The +387 country code belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina (often shortened to BiH or just Bosnia), a country in southeastern Europe with a population of about 3.2 million. The country has a complex administrative structure: two entities (the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska) plus the Brčko District, each with their own telecom operators. This matters when you're calling, because each entity has different area codes and different dominant carriers.
Quick answer: +387 is the country code for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mobile numbers have 8 digits after the country code and start with 6. Landline numbers are 8 digits with 2-digit area codes. Drop the leading 0 used in domestic dialing when calling from abroad. Example: +387 61 234 567.
How to call Bosnia and Herzegovina: quick reference
When calling Bosnia from abroad, drop the leading 0 from the domestic number. The format depends on where you're calling from.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +387 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-387-[local number] |
| UK | 00-387-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-387-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-387-[local number] |
| France | 00-387-[local number] |
Understanding Bosnia and Herzegovina phone numbers
Mobile numbers
Bosnian mobile numbers are 8 digits after the country code and start with 6. The prefix tells you which carrier:
- 61, 62 - BH Telecom (Federation entity)
- 65, 66 - m:tel (Republika Srpska entity)
- 63 - HT Eronet (Croat-majority areas)
- 60 - Various MVNOs
Format: +387 6X XXX XXX
Landline numbers
Landlines use 2-digit area codes. The total number after +387 is 8 digits. Domestically, you add a 0 before the area code. Area codes roughly follow the two-entity structure.
| Area code | City/Region | Entity |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Sarajevo | Federation |
| 36 | Mostar | Federation |
| 35 | Tuzla | Federation |
| 37 | Zenica | Federation |
| 30 | Travnik | Federation |
| 51 | Banja Luka | Republika Srpska |
| 52 | Prijedor | Republika Srpska |
| 53 | Doboj | Republika Srpska |
| 55 | Bijeljina | Republika Srpska |
| 49 | Brčko District | Brčko |
Mobile carriers in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia has three mobile operators, each historically tied to one of the country's three constituent peoples. All three use the same +387 country code.
BH Telecom
The largest operator, based in Sarajevo and dominant in the Federation entity. State-owned. Has the widest coverage in Bosniak-majority areas. Mobile numbers start with 61 or 62.
m:tel (Telekom Srpske)
Based in Banja Luka, dominant in Republika Srpska. Majority-owned by Telekom Srbija. Has the best coverage in the RS entity and competitive prepaid plans. Mobile numbers start with 65 or 66.
HT Eronet
The smallest of the three, owned partly by HT d.d. (Croatian Telecom). Strongest coverage in Croat-majority areas of Herzegovina (Mostar, Široki Brijeg, West Herzegovina). Mobile numbers start with 63.
Don't confuse +387 with nearby codes
Bosnia's +387 sits in the middle of the 38x Balkan block, surrounded by codes that are one or two digits apart.
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +386 | Slovenia | One digit off, both former Yugoslav countries |
| +385 | Croatia | Neighboring country, shared history, two digits off |
| +381 | Serbia | Same language family, m:tel operates in both countries |
| +382 | Montenegro | Southern neighbor, sequential code |
| +389 | North Macedonia | End of the 38x block, both Balkan countries |
The most common confusion is with +385 (Croatia), partly because HT Eronet in Herzegovina is owned by Croatian Telecom, and some people near the border use Croatian SIM cards. If a call to a Herzegovinian number on +385 doesn't go through, try +387.
Time zone considerations
Bosnia and Herzegovina uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from late March to late October. Same clock as Germany, France, and most of Central Europe.
| Your location | Winter offset | Summer offset |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST/EDT) | Bosnia is +6 hours | Bosnia is +6 hours |
| US West Coast (PST/PDT) | Bosnia is +9 hours | Bosnia is +9 hours |
| UK (GMT/BST) | Bosnia is +1 hour | Bosnia is +1 hour |
| Australia (AEDT/AEST) | Bosnia is -10 hours | Bosnia is -8 hours |
Business hours are typically 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays. Government offices may close by 3:00 PM. Many shops and cafes stay open later, especially in Sarajevo and Mostar.
Communication in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Business culture
Business in Bosnia is personal. People prefer phone calls to emails, and an in-person meeting (usually over Bosnian coffee) is the standard way to build trust before doing business. Punctuality varies, and small talk about family is expected before getting to business. Things can move slowly through official channels, so having a local contact helps.
