How To Call Bosnia From US: Updated For 2025

Quick Answer

To call Bosnia and Herzegovina from the United States:

• Landline: 011 + 387 + Area Code (2 digits, drop leading 0) + Local Number (6 digits)
• Mobile: 011 + 387 + Mobile Code (2 digits, e.g., 60, 61, 63, 65, drop leading 0) + Subscriber Number (6 digits)

Examples:

• For a Sarajevo landline (Area Code 33): 011 + 387 + 33 + XXX XXX
• For a Bosnian mobile phone (e.g., BH Mobile 061): 011 + 387 + 61 + XXX XXX

Bosnia and Herzegovina is on Central European Time (CET), UTC+1, and observes Central European Summer Time (CEST), UTC+2. This means it is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET) during standard time and 7 hours ahead during DST.

Understanding Bosnian Phone Numbers

Bosnian phone numbers use the country code +387. When dialing internationally, the leading 0 from a domestic area code (for landlines) or mobile code is dropped.

Landline Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 387 + Area Code (2 digits) + Subscriber Number (6 digits)
• The total National Significant Number (NSN) length after +387 for landlines is 8 digits (e.g., +387 33 XXX XXX for Sarajevo).

Mobile Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 387 + Mobile Code (2 digits) + Subscriber Number (6 digits)
• After +387, Bosnian mobile numbers are 8 digits long, starting with a 2-digit mobile code (e.g., 60, 61, 63, 65) followed by a 6-digit subscriber number. Some newer mobile allocations might use 9 digits after the country code (e.g. 60 3X XXX XXX).

Bosnian Area Codes (Fixed Lines)

When calling a landline in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the US, dial 011 + 387, then the 2-digit area code (dropping any leading '0' used for domestic calls), followed by the 6-digit local subscriber number. Here is a list of common area codes:

Bosnian Mobile Phone Prefixes

Bosnian mobile phone numbers are typically 8 digits long after the +387 country code. They start with a 2-digit mobile code, followed by a 6-digit subscriber number. Some newer allocations might result in 9-digit numbers after the country code.

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) is available, so the prefix may not always indicate the current operator.

Time Difference

Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the Central European Time Zone (CET).

• Standard Time: CET is UTC+1 (typically late October to late March).
• Daylight Saving Time: Bosnia and Herzegovina observes Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2 (typically late March to late October).

The time difference compared to the US East Coast (ET):

• When the US is on Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) and Bosnia and Herzegovina is on CET (UTC+1): Bosnia and Herzegovina is 6 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EST is 6 PM in Bosnia).
• When the US is on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) and Bosnia and Herzegovina is on CEST (UTC+2): Bosnia and Herzegovina is 6 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EDT is 6 PM in Bosnia).

Therefore, Bosnia and Herzegovina is consistently 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time throughout the year. Please double-check for DST changes in both locations for precise timing.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Phone System

The telecommunications market in Bosnia and Herzegovina is overseen by the Communications Regulatory Agency (RAK). The market is characterized by three main incumbent operators, largely divided along ethnic and administrative lines: BH Telecom (primarily in Bosniak-majority areas), HT Eronet (primarily in Croat-majority areas), and m:tel (Telekom Srpske, primarily in Republika Srpska). These operators provide fixed-line, mobile (3G, 4G/LTE, with 5G development underway), and internet services. There are also other smaller alternative operators. The infrastructure has seen significant modernization, but disparities can exist between urban and rural areas. Mobile number portability is implemented, allowing users to switch operators while keeping their number.

Best Times to Call

Considering Bosnia and Herzegovina is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET):

• To reach someone during typical Bosnian business hours (e.g., 8:00/9:00 AM - 4:00/5:00 PM CET/CEST):
  • Call from the US ET zone between 2:00 AM and 11:00 AM ET.
  • Morning calls from the US (e.g., 9 AM - 11 AM ET) will reach Bosnia and Herzegovina in their mid to late afternoon (3 PM - 5 PM).

Business hours are generally Monday to Friday. It's always a good idea to confirm the recipient's local time and availability, especially for important calls.