Kosovo

Kosovo visa and residence permit guide

  • 6 visa types
  • checked 24 October 2026

How visas for Kosovo work

Kosovo's entry rules come from the Law on Foreigners (No. 04/L-219 of 2013, amended in 2018 and 2024) and from the Government's visa regime decision. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora (MFAD) publishes the list of countries whose citizens need no visa: it covers more than 100 states, including every EU and Schengen country, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Türkiye, the Gulf states and all of Kosovo's neighbours. Visa-free visitors and visa holders alike may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Nationals who are not on the list apply in person at a Kosovo embassy or consulate, no earlier than three months before travel. The MFAD charges EUR 40 for a short-stay visa C and EUR 80 for a long-stay visa D, and the law gives the mission 15 calendar days to decide. People who hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa or a biometric residence permit of a Schengen state do not need a Kosovo visa and may stay up to 15 days. No visa, and no visa-free stay, allows you to work.

Stays longer than 90 days require a temporary residence permit from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). Its migration department, called DCAM in the law and now listed by the Ministry as the Department for Naturalization, Asylum and Migration, decides within 30 days. Permits are issued for family reunification, secondary or higher education, scientific research, employment and humanitarian reasons, normally for one year at a time, with fees of EUR 50 for work, EUR 30 for family reunification and EUR 10 for study. Visa-free nationals can file the application inside Kosovo before their 90 days run out. After five years of uninterrupted temporary residence, or three years for the spouse of a Kosovo citizen or permanent resident, you can apply for permanent residence.

Every foreigner must report their address to the nearest police station or at the border within three days of entry; the Ministry announced full enforcement from 15 March 2026, with entry bans possible for those who fail to comply. Asylum is governed by the Law on Asylum (No. 06/L-026): a claim can be made at a border crossing, at any police station or directly with the MIA department, which runs the Asylum Centre.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday, family visit, conference or business meeting of up to 90 days: visa-free entry if your country is on the MFAD list, otherwise a visa C; a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa covers up to 15 days.

A job with a Kosovo employer, a posting from a foreign company or running your own Kosovo company: temporary residence permit for employment together with a work permit.

University studies, a student exchange or a research stay at a licensed Kosovo institution: temporary residence permit for education or scientific research.

Joining a spouse, partner or parent who is a Kosovo citizen or holds a Kosovo residence permit: temporary residence permit for family reunification.

Five years of uninterrupted temporary residence (three years after marrying a citizen or permanent resident): permanent residence permit.

Fear of persecution or serious harm in your home country: application for international protection under the Law on Asylum.

Visa types for Kosovo

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Short-stay visa (visa C) and visa-free entry for visits

    Citizens of more than 100 countries, including the EU states, the United States and the United Kingdom, visit Kosovo without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

    Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted from the first entry, whether visa-free or on a visa; a visa may allow fewer days. Schengen visa or permit holders: 15 days.

Study and training

  • Student visa Temporary residence permit for higher education and scientific research

    Foreigners admitted to an accredited higher education institution in Kosovo, or coming on a student exchange, an authorised internship or a research agreement, need a temporary residence permit for the purpose of study or scientific research once they stay beyond 90 days.

    Maximum stay: Up to one year or until the end of the academic year, renewable for each year of study.

Work

  • Work visa Temporary residence permit for employment with a work permit

    Foreigners may work in Kosovo only with a work permit, or a short-term work permit for brief assignments, plus a temporary residence permit for employment.

    Maximum stay: As long as the permit runs; renewable while the job continues. Seasonal workers: at most six months in any 12 months.

Family

  • Family reunification visa Temporary residence permit for family reunification

    Spouses, unmarried partners and minor children of Kosovo citizens, of foreigners with permanent or temporary residence, and of people granted international protection or stateless status can obtain a temporary residence permit for family reunification.

    Maximum stay: One year, or until the sponsor's own permit expires; renewable.

Residence

  • Permanent residence Permanent residence permit for foreigners

    A foreigner who has held a temporary residence permit in Kosovo without interruption for five years, or for three years when married to a Kosovo citizen or permanent resident, can apply for permanent residence at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

    Maximum stay: Unlimited; the identity card of the permit is renewed periodically.

Asylum and international protection

  • Asylum and international protection International protection: refugee status and subsidiary protection (Law on Asylum No. 06/L-026)

    Kosovo grants refugee status and subsidiary protection under the Law on Asylum No.

    Maximum stay: Applicants: until a final decision. Recognised refugees and people with subsidiary protection: as long as the protection lasts.

Frequently asked questions

Who can visit Kosovo without a visa?

Citizens of the more than 100 countries on the MFAD visa-exempt list, including all EU and Schengen states, the UK, the US, Canada, Japan, Türkiye and Kosovo's neighbours, enter with a valid passport for up to 90 days in any 180 days. Only some of them (EU and Schengen citizens, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and a few microstates) may use an ID card. The address must be reported within three days of arrival, and work needs a permit.

How much does a Kosovo visa cost?

The MFAD lists EUR 40 for a short-stay visa C and EUR 80 for a long-stay visa D. Holders of diplomatic or official passports, children under six, and pupils, students and accompanying teachers travelling for study or training are exempt. Each mission tells applicants which bank account to pay into.

Can I enter Kosovo with a Schengen visa?

Yes, if you hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa or a valid biometric residence permit of a Schengen state. You may then enter, transit and stay in Kosovo for up to 15 days without a Kosovo visa. A single-entry Schengen visa is not mentioned in the exemption, so apply for a Kosovo visa in that case.

How do I stay in Kosovo for more than 90 days?

You need a temporary residence permit. Visa-required nationals apply at a Kosovo mission. Visa-free nationals, and visa holders coming for full-time university studies, may instead apply in person at the MIA migration department in Kosovo before their short stay ends, and may stay while the application is pending. The decision is due within 30 days.

Do foreigners have to register their address in Kosovo?

Yes. Within three days of entry you report your address at the border or the nearest police station, and you deregister before leaving. Hotels and anyone who hosts foreigners must inform the police within 12 hours of the guest's arrival. Residence permit holders report any change of address within eight days. The MIA warned that from 15 March 2026 non-compliance may lead to an entry ban.

Can I work in Kosovo on a visa or during a visa-free stay?

No. The Law on Foreigners states that a visa does not allow work, and the MIA notice for visitors repeats that short stays exclude employment. You need a temporary residence permit for employment and a work permit, applied for through the Employment Agency. Some short assignments, such as consultants or lecturers at seminars, use a short-term work permit valid for a limited number of days a year.

Embassies and consulates

Last checked 24 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.