5 minutes agoState secretariat confirms: On January 1st, 2024, Kosovars enter Switzerland without visas
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)As has already been widely reported, on April 18th, the European Parliament has approved the removal of the visa regime for Kosovo. Thus, from next year, Kosovo passport holders can enter the European Union and the Schengen area, including Switzerland, twice a year for 90 days without visas, writes Sf.ch. [...]
Therefore, the same entry rules will be implemented in the future for Kosovo, as in all Western Balkan states, broadcasts albinfo.ch.
The State Secretariat for Migration has confirmed to the SRF that on 1 January 2024, Kosovo citizens with valid passports can enter Switzerland without visas for 90 days.
Since Switzerland is also part of Schengen and is also “home” of a large community of citizens of Kosovo, the newest decision bothers the Italian state in a complementary way. Thus, in addition to supporting this decision, even calling it late, on the part of the SP co-chairman, there were negative reactions, like that of the Swiss-Kosovo Friendship Group co-chairman (FDP) at the Swiss Parliament.
While SRF international affairs editor Yannis Fahränder says: “This is a big step and, above all, a great relief for the people of Kosovo. So far, Kosovars have had to undergo a complex visa process with high tariffs for any trip to the Schengen area, whether for business or privately. Then they often wait for weeks for a visa, with no guarantee of success. This makes short - term visits - urgent for such occasions as the burial of relatives - impossible.
Also, with the removal of the visa regime, as of 2024, work is expected to be facilitated for companies with clients abroad, albinfo.ch broadcasts.
However, visa-free travel is only conditionally one step closer to the EU, regardless of whether Prime Minister Albin Kurti celebrates it as his success. The country is neither a candidate for membership, and other Western Balkan countries have negotiated for more than ten years. While five EU states do not recognise Kosovo's independence, there is no EU perspective for the country”.
