Legislation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Selected English-language texts of laws of BiH, FBiH, Republika Srpska and Brcko District (unofficial translations)
Author and editor: Azur Prnjavorac, Lawyer / Mediator, Law Office Prnjavorac, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina · Last updated: · Bosnian version (recommended) ›⚠ Important notice on English translations of BiH legislation
With very limited exceptions, the English-language texts of laws presented on this page are unofficial translations. Legislative authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and the Assembly of Brcko District) publish laws officially only in the constitutional languages of BiH. They do not maintain, certify or systematically update English translations. Many of the available English versions were prepared years ago by international organizations or for specific projects, and may not reflect subsequent amendments, consolidated texts or constitutional court decisions.
For an accurate, currently applicable and complete legal text, we strongly recommend using our Bosnian-language collection, which is continuously updated by Law Office Prnjavorac, currently contains 609 consolidated texts of laws across 22 legal areas, and reflects the actual state of legislation as published in the official gazettes (Official Gazette of BiH, Official Gazette of FBiH, Official Gazette of Republika Srpska, Official Gazette of Brcko District):
→ Zakoni Bosne i Hercegovine (continuously updated)
The English page below is provided as a convenience for foreign clients, researchers and counterparties. For any formal use, court submission, contractual reference or administrative procedure in BiH, the official Bosnian text in the relevant official gazette is the only legally binding source. When in doubt, we recommend consulting an attorney admitted in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
("Official Gazette" of the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, 1/94, 13/97, 16/02, 22/02, 52/02, 60/02, 18/03, 63/03)
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Constitution of Republika Srpska ("Official Gazette" of Republika Srpska,
6/92, 8/92, 15/92, 19/92, 21/92, 28/94, 8/96, 13/96, 15/96, 16/96 and
21/96)
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| Law on the attorneys’ profession of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| The Code of professional ethics for attorneys in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on the attorneys’ profession of the Republika Srpska |
| Freedom of access to information act |
| Law on conflict of interest in Governmental institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Labour law of Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina (Official Gazette of FBiH No.
62/15, 2015)
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| Labour law of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Law on The Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and
Herzegovina (Official Gazette of BiH No. 24/02, 42/03, 03/03, 37/03, 42/03, 09/04, 35/04, 61/04 and 97/09)
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| Labour law of RS (Official Gazette of RS No. 38/00, 40/00, 47/02, 38/03, 66/03 and 20/07) |
| Law on Movement and Stay of Aliens and Immigrants of BiH (Official Gazette of B&H No. 36/08, 87/12) |
| Civil Procedure Code of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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The Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and
Financing of Terrorist Activities (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, no.
53/09)
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Law on party financing (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, no.
95/12)
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Law on civil service in the Institutions of Bosnia
and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of
Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 12/02)
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The Law on Witness Protection Programme in Bosnia
and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No.
29/04)
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The Law on Ministries and Other Bodies of
Administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 5/03)
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| Law on protection from domestic violence of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on Competition of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of B&H, No. 48/05, 76/07 and 80/09) |
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Framework Pledge Law Bosnia and Herzegovina
(adopted on 21.05.04, and subsequently amended in
November 2004)
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Law on Registration of Business Entities in the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official Gazette" of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 27/05)
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| Standards of Corporate Governance (Republika Srpska) (Official Gazette of Republika Srpska 03/06) |
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Law on Value Added Tax ("Official Gazette" of the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, 09/05)
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| Law on Excise Duties ("Official Gazette" of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 62/04) |
| Law on the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official Gazette" of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 49/09) |
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Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina
("Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina" No. 3/03,
32/03, 37/03, 54/04, 61/04, 30/05, 53/06, 55/06, 32/07, 8/10)
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Criminal Procedure Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina
("Official Gazette" of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, 3/03, 32/03, 36/03, 26/04, 63/04, 13/05, 48/05, 46/06,
76/06, 29/07, 32/07, 53/07, 76/07, 15/08, 58/08, 12/09,
16/09, 93/09, 72/13)
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Law on protection of witnesses under threat and
vulnerable witnesses ("Official
Gazette" of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3/03, 21/03, 61/04, 55/05)
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Law on enforcement procedure before the Court of
BH ("Official Gazette" of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
18/03)
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Criminal Code of the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina (Official Gazette of the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 36/03)
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Criminal Procedure Code of the Federation of Bosnia
and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of
the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 35/03)
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| Law on the Rights of National Minorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Law on Copyright and Related Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Law on the Collective Management of Copyright and Related Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on Industrial Designs in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on the Protection of Indications of Geographical Origin |
