Can a Swedish Driver Drive in Bosnia? — Yes, IDP Recommended, Alcohol 0.03
Sweden
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Yes. Both countries are 1968 Vienna parties, so a Swedish licence is accepted; a car hired in Bosnia needs the 1968-model IDP as well, so carry one for any local rental. Traffic keeps right, the alcohol limit is 0.03%, and the car must hold a first-aid kit, vest, triangle and spare bulbs.
Swedish drivers searching for an international driving permit for Bosnia are asking the right question, and the answer is conditional. A Swedish licence works in your own car or in one you hired outside the country. If you rent a car inside Bosnia and Herzegovina, UK travel advice says you also need the 1968-model International Driving Permit. Sweden and Bosnia are both parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention, which is why the Swedish card is recognised at all.
What to carry, and when
Get the 1968-model permit in Sweden before you go; it cannot be arranged once you are abroad. Keep it with your licence and passport, and show it at the rental desk. If you drive your own car down from Sweden, the licence alone covers you, but our records mark an IDP as sensible to have either way, and it saves arguments at a police stop.
Same side, harder terrain
Both countries drive on the right. What defines driving in Bosnia is the terrain: mountain roads above Sarajevo, single carriageways through the Dinaric ranges, and surfaces that deteriorate off the main corridors. UK advice warns not to step off roads and paved areas without an experienced guide, because of mines left from the 1990s war.
Equipment: the biggest difference from Sweden
In Sweden only a warning triangle is required. In Bosnia and Herzegovina the list is longer: a first-aid kit, reflective vest, spare bulbs and a warning triangle must be in the car, and a fire extinguisher is recommended. A Swedish car may carry only the triangle, so check before you cross, and ask a Bosnian rental desk to confirm the set is in the boot.
Winter equipment
UK advice says that from November to April cars need tyres marked M+S with the snowflake symbol and at least 4 mm of tread, and you must carry snow chains and fit them when signs say so.
Speeds, side by side
| Sweden | Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
|---|---|---|
| Towns | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural roads | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Motorways | 110 km/h | 130 km/h |
The WHO profile for Bosnia lists the same 50, 80 and 130, though bends, gravel and slow lorries usually set your pace. Trucks are held to 70 on rural roads and 80 on motorways.
Alcohol and fines
The alcohol limit is 0.03%, a little above Sweden’s 0.02%; do not drink before driving. Fines are in convertible marks (BAM):
- No seatbelt: BAM 40-100
- Handheld phone: BAM 50-200
- Running a red light: BAM 100-400 plus 3 penalty points
- Speeding 20 km/h over: BAM 80-200 plus 2 points
- Speeding 30 km/h over: BAM 300-1,500 plus a licence suspension
Canada’s advice notes that police can collect fines on the spot, so carry some local cash.
A sensible first day
Collect the car in daylight, run through the equipment list with the desk, and photograph the tyres and tread, since winter rules turn on those details. Plan a short first leg on a main road before heading into the hills. Pull over only on paved surfaces, and if you want to walk or take photographs, stay on marked paths and roads. Allow more time than the map suggests: distances are short on paper, but climbs, bends and lorries stretch the journey. Do not rely on a signal for route-finding in the mountains; an offline map costs nothing and works everywhere. Keep the fuel tank above a quarter on remote stretches.
Emergency numbers
Sweden answers everything on 112. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, police is 122, fire 123 and ambulance 124, with 112 for general emergencies and 1282 for roadside help. Mobile coverage thins in the mountains, so download offline maps.
More is on the Bosnia and Herzegovina driving guide and the Driving Permit Checker.
Sources
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Bosnia and Herzegovina: safety and security (licence; 1968 IDP for local hire; November-April tyres, 4 mm, chains; mines): gov.uk
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Bosnia and Herzegovina: getting help (police 122, fire 123, ambulance 124): gov.uk
- Global Affairs Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina travel advice (on-the-spot fines; 112; 1282 roadside assistance): travel.gc.ca
- UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (Bosnia and Herzegovina 1993, Sweden 1985): treaties.un.org
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina profile (50/80/130 km/h; 0.03 g/dl) and Sweden profile (0.02 g/dl): who.int, who.int
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Winter tyres in Bosnia and Herzegovina — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are compulsory on fixed dates in Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1 Nov - 1 Apr.
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — Bosnia and Herzegovina sets no separate winter figure.
- Accepted marking: MS, M+S, M&S or Snow/Winter marking (summer tyres of 4 mm+ accepted with chains)
- Studded tyres: banned
Checked against national legislation, 20 Oct 2026 · Full Bosnia and Herzegovina tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Sweden and Bosnia and Herzegovina are both parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention. UK travel advice says a foreign licence is fine in your own car or one hired outside the country, but a car hired in Bosnia needs the 1968 IDP as well, so bring one if you plan to rent locally.
Only if you rent a car inside Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to UK travel advice, and then it must be the 1968-model permit. Driving your own Swedish car, or one hired outside the country, works on the licence alone. Get the permit in Sweden before you travel, since an IDP cannot be issued abroad.
Yes, slightly looser: Bosnia's limit is 0.03% against Sweden's 0.02%. With mountain roads and night driving, treat it as zero anyway.
No. Sweden and Bosnia both drive on the right. The adjustment is the terrain: narrow mountain roads, few motorways and, off the tarmac, unexploded mines from the 1990s war.