Resources for employers in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Resources for employers in Bosnia and Herzegovina
We use "refugees" to encompass forcibly displaced people with different legal statuses, such as refugees, subsidiary protection holders, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers, and others needing international protection.
In cases where differentiating information relating to each status is essential (i.e. regarding the right to work), this is clearly indicated.
Why hire refugees and stateless people in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Since 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is part of one of the most travelled mixed movements routes in the Western Balkans, with more than 186,000 registered arrivals to the country between January 2018 and December 2025. Even though majority of the individuals who arrive in the country irregularly are issued an attestation of the expressed intent to apply for asylum, few of them formally register their asylum application (around 2%). Nonetheless, there is a small community of refugees and asylum-seekers who wish to remain in the country and integrate in the BiH society.
The integration of these individuals in BiH largely depends on their inclusion in the labour market to achieve self-reliance and build a social network. Local businesses' role is crucial to facilitate the employment of refugees and stateless people and create suitable conditions for them to thrive in their new environment. This can also benefit employers since recruiting refugees has been proven to improve employer branding and positioning, increase retention rates, and help build more diverse and inclusive teams. Notably, refugees' arrival may help alleviate the labour shortages and brain drain caused by continuous emigration from the country since the 1990s.
In addition to being trustworthy employees, refugees are also very entrepreneurial. They bring many skills and international knowledge to the local market, and businesses can convert these skills and knowledge into attractive business ideas. In 2023, the Ministry of Security granted subsidiary protection status to a young man from Afghanistan. In 2025, with the support of UNHCR and CRS, and thanks to cooperation with relevant institutions, Matin benefited from public employment programs and secured a job in the warehouse of a textile company. This enabled him to contribute through his work to the community that welcomed him, while also supporting his family in Afghanistan.
How many refugees are there in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
As of end-2025, the country was hosting 198 asylum-seekers and 287 refugees, primarily from Türkiye, the Russian Federation, the Syrian Arab Republic and the State of Palestine.
Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
What are the main challenges for refugees?
The primary challenges for refugees include: 1) the language barrier in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian; 2) the inability for forcibly displaced people from Ukraine who have received a temporary residence on humanitarian grounds permit to work legally in the country; 3) the fact that most institutions do not recognize documents such as asylum-seeker cards or proof of status which prevents refugees and asylum-seekers them from opening bank accounts, registering with employment bureaus and getting a job.
How many stateless people are there in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
According to UNHCR’s global trends data, there were 17 known cases of stateless people and people at risk of statelessness in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the end of 2025.
CTA: Visit the Refugee Data Finder to learn more
What are the main challenges for stateless people?
Stateless people often face significant barriers to accessing employment due to their lack of recognized nationality, which can prevent them from obtaining legal documentation such as work permits or identity cards required for formal employment. Without these documents, they are frequently excluded from the formal labor market and may be forced to rely on informal, insecure, or exploitative work to survive. Stateless individuals are also more vulnerable to discrimination, exploitation, and poor working conditions, as they lack the legal protections and recourse afforded to citizens. Addressing these barriers requires policy interventions that recognize and protect the rights of stateless individuals, including granting them legal status, ensuring access to work authorization, and combating workplace discrimination to promote their socioeconomic inclusion.
Refugees may face obstacles to securing employment, especially in regulated professions, due to missing or incomplete documentation of their qualifications. Even when refugees do bring their diplomas, the legalization process may be cumbersome and expensive. In 2025, UNHCR, together with Vaša prava BiH (VP) and the Catholic Relief Services, facilitated the translation and notification of nine diplomas for individuals from Ukraine, the Russian Federation,Palestine and Türkiye. This procedure is important for potential employment of skilled workers, as it contributes to increase refugees’ chances on the job market, as well as to allow them to continue their education in BiH, if they wish to.
| Status | Who it applies to | Right to work? |
| Asylum-seekers | Individuals who have applied for asylum in Bosnia and Herzegovina but still have not received a decision on their application. | Asylum-seekers have the right to work if a decision on their asylum application is not made within nine months, and the burden of failure to make a decision cannot be placed on them. |
| Refugees | Individuals who have a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. | Refugees have the right to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| Subsidiary protection | Individuals who do not qualify for refugee status but who are unable to return to their home country because it would mean they face capital punishment, torture or inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. | Subsidiary protection holders have the right to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| Temporary residence on humanitarian grounds | Forcibly displaced people from Ukraine who have not applied for asylum in BiH (in a "refugee-like" situation). | Those staying in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a temporary residence on humanitarian grounds can stay for 6 months and do not have the right to work in the country. |
| Stateless person | A stateless person is someone who is not considered as a citizen by any country (whether recognized as such or not) | Stateless persons who are granted temporary residence on humanitarian grounds are entitled to work under the same conditions as foreigners. |
How do I connect with refugee talent?
Employers interested in hiring refugees can turn to the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina ( Ministry) , Vaša prava BiH, the Public Institution “Employment Service of Canton Sarajevo” and “Federal Employment Service” ( PES) which can connect them with available resources and make referrals to suitable candidates. Vasa prava BiH also offer legal aid which may be helpful in cases of issues with recruitment or residency procedures.
The Ministry and PES will make the material “Employment Support for Refugees and Persons with Subsidiary Protection” available on their websites an in languages spoken by refugees.
What can I do to support refugee and stateless employees?
Employers interested in hiring refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina are encouraged to to organize language courses and adaptation programs for new hires. In addition, companies can set up mentorship or on-the-job training programs in order to facilitate the onboarding of refugee talent.
CTA: View other recommendations in the Inclusive Recruitment Checklist
Useful resources
Voucher schemes
The Labor and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina offers a government employment voucher scheme for unemployed individuals registered at the agency who request a vocational training program. Unemployed refugees who are registered with municipal employment offices are eligible to access these public employment programs.
Support for employment
Interested companies can turn to the Public Institution “Employment Service of Canton Sarajevo” and “Federal Employment Service” ( PES) which can assist persons under international protection, providing job counselling, administrative liaison, soft skills development, and preparations for interviews.
Specialized language training
UNHCR and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Women's Initiative have initiated a new language course focusing on professional needs in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian. Employers who want to hire refugees can refer to BHWI to customize the course to include specific vocabulary and use cases.
Read the monthly updates by UNHCR in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Read the UNHCR in Bosnia and Herzegovina Participatory Assessment Report 2024