Visa-free travel has begun, officials in Brussels show Schengen entry conditions

Removing visa regime for Kosovo citizens, European Union first linked it to functioning E system TIAS.

This system is designed to enable the verification of third-nation citizens' data, which does not need visas, to enter the Schengen Zone. It requires name, birth country, gender, nationality, and anyone who meets the form must have passport, email and a credit card to carry out the symbolic payment for this document.

Since this system was delayed to function, Kosovars punished more. But as long as this system is active, will Kosovars have to testify to a financial mirror and the goals of travel?

The issue has been explained by European Commission spokeswoman for internal affairs Anita Hyper.

“Kosovo passport holders can now travel to the EU without visas for 90 days at any 180-day period. The agreement reached envisioned that visa liberalisation for Kosovo would be effective with ETIAS' entry into action, and however, no later than January 1st, 2024. Now this was the case”, said Hyper, which also listed the criteria to be met to enter the Schengen area.

For attitudes no more than 90 days at any 180-day period, the entry conditions are as follows:

The possession of a valid travel document or documents that authorize them to transgress.

(b) justifying the planned purpose and conditions of residence, having enough means for the stay period, both the duration of the planned stay and the return;

(c) not a person for whom a signal was issued to the Schengen Information System (SIS) for the purposes of refusing entry;

(d) not be considered a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of any member states, especially when no signal has been issued to the national databases of member states for purposes and denial of entry for the same reasons.

On January 1st, Prime Minister Albin Kurti went to “Adem Jashari” Airport, where the first trip of 50 citizens was organised, which won the trip to Austria's Vienna under an informational campaign by authorities concerning visa liberalisation.

During the ceremony at Pristina Airport, Kurti urged citizens travelling without visas to respect the requirements and criteria, “because this is how we respect and exalt our state”.

So this morning of the 2024 New Year's Eve has no way of getting better than expanding the rights and opportunities of our citizens. We've waited too long, we've been deprived of many possibilities. Therefore, this is an important day, a major injustice is being removed and an important right is being gained, the right of visa-free travel to the Schengen” area, Kurti said.