| Patent Law |
| The Law on the Protection of Topographies of Integrated Circuits |
| Trademark Law |
| Law on Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Decision on Constituting the Copyright and Related Rights Council |
| Decision on Constituting the Council for Intellectual Property Protection |
| Decision on Constituting the Council for the Development of Intellectual Property Users |
| Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary |
| European Charter on the Statute for Judges and Explanatory Memorandum |
| Law on missing persons |
| Recommendation No. R (94) 12 Of The Committee Of Ministers to member states On The Independence, efficiency and role of Judges |
| The Universal Charter of The Judge |
| Law on Agency for Labour and Employment of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on Notaries of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Rules and Regulations of Notary Service of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on Protection against Defamation of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Law on Prohibition of Discrimination (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 59/09 - 29.07. 2009) |
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Law on Permanent and Temporary Residence of Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 32) |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina Aviation Law (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina no 39/09) |
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Law on Air Navigation Services Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina no. 43/09) |
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Bylaw on Provision of Assurances of the Citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 7/14, 28.01.2014) |
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Bylaw on Specified Evidence of Eligibility for Acquisition of the Citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina through Naturalization or Facilitated Naturalization (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 7/14 - 28.01.2014) |
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Bylaw on Keeping Records of Acquisition and Cessation of the Citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 7/14 - 28.01.2014) |
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Bylaw on travel documents for refugees (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 80/09) |
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Bylaw on Travel Documents for Stateless Persons (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 80/09) |
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Bylaw on Laissez-passer for Aliens (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 80/09) |
| A decade of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on the Amendments to the Law on citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Law on market surveillance in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 45/04) |
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The Law on Accounting and Auditing of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 83/09) |
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Law on prevention and suppression of the abuse of narcotic drugs (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 8/06) |
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Law on public Enterprises of Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Law on public Enterprises in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Law establishing the company for the transmission of electric power in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Incentives for small business development incentive in Sarajevo Canton |
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Regulation on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food |
Laws related to banking and microfinance |
| Law on the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on the Banking Agency for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on Banks for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on deposit insurance in Banks of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on Microcredit Organizations of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Law on Banks for Republika Srpska |
| Law on Microcredit Organizations of Republika Srpska |
| Law on the Banking Agency of Republika Srpska |
| Law on Development Bank of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Laws related to business registration |
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Framework Law on Registration of Business Entities of BiH (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 42/04) |
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Law on Registration of Business Entities in the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official Gazette" of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 27/05)
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Excerpt from the Company Law of Republika Srpska, (Official
Gazette of Republika Srpska, No. 127/08, 58/09, 100/11 and 67/13)
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Laws related to investment and business |
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Consolidated text of the Law on The Policy of Foreign
Direct Investment of BiH (Official Gazette
Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 17/98, 13/03 48/10 and 22/15)
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Law on Foreign Investments RS (Official Gazette of RS No. 25/02, 24/04, 52/11 and 68/13) |
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FBiH Law on Foreign Investments (Official Gazette of FBiH No. 61/01, 50/03 and 77/15) |
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Excerpt from the Company Law of the FBiH, (Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 23/99, 45/00, 2/02, 6/02, 29/03, 68/05, 91/07,
84/08, 88/08, 7/09, 63/10 and 75/13)
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Excerpt from the Company Law of Republika Srpska, (Official
Gazette of Republika Srpska, No. 127/08, 58/09, 100/11 and 67/13)
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Laws related to taxes and excises |
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Law on Value Added Tax of BiH - (Official Gazette Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 09/05, 35/05 and 100/08) Law on Amendments and Supplements to the Law on Value Added Tax of BiH - (Official Gazette B&H No 35/05) |
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Instruction on Conditions for and Methods of VAT Refund
to Foreign Persons of BiH - (Official Gazette
of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 01/07)
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FBiH Law on Corporate Income Tax - (Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 97/07 and 39/09)
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| RS Law on Corporate Income Tax - (Official Gazette of Republika Srpska 91/06) |
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Law on Amending of the Law on Corporate Income Tax of RS
