Kosovo visa liberalisation signed for entry in early 2024

Citizens of Kosovo will be allowed to travel to the EU –and EU citizens to go to Kosovo- without requesting a visa, for periods of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. After the law has entered into force, the entire Western Balkans region will have a similar visa framework for the Schengen area.

The visa exemption will enter into force January 2024.

Visa-free travel brings key benefits for citizens on both sides, strengthening further the EU relations with Kosovo. Kosovo has consistently fulfilled all benchmarks and continuously shown its commitment. With this achievement, all Western Balkan partners will soon have visa-free access to the EU.  

The Commission proposed to the European Parliament and the Council to grant EU visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo in 2016. Kosovo fulfilled all requirements since 2018, fulfilling all benchmarks set in the Visa Liberalisation Roadmap. 

Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU accession and unilaterally declared its independence in February 2008. Its independence is currently not recognised by five EU member states (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain).