As of January 1, citizens of Kosovo have gained the privilege of visa-free travel within the European Union’s Schengen Area, allowing them to explore the zone for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This new travel regime excludes permission to work and is designed for tourism and personal travel.
Kosovo, the final country among the Western Balkans’ six nations to obtain this waiver, considers it a pivotal step toward its aspirations to join the European Union. The visa-free arrangement was inaugurated at a ceremony held at Pristina airport on January 1, where Prime Minister Albin Kurti encouraged citizens to use this privilege responsibly.
Addressing the crowd, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized the significance of the occasion, stating, “We have waited too long and have been denied many opportunities. Therefore, this is an important day because a great injustice has been eliminated and an important right has been won.”
Congratulating Kosovo’s 1.8 million citizens on Facebook, President Vjosa Osmani remarked, “The people of Kosovo have proved with unwavering commitment that they are not giving up their rightful place in the European family,” adding that 2024 marks the beginning of “a year that begins with freedom of movement.”
Leaders from neighboring Albania also celebrated this overdue achievement for Kosovo. Albanian President Bajram Begaj expressed hope that the visa-free travel step would expedite Kosovo’s journey towards EU membership and other international organizations.
The European Commission had recognized Kosovo’s fulfillment of necessary criteria for the waiver in 2018. However, approval faced delays due to concerns from France and the Netherlands regarding a potential increase in migration. Opposition also came from Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain, which do not acknowledge Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008.
Before this development, Kosovars were limited to visa-free travel in 14 countries globally. The new visa-free access encompasses 27 Schengen zone countries, marking a significant advancement for Kosovo on the international stage.
