Effective January 1, 2024, Kosovo passport holders can travel to the EU without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Equally, EU citizens are able to travel to Kosovo without a visa.
The proposal to grant visa free travel to Kosovo was approved by the European Union co-legislators in April 2023.
The EU Member States covered by the visa waiver are:
- the following EU Member States which are part of the Schengen area: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden;
- the EU Member States which are not yet part of the Schengen area but do apply the EU acquis related to the EU visa lists Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania;
- the associated Schengen states: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Although Ireland is an EU Member State, it is not part of the Schengen Area, so the visa waiver does not apply.
Kosovans can enter the EU as a tourist, to visit friends or family, to attend cultural or sports events, business meetings, for journalistic or media purposes, medical treatment, for short-term studies or training and any similar activities. However, the visa waiver does not apply to persons travelling for those who come to work in the EU.
Erickson Insights and Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.