What is visa liberalization?

Visa liberalization means a visa-free movement in the Schenge area.

Citizens of Kosovo with biometric passports will enjoy the right to travel without visas starting from 1 January 2024.

Visa-free travel will be possible for short-term tourist, cultural, sports visits, participation in various events, as well as visits to relatives or friends. The stay will be possible for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

Which countries can be traveled to without a visa?

EU countries where you can travel without a visa are:

1. EU Member States that are part of the Schengen area: For more information about the Schengen area and the list of countries, please visit the link https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/Shengen-borders-and-visa/Shengen-area_en
2. b) EU Member States that are not yet part of the Schengen area but apply Schengen acquis legislation: Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania
3. c) Other non-EU member Schengen countries are: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Who can benefit from visa-free travel?

From 1 January 2024, the visa regime for all Kosovo citizens will be removed. All citizens of the country who possess biometric passports will have the right to travel without visas. However, when traveling, citizens must have with them information and proof of their financial situation, the purpose of the visit, the place where they will stay, sufficient financial cover for the days of the visit. You should always have the correct information about your residence address and phone numbers with you if you are going to stay with your friends or relatives. The border police of the Schengen country has the right to deny entry to any citizen if he/she do not possess sufficient information and documents justifying the purpose of the visit and covering the costs while staying there.

Does liberalization mean employment abroad?

Visa liberalization in no case means employment opportunities in the Schengen area countries. If you want to travel for employment purposes then you must apply for an employment visa, always according to the criteria of the country from which you managed to obtain an employment contract.

Can you study there?

Liberalization of visas does not mean the possibility of education or study since the study period is longer than 90 days. In case you want to study in one of the Schengen countries, then you must have a study visa that allows you to stay longer than 90 days. For this you should contact the embassy of the country in which you plan to study.

In case you want to attend trainings, conferences, seminars, workshops, short summer or winter schools, 1-2 month education programs, short-term courses that do not require a stay longer than 90 days, then you can benefit from the process of visa liberalization and you do not need to obtain a visa.

What consequences can you have in case of possible violations?

In case of potential violations and abuse of visa-free travel, the personal consequences may include: the imposition of a financial fine, an official note in your passport and file showing the violation in the Schengen system, and a ban on entering the Schengen area for up to 5 years.

What is not allowed that leads to the refusal of visa-free entry in the future?

First, the permitted periods of stay of 90 days within each period of 180 days must not be violated.

Secondly, you must not violate the local legislation on employment rules, so if you are found working you will be subject to expulsion, return to Kosovo and ban on entry in the future.

Third, you must not cause problems for public safety and become a public burden.

Fourth, you must not engage in criminal activities.

Fifth, you must not apply for asylum.

What should we pay attention to and have with us?

When traveling to the Schengen area, citizens of Kosovo must have with them:

1. Valid biometric passport: Make sure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond the date of departure from the Schengen area.
2. Information and evidence on the purpose of travel: travel details, including return ticket bookings, if you are attending an event, your agenda, hotel bookings or the address and telephone numbers of your relatives if you will be staying with them.
3. Evidence of the possession of sufficient funds during the stay in the Schengen area, including cash or credit card or credit card statement. Each country has different rules regarding the amount of funds you must have for 1 day of stay. For each latest information, each Member State determines the amount; please consult the website of the respective Member States through which you intend to enter Schengen.
4. If traveling by car, the necessary car documentation (international driving license and green international car insurance card).

Additional documents required in case of travel for the following reasons: 

1. When traveling for tourism reasons or for holidays, (travel independent of hosting or accompanying another person, citizen or resident in the host country), a hotel or other accommodation booking and the return ticket must be presented.
2. When traveling for participation in various cultural, sports activities, conferences and seminars, documentation about the activity and an invitation or proof of participation in the activity, including the agenda, must be presented.
3. When traveling for health reasons, depending on the country you are visiting, different documents may be required as part of the verification of your stay conditions. For example, you may be asked to provide a proof from the receiving healthcare institution, such as proof of planned medical treatment or invitations for medical tests. Always take care that the medical treatment must be completed within the 90 day period. If the treatment will last more than 90 days, then you must obtain a visa through the embassy in charge.
4. When traveling to visit to a relative, give information about this person with his/her data, such as address, phone number, etc.; a copy of the host’s residence permit.
5. If traveling by car, the necessary car documentation (international driving license and green international car insurance card).

What are the reasons that the border police can refuse entry?

The border police of a Schengen country has the right to deny entry to any citizen if:

1. The individual has no passport with sufficient validity (at least 3 months beyond the planned return date from the Schengen area);
2. The individual presents forged documents;
3. The individual does not possess documents proving the purpose of the trip;
4. The individual fails to provide evidence of having sufficient funds to cover expenses during the stay;
5. The individual has exceeded the 90-day stay limit within the 180-day period;
6. The individual poses a risk to public security, public health, or international relations for one or more Schengen states;
7. When there is evidence that the person is involved in criminal activities or clear evidence that he intends to do so.

Who cannot travel to the Schengen area?

1. Individuals listed as threats to public order, public health, or internal security.
2. Individuals subject to entry bans in any of the Schengen area countries or who have been the subject of a removal, deportation, or expulsion order (return or deportation) , typically applied for cases of unlawful stay.

Every traveler should be aware that entry into the European Union without a visa is not guaranteed. Entry may be rejected by border police if you do not have a valid passport with sufficient validity, lack documents proving the purpose of your trip, and evidence of sufficient funds for your planned stay in the Schengen area, or if you have exceeded the 90-day stay limit within the 180-day period in the past.

What happens if Kosovar citizens violate the rules of residence?

Kosovar citizens will be required to comply with certain requirements and rules, not only when entering EU countries but also during their stay in these countries. If Kosovo citizens violate these rules, they will be subject to forced removal or deportation, an action which is always accompanied by an entry ban of up to 5 years.

For a category of violations of residence rules, EU Member States apply administrative fines, which go up to 3,000 Euro. If these fines are not paid, then the person fined will not be allowed to enter that country until he/she pays it along with the interest for the delay.

It is important to know which are these rules that Kosovars should not violate:

1. First, they must not violate the permitted period which is 90 days out of 180 days.
2. They must not violate local legislation, mainly that on employment. So if they are caught working, they become subject to removal and entry ban.
3. They must not become a problem for public safety, or engage in criminal activities.
4. They should not become a public burden. People who do not have shelter, food or other vital needs are a public burden.

Important:

Entry into the European Union without a visa is not guaranteed. Entry may be rejected by border police if you do not have a valid passport with sufficient validity, lack documents proving the purpose of your trip, and evidence of sufficient funds for your planned stay in the Schengen area, or if you have exceeded the 90-day stay limit within the 180-day period in the past.