Language
Three official languages: Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian. They are mutually intelligible (essentially the same language with minor vocabulary differences and two scripts - Latin and Cyrillic). Most people under 40 speak some English, especially in Sarajevo and tourist areas. German is widely understood due to the large diaspora in German-speaking countries.
Network quality
4G coverage is good in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, Tuzla, and along major highways. Rural areas and mountains can have weak or no signal, particularly in central Bosnia's highlands. Coverage can also be patchy near entity borders where you might switch between BH Telecom and m:tel networks. 5G is not yet available.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina diaspora
Where they went
The 1992-1995 war displaced over half the population and created one of Europe's largest modern diasporas. Germany has the biggest Bosnian community (around 230,000), followed by Austria, Sweden, and Switzerland. The US has communities centered on St. Louis (the largest Bosnian community outside Europe, estimated at 70,000+), Chicago, and New York. Australia has communities in Melbourne and Sydney. Many diaspora members maintain dual citizenship and own property in Bosnia.
Why they call home
Family ties remain strong across the diaspora. Many people who left during the war still have parents and extended family in Bosnia. Calls spike around Bajram (Eid), Orthodox Christmas (January 7), Catholic Christmas (December 25), and during the summer when diaspora members return for visits. Property management and bureaucratic calls to Bosnian government offices are common year-round, since many diaspora members kept their homes or land.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile in Sarajevo
Your friend's domestic number is 061 234 567. Drop the leading 0 and dial: +387 61 234 567. From a US landline: 011-387-61-234-567.
Calling a landline in Banja Luka
The office number is 051 215 678. Drop the 0 and dial: +387 51 215 678. From a UK phone: 00-387-51-215-678.
Calling a mobile from Australia
The number is 065 876 543. Drop the 0 and dial: +387 65 876 543. From an Australian landline: 0011-387-65-876-543.
Calling within Bosnia
For domestic calls, keep the leading 0. To call a Sarajevo landline from Mostar, dial 033 followed by the subscriber number. Mobile-to-mobile calls within the country also use the 0 prefix (e.g., 061 234 567). Note that calling between entities (e.g., BH Telecom to m:tel) may cost more than calls within the same network.
Common mistakes to avoid
Keeping the trunk prefix 0
Domestically, Bosnians dial 061, 033, 051, etc. When calling from abroad, drop that leading 0. Dial +387 61, not +387 061. The extra digit will cause the call to fail.
Using a Croatian or Serbian code instead
People in Herzegovina sometimes have Croatian SIM cards (+385), and people in Republika Srpska near the Serbian border may use Serbian SIM cards (+381). If a +387 call doesn't connect, the person might be on a foreign SIM. Ask them which code they're using.
Not knowing which carrier covers the area
BH Telecom, m:tel, and HT Eronet each have stronger coverage in different parts of the country. If you're calling a landline and can't connect, the number might be on a different entity's network. This is rare for international calls but worth knowing if you're troubleshooting a connection issue.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +387 code?
Bosnia and Herzegovina. The code covers the entire country, including both the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska entities, plus Brčko District.
How many digits are in a Bosnian phone number?
Both mobile and landline numbers are 8 digits after +387. Mobile numbers start with 6 (e.g., +387 61 234 567). Landline numbers start with a 2-digit area code (e.g., +387 33 for Sarajevo).
Do I need to dial 0 before the number when calling from abroad?
No. The 0 is a domestic trunk prefix. Drop it when dialing from outside Bosnia. A domestic number 061 234 567 becomes +387 61 234 567 internationally.
Why are there three mobile operators?
Bosnia's three operators historically correspond to the three constituent peoples: BH Telecom (Bosniak areas), m:tel (Serb areas), and HT Eronet (Croat areas). All three use the same +387 country code and all work throughout the country, but each has stronger coverage in its home region.
What's the area code for Sarajevo?
Sarajevo's area code is 33 (domestically dialed as 033). From abroad: +387 33 followed by the subscriber number.
Looking for more Balkan dialing guides? Check our guides for Croatia (+385), Serbia (+381), and Montenegro (+382), or browse the full country codes directory.