Starting Today, Kosovars Can Travel Visa-Free to Schengen Zone
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Kosovars can travel visa-free to the EU's Schengen Zone, marking the conclusion of an eleven-year process.
- The first visa-free flight for Kosovars left today at 8:00 am.
- In April 2023, the EU adopted visa-free travel for Kosovo’s passport holders.
Starting today, Kosovars will enjoy visa-free travel for short-term stays to EU’s Schengen Zone countries, marking the finalisation of an eleven-year-long process.
The first visa-free travel flight for Kosovars is scheduled at 08:00 am.
Furthermore, another special flight is also scheduled for Monday, commencing at 10:30 am. This comes after Kosovo’s government, as part of the informative campaign, has organised the first visa-free travel for winners of the EU quiz, as reported by Klan Kosova.
Congratulating citizens of Kosovo on the visa liberalisation, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, speaking from Kosovo’s International Airport “Adem Jashari,” recalled that Kosovo has waited for this process to be finished for too long, stressing that today marks the end of an injustice.
During a press conference, Kurti said that today, 50 citizens who secured this opportunity through the Government’s campaign will be travelling to Vienna.
Our citizens can now travel to 32 countries. In celebration, 50 lucky individuals, winners of our campaign, are embarking on a journey to Vienna. As we explore the world, let’s always remember our roots in Kosovo. Congratulations on the new year and a heartfelt acknowledgment for the visa liberalisation achievement.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti
Noting that a considerable number of Kosovars are already working abroad, in particular in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and the fact that the diaspora’s contribution to Kosovo’s economy accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the GDP in 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), recently said that Kosovo plays a dynamic role as an origin, transit, and increasingly, a destination for migrants.
Another important step that brings people in Europe closer together: Visa liberalisation for Kosovo finally allows all Kosovar citizens to travel visa-free for short stays to the EU/Schengen area.
German Foreign Office
Through a post on the Facebook account, the website warned that if a person stays in the Schengen Area for a period of more than 90 days, without obtaining a residence permit or a long-term visa, they risk being subject to a travel ban in the EU’s passport-free travel zone.
In addition, Kosovo’s European Integration recalled that under the current Schengen rules, working in the Schengen Zone countries without holding a work permit is also illegal, among other things.
Working in the Schengen area without a work permit is also illegal (even if it is less than 90 days) and may also result in a ban on re-entry to the Schengen area.
Kosovo’s European Integration website
In April 2023, the EU adopted visa-free travel for Kosovo’s passport holders, stressing that they would be allowed to travel without visas starting from this year.
Besides, the German Embassy in Kosovo also confirmed that from January 2024, Kosovars would be eligible to travel visa-free for short-term stays in Schengen Zone countries.
Currently, Kosovo is ranked 188th in the VisaGuide. World Passport Index, which ranks passports of a total of 199 states in terms of the power of their passports, while previously it was emphasised that the visa liberalisation would quadruple the strength of Kosovo’s passport.