, (Official Gazette of Republika Srpska
57/12)
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Law on foreign exchange operations of Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina , (Official
Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 47/10)
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Laws related to free zones |
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Law on Free Zones of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Official Gazette Bosnia and Herzegovina 99/09) |
| RS Law on Free Zones - (Official Gazette of RS 65/03) |
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FBiH Law on Free Zones - (Official Gazette of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2/95) FBiH Law on Amending of the Law on Free Zones - (Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina 37/04) |
Laws related to customs |
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Customs Policy Law of BiH (Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 57/04, 51/06, 93/08, 54/10 and 76/11) |
High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina: annual reports |
| High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina Annual report for 2007 |
| High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina Annual report for 2008 |
| High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina Annual report for 2009 |
| High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina Annual report for 2010 |
| High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina Annual report for 2011 |
| High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina Annual report for 2012 |
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Last update:
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Frequently asked questions about the legal system of Bosnia and HerzegovinaAre the English translations on this page official?With very limited exceptions, the English-language texts of laws presented on this page are unofficial translations. Legislative authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina publish laws officially only in the constitutional languages of BiH, and do not maintain or systematically update English translations. For the currently applicable text, please refer to the Bosnian-language collection, which is continuously updated and contains 609 consolidated texts across 22 legal areas. At what levels do laws exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina?Laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina are adopted at multiple levels: at the state level of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Parliamentary Assembly of BiH), at the entity level (Parliament of the Federation of BiH and National Assembly of Republika Srpska), at the level of Brcko District of BiH (Assembly of Brcko District), and at the cantonal level within the Federation of BiH (cantonal assemblies). Above the domestic legal system, the European Convention on Human Rights and other ratified international treaties also apply. How is a law adopted at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina?A draft law may be submitted by any representative or delegate, by parliamentary commissions, by joint commissions of both chambers, by the chambers themselves, as well as by the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, within their respective competences. The draft is submitted to the chairperson of the chamber, who refers it to the collegium of the chamber. The collegium forwards the draft to the constitutional-legal commission for an opinion, and to the competent subject-matter commission. The legislative procedure then proceeds through a first commission phase, first reading, second commission phase, second reading, and final harmonization between the two chambers. What is the procedure for passing laws at the level of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina?In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, legislative power is exercised by the Parliament of FBiH, which consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples. Executive power is exercised by the President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (together with two Vice-Presidents) and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The legislative procedure can be divided into two phases: the phase before the entity government (preparation of the draft or proposal) and the phase before the entity parliament (consideration in both chambers, public consultation where required, and final adoption). In addition to the federal level, legislative power within FBiH is also exercised by the cantonal assemblies in their respective areas of competence. How are laws made in Bosnia and Herzegovina?All legislation at the state level requires the approval of both chambers of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH. All decisions in both chambers are taken by a majority of those present and voting. Best efforts shall be made to include at least one-third of the votes of delegates or members from each entity (compare Article IV, paragraph 3(d) of the Constitution of BiH). Who makes the laws in Bosnia and Herzegovina?The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a compound entity, divided into 10 cantons. The Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina provides that legislative authority in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina resides with the Parliament, which consists of the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples. In Republika Srpska, legislative authority is exercised by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska; in Brcko District of BiH by the Assembly of Brcko District; and at the state level by the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
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*Disclaimer: The translated texts of the regulations above do not constitute the official text of the laws, and basic texts of regulations do not necessarily include all changes and amendments which may have occurred in the meantime. The only authoritative sources of regulations in Bosnia and Herzegovina are: the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Official Gazette of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Official Gazette of Republika Srpska and the Official Gazette of Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the most current consolidated texts, please refer to the Bosnian-language collection, which is continuously updated.
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Law Office Prnjavorac has been operating since 1993, and since 2002 we have continuously collected, edited and updated consolidated texts of the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, incorporating all amendments and providing users with free, structured and reliable access to relevant legislation.
For the complete, continuously updated collection covering 609 consolidated texts across 22 legal areas (constitutional, civil, criminal, procedural, commercial, tax, labour, family, real estate, administrative and other branches of law), please refer to the Bosnian-language collection: Zakoni Bosne i Hercegovine →. That collection is updated as new issues of the official gazettes are published and is the recommended reference point for any practical use.
