Croatia-BiH border crossings

Due to frequent questions in regard to the border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, here is the clarification

Due to frequent questions in regard to the border crossings between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, here is the clarification.

 

Border crossings categorization

There are different categories of border crossings: BC for international road transport of persons and goods, fruit and vegetables; other BCs for international transport of persons and goods; road traffic BC, railway traffic BC, BC for international road transport of persons and permanent BC for cross-border traffic. All are listed in the Border Crossings Agreement and the Cross-Border Traffic Agreement.

These new agreements kept the same border crossing sites as before.

This categorization was agreed upon during the two-year talks between Croatia and BiH, under the auspices of the European Commission, whereby taken into account were the rule and standards of the EU in regard to its outer border: efficient border control as well as control of persons and goods traffic, and existence of transport infrastructure and traffic size/business on certain border crossings i.e. the sustainability of a certain crossing in regard to the number of persons and/or goods passing through it.

 

Metković border crossing

There is a large number of border crossings of different categories in the Metković area due to a large number of persons living along the border and the existing transport infrastructure.

A brand new crossing has been built in the area – Nova Sela (Bijača), with all of the necessary inspection services (one of the most well-equipped and modern crossings on the outer EU border), which has alleviated the traffic situation in the city of Metković, while cargo traffic had been redirected from the Metković-Doljani border crossing, which now serves for international passenger transport only and does not have the capacity to perform customs control.

Having unburdened the Metković-Doljani crossing and repurposing it for international passenger transport, there was no need to maintain another crossing just like it, so the Gabela Polje I-Gabela crossing was recategorized as a permanent cross-border traffic border crossing which will serve for crossing the border and visiting the neighbouring areas along the border for those that need it the most – the persons living in the cross-border area.

People living in the Metković cross-border area can also use the Unka- Unka crossing, as well as a special location within the city of Metković (the Marko Marulić street in its entirety).

 

Cross-border passes

The new cross-border passes are produced using a considerably more expensive technology, characteristic of the new generation of biometric documents, and contain electronic elements not existent in the old (yellow) Croatian cross-border pass. The citizens along the Croatian cross-border area will have to have it replaced free of charge at the competent BiH body which, in accordance with the new border regime, issues the new passes for citizens living in the Croatian cross-border area, while the same is being done by the Croatian Ministry of the Interior for citizens in the BiH cross-border area.

Citizens in the BiH cross-border area can apply for the new passes at the nearest Croatian police stations/directorates or the nearest Croatian diplomatic mission/consular post in BiH.

Croatian citizens can submit application to BiH field offices and border police stations or BiH diplomatic mission to Croatia.

All citizens in the Croatian cross-border area, holders of valid old cross-border passes, can cross the border in accordance with the new regime at locations designated specifically for that purpose. 

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