Kosovo citizens can travel to the EU without visas
Citizens of Kosovo will be able to travel to Schengen countries without visas from January 1, 2024. The visa-free regime is intended for tourist trips, visiting relatives or other similar purposes.
Visa liberalization allows visa-free travel for up to 90 days within six months to any of the 27 member states of the so-called Schengen area. This was reported by the Albanian Daily News.
"Border guards can check whether tourists have financial confirmation of your trip," the Kosovo government reports. The amount of money depends on the number of days of stay and the country you are visiting. It also depends on whether you will be staying in paid accommodation, such as a hotel/apartment, or with your relatives.
If you declare that you will be staying with relatives, indicating their address and contact phone number, then depending on the country you are visiting, the amount of money can be around 30-50 euros per day per person.
If you indicate that you will be staying in a hotel, apartment or any other paid accommodation, depending on the country you are visiting, the amount of money you need to provide as financial proof is about 50-100 euros per day for each person," the announcement on the European Integration of Kosovo page says.
Staying with friends or relatives can be verified by contacting the host directly by phone or by checking their address with the police. Verification of sufficient financial means can be done in various forms, when you are asked to present cash, a bank card, a credit card or a confirmation letter from a conference or seminar covering your accommodation and meals.
The visa-free regime does not require a work permit or other benefits. In recent years, thousands of Kosovo citizens have received work visas to EU countries, especially Germany. Last year alone, the number of work visas issued by the German Embassy in Pristina increased by 110 percent compared to the previous year.
More than 42,000 people have left Kosovo for various reasons, including employment. According to the Kosovo Statistics Agency, most of them were legal residents.
