NEW RULES AT AIRPORTS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Passengers at international airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska – Sarajevo, Mostar, and Banja Luka – will soon have the option of electronic travel document control (so-called e-gates).

This move is expected to significantly speed up border-crossing procedures and reduce congestion.

The project was initiated by the Agency for Identification Documents, Registers, and Data Exchange of BiH (IDDEEA). Recently, a working meeting was held in Banja Luka with the participation of representatives from the Border Police of BiH, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Navigation Services Agency (BHANSA), and the international airports in Sarajevo, Mostar, and Banja Luka, according to a statement from Sarajevo International Airport for FENA.

The main topic of the meeting was the "Introduction of Automated Border Control Systems – ABC or e-Gates," which includes the verification of travel documents such as passports. Technical aspects of the project were presented, and it was agreed to form teams that will work on creating a pilot project and preparing an application for financing from European Union funds.

According to agreed responsibilities, Sarajevo Airport will provide all technical prerequisites for installing the equipment, including necessary installations and space adjustments. Meanwhile, the procurement and integration of devices with the IDDEEA system will fall under the responsibility of the Border Police of BiH.

The airport administration emphasized that increasing passenger flow and reducing queues is their strategic priority, and in line with available resources and priorities, they will also consider the possibility of co-financing the purchase of the equipment.