Excursions and tour packages in Republika Srpska: when an agency licence is needed

The new Law on Tourism of Republika Srpska was published on 2 June 2026 and replaced the earlier law. This article concerns households, farms, restaurants and guides who want to offer excursions or package tours, and those who only provide services on their own farm.

In short

• Travel agency business means organising, brokering, selling and carrying out package tours, excursions, day trips and other travel for profit (Article 19).
• Only a company or an entrepreneur with a licence from the Ministry of Trade and Tourism and a guarantee (bank guarantee or insurance policy) may do it (Articles 33, 34 and 37).
• The guarantee is up to 30,000 KM for an agency that organises only its own excursions and packages in Republika Srpska and BiH, and up to 100,000 KM for other agencies (Article 34).
• The Ministry issues the licence by decision within 15 days of a complete application; the licence is reviewed after three years (Article 38).
• Operating without a licence allows the market inspector to ban the activity (Article 99). Brokering accommodation and meals in rural households and rural tourism facilities is also agency business (Article 21, point 9).

Who it applies to

• Anyone selling or organising an excursion (a combination of transport and other services lasting under 24 hours) or a package tour (at least two services, longer than 24 hours or with an overnight stay), Articles 3 and 21.
• A household or farm that bundles other people's services (transport, lodging, guide, visits to other farms) into one programme at one price.
• The law has no explicit exemption for households. Rural tourism (Article 52) and tourist services in general (Article 50) may be provided by persons registered under the hospitality rules. On our reading, a household that only provides its own services on its farm (lodging, food, tasting, farm activities) does not need an agency licence. If unsure whether your programme counts as agency business, ask the Ministry in writing.
• Associations, unions and organisations may arrange trips only for their members, without profit, with an annual plan and notification of each trip, and without public advertising (Article 41). A trip outside the plan is treated as one that needs a licence. Religious organisations may organise pilgrimages.

What to do

1. Decide whether your offer is agency business. If you only provide your own services on the farm, register under the hospitality rules. If you sell or assemble packages with other people's services, you need an agency.
2. Register as a company (at court) or an entrepreneur (at the municipality). The business name must contain the words "turistička agencija" (Article 20).
3. Have business premises with the prescribed technical equipment. The exception is an agency selling exclusively online; it must employ one more person besides its authorised representative (Article 22).
4. Employ the required staff. An agency organising only its own excursions and packages within Republika Srpska and BiH needs at least one full-time person with a four-year secondary education. Such an agency may organise trips outside BiH only to neighbouring countries, up to 48 hours, and not as part of a multi-day package. Other agencies need at least two full-time people, one with 180 ECTS credits and a foreign language (Article 33).
5. Provide the guarantee as an irrevocable bank guarantee or an insurance policy, up to 30,000 KM or up to 100,000 KM, for the whole life of the licence. If the guarantee or policy is for one year, deliver the renewed one to the Ministry within 15 days of issue (Article 34).
6. Apply to the Ministry with the documents in Article 37: court certificates on bankruptcy and protective measures, proof of staff qualifications and language, a Tax Administration of RS certificate, general travel conditions and proof of the guarantee. The procedure fee is paid on filing (Article 38(9)); check the exact amount with the Ministry.
7. For each excursion prepare a travel programme and a contract, and use vehicles in which passengers are insured (Articles 27 to 29, 99).

Deadlines and amounts

• Licence: decision within 15 days of a complete application, review after three years.
• Guarantee: up to 30,000 KM (Article 33(2)) or up to 100,000 KM (Article 33(1)).
• Licence fee: paid on filing; check the amount with the Ministry.
• Tourism businesses must comply with the new law within six months of its entry into force (Article 113). The law was published on 2 June 2026 and enters into force on the eighth day after publication (Article 119), so the deadline falls around 10 December 2026.
• Implementing rules under the new law are due within nine months; until then earlier by-laws apply (Articles 116 and 117), including the Rulebook on the form and content of the excursion contract. Check current forms with the Ministry.

Where to go

• Ministry of Trade and Tourism of Republika Srpska: licence and interpretation.
• Your municipality's economy department (Trebinje, Bileća, Gacko, Ljubinje, Nevesinje, Berkovići): entrepreneur registration.
• Republička uprava za inspekcijske poslove (Republic Administration for Inspection Affairs): supervision (market inspector).

Laws and sources

• Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske 49/26 (Law on Tourism, 2 June 2026)
• Law on Tourism, full text (Ministry of Trade and Tourism), Articles 3, 19 to 22, 33 to 38, 41, 50, 52, 99, 113, 116 to 119