Announcing the decision, The Service for Foreigners’ Affairs (SFA) of BiH said that these persons used their work permits, which are issued to them after entering the country on work visas, to reach Croatia and then enter other EU countries, EU Helpers reports.

Authorities in BiH have warned that migrants reaching the country on work visas who irregularly go to Croatia and from then to other EU countries will have their permits cancelled.

In a bid to fill in labour shortage gaps, authorities in BiH have opened their doors to an increasing number of migrants from other countries.

In the past few years, the country has seen an increase in the number of nationals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal who have obtained work permits in BiH.

In spite of a large number of them being employed, some leave the country for Croatia irregularly and then continue their journey to other EU member states.

According to police agencies, irregular migrants pay significant amounts of money to intermediaries or employers to provide them with work permits and visas for legal entry into BiH.

The service urges employers to permit entry only to internationals who seek to reach the country through authorised agencies, warning that on the contrary, they will have to pay the costs of accommodation in the immigration centre deportation from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In order to be able to legally work in the BiH companies, foreign nationals seeking employment are required to obtain a work permit, which is issued by the Employment Service offices, once they enter the country on valid visas.

Employers are required to submit the application for a work permit on behalf of international workers. If approved, the work permit is valid for one year, and it can be further extended.

Over 3,000 Work Permits Issued in First 6 Months of 2024

In the first six months of this year alone, Bosnia and Herzegovina issued 3,230 work permits, with the number marking an increase each year, according to a report from HRT.

The figures from the UNIDAD Employment Agency revealed that in the first 11 months of 2023, about 3,500 work permits were granted to foreigners, excluding the number of foreign workers who stay in BiH without work permits, which in some cases is permitted.

UNIDAD said that the majority of them were nationals of Serbia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Kuwait, among others.