EU Lifts Visa Requirements for Kosovo Citizens with Serbian Passports

Kosovo citizens who hold Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (Koordinaciona uprava) can now enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Zone for short-term stays. This long-awaited change, implemented on October 13, 2024, aligns the visa regulations for all citizens of the Western Balkans, granting them similar travel rights.

The new regulation was signed by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Hungary's Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka, in a landmark agreement on September 18, 2024. It marks a significant step toward equalising travel privileges across the Western Balkans, where Serbia has played a pivotal role in regional EU integration efforts.

The regulation, officially titled Regulation (EU) 2024/2495, was published on the same day in the Official Gazette of the European Union. This specific amendment targets holders of passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate, a group previously excluded from visa-free travel within the EU.

From Exclusion to Inclusion: A Journey Toward Equality

Kosovo residents holding these specific Serbian passports had been denied the visa-free travel privileges enjoyed by other Serbian citizens since 2009, when Serbia's passport holders first gained access to the Schengen Zone. Despite Serbia’s candidacy for EU membership, which began in 2009, this exclusionary policy lingered, affecting those living in Kosovo.

However, 2024 marks a turning point. As of January 1, Kosovo citizens were already granted visa-free travel to EU countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Initially, this change did not extend to holders of Serbian Coordination Directorate passports, leading to continued restrictions.

Visa-Free Travel Approved After Years of Lobbying

In April 2023, the European Commission proposed a major shift to rectify this imbalance, allowing this group of travellers to enjoy the same visa-free privileges as other citizens of the region. Finally, in November 2023, the European Commission approved the proposal to remove the visa requirement for these passport holders, extending full visa liberalisation to the entire Western Balkans.

A Step Forward for Regional Mobility

This development is seen as a positive step in the broader context of Western Balkan integration into the EU. For years, Kosovo citizens holding Serbian passports faced barriers that complicated travel within Europe. Now, this new visa-free policy not only simplifies mobility but also symbolises greater equality and closer ties between Kosovo and the rest of the European continent.

With the visa requirement lifted, these passport holders can now travel freely across the Schengen Zone, strengthening both regional cooperation and personal freedoms for Kosovo’s citizens.

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