days without a visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No. The Embassy of Vietnam in Budapest covers Bosnia and Herzegovina. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures; Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
