Everything you need to know about a Kosovo Visa

Nationals of the United Kingdom in possession of a valid British citizen passport do not need a visa to enter and stay in Kosovo if the period of stay does not exceed 90 days per visit. 

Once you land in the country, you shall be asked to produce your passport (which should be valid for a minimum of 6 months from your date of arrival in Kosovo and should contain at least 2 blank pages).

You can also be asked to produce other documentary evidence, including proof of sufficient funds, onward travel, and purpose for your stay. 

If all the documents are in order and the immigration authorities are convinced that your reasons for a visit to Kosovo are valid, they will affix a 90-day entry stamp on your passport.

If you wish, you can extend the allowable stay period by contacting the immigration authorities in Kosovo.

Registration after arriving in Kosovo

Visitors who arrive in Kosovo and intend to stay in the nation for less than 3 months, do not generally need to register themselves.

If your place of accommodation includes a hotel, hostel or other registered landlord, then the respective establishment will notify the local police about your arrival.

On the other hand, if you stay with friends or family in their private residence, you need to yourself inform the nearest police station about your presence. For long-term stays exceeding 90 days, you have to register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs in order to obtain a residence permit.

Visa application process for foreign citizens

The government of Kosovo has recognized a list of visa-exempt countries and Special Categories of travelers who do not need a visa to enter the nation. Now, if you are residing in the UK and do not have a British passport and do not belong to either of the lists mentioned above, you will need to apply for a visa through the Kosovan Embassy in London.

All applications to the consulate must be made in person and should be submitted at least three months before your planned date of entry in Kosovo. If you require a multiple-entry visa, you should lodge an application at least six months in advance from your intended days of travel to Kosovo.

Your application package should include the following documents:

1. A fully completed and signed visa application form in original. If you have additional names included in your travel document, each of them should submit their own applications. For minors, the form must have the signature of the parent or legal guardian
2. A copy of your passport which is valid for at least 6 months from your entry date into Kosovo. It should also have a minimum of 2 blank pages
3. A recent passport-size photograph, not older than one month. It should follow the specifications as outlined by ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)
4. Proof of purpose in accordance to your reasons for visiting the Republic of Kosovo
5. Evidence of accommodation (hotel reservations) or proof of sufficient funds to arrange for a place of stay in Kosovo
6. Proof of sufficient finances to sustain the said stay period in Kosovo
7. A comprehensive travel insurance that covers the whole stay period in Kosovo

Once the documents are ready, you can visit the consulate in person and submit the package here:

Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in London

8 John Street

London WC1N 2ES UK

e-mail: visa.london@rks-gov.net

Website: http://www.kosovoembassy.org.uk/

Note: Sometimes, the list of documents outlined above may not be sufficient and the consular officer may request for other supporting documents as per the visa type. You need to translate all supporting documents into one of the official languages ??of the Republic of Kosovo or into English.

Again, you must submit 2 copies of each document. If you hold a diplomatic or official passport, you do not have to pay a visa fee or visit the office in person to submit an application.

If your visa is not approved, you can file a complaint within 8 calendar days with the consular office.

Traveling to Kosovo from Serbia and vice versa

You should note that Serbian authorities do not designate the crossing points from Kosovo as official international border crossing points.

If your passport contains Kosovo stamps, it may be difficult to gain entry into Serbia. They might even cancel the Kosovo stamps in your passport.

Hence, it is extremely difficult to travel from Kosovo into Serbia directly when you do not have a valid entry stamp issued by the Belgrade airport or by any of Serbia’s border crossings with Montenegro, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria or North Macedonia.

So, the best option is to take a route that includes a third nation as the country of transit.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

The government of Kosovo accepts UK Emergency Travel Documents at points of entry, airside transit and exit from Kosovo.