Every company registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina must have a registered seat — an address in Bosnia entered in the court register. For a founder who lives abroad, a virtual office is the usual way to meet this requirement. Here is what that means in practice.
Why the registered seat matters
The registered seat is where the law assumes your company can be reached. The court, the tax administration, inspectorates and business partners send official letters there. A letter delivered to the registered seat counts as delivered, whether or not anyone reads it.
That is why the address is more than a formality. A missed letter from the tax administration can mean a missed deadline, and a missed deadline means a fine.
What a virtual office provides
A virtual office gives your company:
- the right to register its seat at the provider’s address, backed by a written agreement that the court accepts;
- an address you can use on invoices, contracts and your website;
- receipt of all post, including registered letters from authorities;
- scanning and forwarding, so you see your mail wherever you are.
What it does not provide
- A workplace. If you need a desk or meeting room, that is a separate arrangement.
- Answers to the authorities. Receiving a letter is not the same as responding to it. That is the work of an accountant or an administrative service.
- A shortcut to residence. A registered address alone does not create a basis for a residence permit.
Five questions to ask any provider
- How fast is official mail scanned? Same day should be the standard, not weekly batches.
- Do you summarise official letters? A scanned letter in Bosnian is of little use if you do not read Bosnian.
- Is the agreement suitable for court registration? It must explicitly allow the company to register its seat.
- What happens when I leave? The company must register a new seat; check the notice period.
- Who else sees my mail? Ask how access is restricted and how originals are stored.
How we handle it
Our registered address and virtual office service scans every letter the day it arrives and adds a short English summary of what an official letter asks and by when. Originals are kept securely and forwarded on request. Combined with corporate administration, we also prepare the reply.
Sources
- Law on Business Companies of the FBiH — registered seat of a company
- Law on Registration of Business Entities in the FBiH — registration and change of seat
- Business Register of BiH — the seat as shown in the public register