Visa-free travel information campaigns continue this week, today in northern Mitrovica and Zvecan

This week, the information campaign for visa liberalisation for Kosovo will continue. The consciousness campaign today continues with northern Mitrovica and Zvecanin.

The truck in northern Mitrovica is held from Oea 10:30 to 12:30, while it is held in Zvecan from 1: 00 p.m. to 1500

“Take part in the quiz to win a free trip to Vienna and learn more about your travel rights #paviza from January 1st 2024”, said the announcement.

Unlike January 1st, 2024 Kosovo citizens will be able to travel towards the Schengen zone without visas for short-term stays. Visa-free travel means you can travel freely to the Schengen area states, but you cannot work.

From January, Kosovo citizens are allowed to travel visa-free for short stays in the Schengen area, for example, as tourists, to visit friends or family, to participate in cultural or sports events, business meetings, medical treatment, short-term educational programmes such as seminars, conferences, workshops, summer schools and any similar activities.

The European Parliament adopted in April this year the decision on visa liberalisation for Kosovo citizens, with which decision-making procedures on the issue ended. Approval on the European Parliament was made without a vote, as there was no objection.

Here are countries that can travel without visas up to 90 days:

The European Commission in the decision on liberalisation had clarified that even after visa liberalisation, Kosovo passport carriers would not be able to travel to Spain -- a country that does not recognise Kosovo's independence, nor its passports, RTKlive reports. States included in the decision on visa liberalisation for Kosovars are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, reports RTKlive. The Republic of Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans whose citizens cannot freely move to the Schengen area. Kosovo was the only decision in the Balkans that had the most criteria for gaining visa liberalisation for its citizens.

The European Commission, in 2018, had confirmed several times that Kosovo has met all the conditions for visa liberalisation, but there have been some member states that have consistently expressed reservations.

Etaps to Kosovo visa liberalisation

Kosovo has passed several stages to achieve visa liberalisation

European Commission recommends visa liberalisation for Kosovo

LIBE Committee votes for EC recommendation for visa liberalisation for Kosovo

European Parliament confirms mandate for negotiations with EU Council for visa liberalisation,

The LIBE Committee again votes to start negotiations with the EU Council to continue with the remaining steps for visa liberalisation.

Visa lift steps:

EU ambassadors vote for visa liberalisation

Holding trilateral meeting between European Commission, European Council and European Parliament

EU ambassadors approve agreement reached by three institutions

European Parliament Votes for Visa Liberalisation

EU ambassadors vote in simple majority for visa liberalisation

EU Council of Ministers approves visa liberalisation in simple majority

The legal act is signed by representatives of EU institutions: European Commission, European Council, European Parliament

The decision is published in the Official Journal, including the date of entry into force and

Liberalization comes into force.