Skip to main content

Ireland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina UEFA Euro 2016 Playoff, 13 November 2015

Travel Advice for Fans

Before you travel:

Passport: Irish citizens must hold a valid passport to enter Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH). Your passport should be valid up to and including the day of your departure from BiH. Under BiH law, you are required to have ID readily accessible at all times. You are advised to take necessary precautions to for safe-keeping of your passport while on your person.

It is recommended that you bring a scan or photocopy of the passport page with your photograph. This can be useful in case of loss or theft of your passport.

Travel Insurance: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly recommends that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before travelling to BiH.

Currency: BiH uses the Convertible Mark: €1 = 1.96KM approx. You cannot buy KM in advance and will need to exchange them before you leave the country. ATMs are widespread, but debit and credit cards are not as widely accepted as in Ireland and you should confirm before you order – some cafés, bars and restaurants are cash-only.

Language: English is not widely spoken in BiH

Safety:

BiH is generally quite safe and most crimes are against property.  As in many places visitors should beware of pick pockets and not leave bags unwatched.  Very rarely violence can erupt between rival fans at local football matches.  There is also a slight possibility of political demonstrations turning violent.  Although unlikely to impact on supporters travelling for the match it is wise to be aware that BiH has a large number of landmines in rural areas

If your property has been lost or stolen...

You must report the theft of your documents and/or property within 24 hours to the police and obtain a police report. This may be needed for insurance purposes and must be presented to an Embassy official if an emergency travel document is required (see below).

If your passport has been lost or stolen...

An embassy official can issue an emergency travel certificate valid for one single journey back to Ireland. Please contact the Irish Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia to arrange this (details below).

You will require:

  • Two passport photographs
  • A police report
  • Any other form of ID that you are carrying
  • Fee of €15
  • Proof of travel e.g. flight bookings

If you run out of money...

If your cash or credit cards have been lost or stolen, or if you run out of funds for any other reason, we recommend that a family member or friend transfer funds to you through a commercial money transfer agent. You will require photo identification to collect the transferred funds. If you have also lost your ID, the funds could be transferred to a family member or friend who is with you in BiH. The Embassy is not in a position to arrange an advance of funds.

Emergency contacts:

Please note that there is no Irish Embassy in BiH. Consular assistance for Irish citizens travelling in BiH is provided by the Irish Embassy in Slovenia (details below)

 

Emergency Numbers in BiH

Police 122

Fire Brigade 123

Emergency Medical Assistance 124

 

Consular Assistance

Embassy of Ireland, Ljubljana, Slovenia:
+386 1 3008970  (an out of office emergency number is available on the voicemail message)

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade:

+353 1 478 0822

 

Further travel advice and related information is also available.