Medical certificates
Medical certificate for a residence permit in Banja Luka
A medical certificate for a residence permit (ljekarsko uvjerenje) is the document that confirms to the Service for Foreigners' Affairs that you do not have a disease posing a threat to public health in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You need it with your first application for temporary residence, and it must be no more than three months old on the day you apply. At Preventiva Medical in Banja Luka the examination includes HBsAg and HIV blood tests and an assessment by an occupational medicine specialist, and costs 86 KM.
This page in Serbian: ljekarsko uvjerenje za boravak u BiH.
Who needs a medical certificate for a residence permit in BiH
The Law on Foreigners (Article 49) lists the medical certificate among the general conditions for temporary residence, whatever the basis of your stay:
- family reunification – marriage or partnership with a BiH citizen, children, parents;
- education – university, school, internship or volunteering;
- employment, with or without a work permit;
- humanitarian or other justified reasons, or ownership of property in BiH.
When you extend temporary residence, the certificate is normally not required unless the SPS field office asks for it (Rulebook on Entry and Stay of Foreigners, Article 27). It is not among the conditions for permanent residence (Law on Foreigners, Article 79).
If you apply from abroad through a BiH embassy or consulate, the certificate must be issued by a health institution no more than three months before you apply.
What the medical certificate for a residence permit must show
- a finding that you do not have a disease posing a threat to public health in BiH;
- the date of issue, because the certificate must be no more than three months old;
- the doctor's signature and the stamp of a health institution authorised to carry out the examination.
BiH law does not prescribe a fixed list of tests. A threat to public health means a disease with epidemic potential as defined by the WHO International Health Regulations, and other infectious diseases subject to protective measures for BiH citizens (Law on Foreigners, Article 6). Our examination therefore includes:
- HBsAg – hepatitis B surface antigen, which shows a current hepatitis B infection;
- anti-HIV – an HIV antibody test;
- examination by an occupational medicine specialist – medical history, examination and a review of your records.
How the examination works
- Bookon +387 66 755 755, or through the contact page, and tell us the basis of your residence application.
- Blood samplefor HBsAg and HIV; you do not need to fast.
- Examinationby the occupational medicine specialist.
- Certificateissued once the results are ready.
What to bring
- your valid passport;
- the SPS document checklist or letter for your application, if you have one;
- previous medical records, if any.
Price
| Service | What it includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Medical certificate for residence of foreigners | HBsAg, anti-HIV, occupational medicine specialist | 86 KM |
Prices are in convertible marks (KM, also written BAM).
Where to submit your application
Applications in BiH go to the field office of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs (Služba za poslove sa strancima, SPS) for the place where you live. The Banja Luka field office is at Ivana F. Jukića 7/II (tel. +387 51 213 926) and covers, among others, Banja Luka, Laktaši, Gradiška, Prijedor and Prnjavor.
- As a rule, the first application is filed in person at a BiH embassy or consulate. Inside BiH you may file it only if you entered on a long-stay visa (visa D) or as a citizen of a visa-free country, at least 15 days before the visa or visa-free stay expires.
- An extension must be filed at least 15 days before your current permit expires.
- The SPS checklist lists an administrative fee of 150 KM for granting or extending temporary residence.
- With a work permit, you may start work only after temporary residence has been granted. Your employer may also ask for an occupational health certificate for work (page in Serbian).
Language and translation
The certificate is issued in the local language, one of the official languages of BiH, so the SPS does not need a translation. Documents you bring from abroad, such as a criminal record certificate, must be translated into an official BiH language.
Česta pitanja (naslov na stranici: Frequently asked questions)
How long is a medical certificate for a BiH residence permit valid?
It must be no more than three months old on the day you submit your application. The limit is set by the Law on Foreigners and the Rulebook on Entry and Stay of Foreigners, and it also applies when you apply through a BiH embassy or consulate. Book the examination once your other documents are ready.
Do I need a new medical certificate to extend my residence permit?
Usually not. The Rulebook on Entry and Stay of Foreigners exempts extension applications from the medical certificate unless the SPS field office decides it is needed. If the office asks for one, the examination is the same as for a first application and costs 86 KM.
Which tests are included?
We test for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HIV, and an occupational medicine specialist examines you and reviews your records. BiH law does not prescribe a fixed list of tests; it requires the certificate to confirm that you have no disease posing a threat to public health. You do not need to fast for these blood tests.
Can I use a medical certificate from my home country?
If you apply through a BiH embassy or consulate, the certificate must come from a health institution and be no older than three months. If you apply inside BiH, check with your SPS field office first, because its checklist asks for a certificate from an authorised health institution and foreign documents need a certified translation.
How much does it cost and how do I pay?
The certificate costs 86 KM (convertible marks, BAM), including both blood tests and the specialist examination. The 150 KM administrative fee for the residence permit is paid separately, with your application to the SPS, not to the clinic. We confirm the accepted payment methods when you book.
Where can I check which documents I need for a residence permit?
The Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina publishes the list on its website, sps.gov.ba. The medical certificate is one of the documents, and you can get it at our clinic in one visit.