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Tourism & short stayPublishedMedium impactVerified

U.S. State Department Maintains Level 2 Travel Advisory for Bosnia and Herzegovina: Exercise Increased Caution Due to Cr

🇺🇸 United StatesTravel Advisories1 recorded versionLast change 27 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The U.S. State Department advises U.S. citizens to 'Exercise Increased Caution' when travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina due to risks of crime, landmines, and terrorism. Specifically, Sarajevo has a high rate of property-related crime, including robberies, residential and vehicle break-ins, and theft, with petty crime common in tourist areas. Landmines and unexploded ordnance are present throughout the country, with deaths from explosions recorded as recently as August 2025. There is also a risk of terrorist violence in the Balkans region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. Recent politically-related unrest has occurred, though it has not directly impacted tourists or the international community, there is a risk that bystanders could be affected.

Overview

The U.S. State Department has reissued its Travel Advisory for Bosnia and Herzegovina, maintaining a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. This advisory, published on 27 August 2026, instructs U.S. citizens to be vigilant due to risks associated with crime, landmines, and potential terrorist activity. The advisory updates its summary to note that recent politically related unrest has not affected tourists or international community members, though there remains a risk of bystanders being impacted.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • United States citizens travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • United States nationals planning holidays or short visits
  • United States citizens already in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Travellers who rely on United States government safety assessments when they plan trips
  • United States organisations and travel advisers monitoring safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina

What changed in the latest version

Before

No previous version was found in the available information. So, a comparison with past rules cannot be made.

After

The United States State Department advises United States citizens to 'Exercise Increased Caution' when they travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is because of risks from crime, landmines, and terrorism. Specifically, Sarajevo has a high rate of property crime. This includes robberies, house break-ins, car break-ins, and theft. Small crimes are common in tourist areas. Landmines and unexploded ordnance are in the country. People died from explosions as recently as August 2025. There is also a risk of terrorist violence in the Balkans region, which includes Bosnia and Herzegovina. Recent political unrest has happened. This has not directly affected tourists or people from other countries. However, people who are nearby could be affected.

This travel advisory means United States citizens must take more responsibility for their own safety. This applies when they plan to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina or are already there. Travellers should learn about specific risks. These include property crime in cities, the danger of landmines, and possible terrorist activity. Taking action is important. For example, enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and buying full travel insurance is crucial. These steps help ensure support and medical care in an emergency. Not following these warnings could put people at risk. It could also make emergency help harder to get.

Explained simply

Imagine you're going on a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The U.S. government is saying, 'Be a bit more careful than usual!' It's like going to a new playground where some areas have signs saying 'watch out for hidden obstacles' or 'keep an eye on your belongings'. They're not telling you not to go, but they are giving you a heads-up that you need to be aware of things like pickpockets, old landmines from a past conflict, and a small chance of trouble from bad actors in the region. So, just like you'd check a map for rough areas or make sure your shoelaces are tied on a challenging walk, they want you to know these specific things so you can stay safe.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v80Effective 27 Aug 2026PublishedMedium impact
    U.S. State Department Maintains Level 2 Travel Advisory for Bosnia and Herzegovina: Exercise Increased Caution Due to Crime, Landmines, and Terrorism

    The United States State Department tells United States citizens to 'Exercise Increased Caution' when they travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The department keeps the travel advisory at Level 2. This advice is because of crime, landmines, and terrorism risks. The advisory says that property crime is high in Sarajevo. Small crimes are common in tourist areas. Landmines and unexploded ordnance are present, and people have died from them recently. There is also a general risk of terrorist violence in the region. The advisory notes recent political unrest. This unrest does not directly affect tourists, but bystanders are at risk.

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