In a significant move towards regional integration, the European Union has officially abolished visa requirements for Kosovo citizens holding passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate. This decision, published in the Official Gazette of the European Union on September 18, 2024, marks a major step forward for Kosovo’s relationship with the EU.
Starting in mid-October, Kosovo citizens with Serbian passports will be able to travel visa-free to EU countries for short-term stays, according to Schengen.News. This new regulation was signed in Strasbourg by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Janos Boka, Hungary’s Minister of European Affairs. The signing was also confirmed on the social media platform “X” by Dragiša Mijačić, the coordinator of the National Convention for Chapter 35.
The visa exemption will come into effect 20 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and will apply across all EU member states. This follows the European Union Council’s decision in July 2024 to lift visa restrictions for Kosovo citizens with Serbian Coordination Directorate passports.
The EU’s move to align visa regulations across the Western Balkan region reflects a commitment to ensuring consistent travel rules. With this change, Kosovo citizens holding passports from the Serbian Coordination Directorate join other Western Balkan countries in enjoying visa-free travel to EU nations.
It’s important to note that this change only applies to Kosovo citizens holding passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate. The European Commission clarified in April 2023 that Serbian passport holders would not benefit from this visa liberalization.
Prior to this decision, Kosovo citizens with passports from the Serbian Coordination Directorate in Belgrade were the only group in the region still subject to visa requirements for travel to the Schengen Area. Now, they can enjoy the same travel freedoms as their counterparts in other Western Balkan countries. This significant development further strengthens the EU’s commitment to the region and fosters closer ties between Kosovo and the EU.
