Spain recently made a significant decision to recognize passports issued by authorities in Kosovo, allowing Kosovars to enter the country without a visa. While Spain does not officially recognize Kosovo as an independent country, this decision marks a crucial step for Kosovars wanting to visit Spain.
The announcement of Spain’s recognition of Kosovo’s passports was confirmed by Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, who described the news as a positive development for Kosovars. However, Spanish authorities have not yet provided official confirmation of this decision.
From January 1, 2024, citizens of Kosovo are eligible to travel visa-free for short-term stays to Schengen Zone countries. This is the result of the European Union and Kosovo visa liberalization agreement signed in April 2023. The agreement emphasizes that holders of Kosovo passports would be able to travel without visas from 2024, though Spain initially expressed reluctance to implement this agreement due to its non-recognition of Kosovo as an independent country.
The recent changes announced by the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo mean that Kosovars will now be able to travel to Spain without the need for a visa. This decision also reinforces the power of Kosovo’s passport, as evidenced by its climb in the Passport Index of VisaGuide.World, which ranks passports of 199 countries in terms of their power.
Despite the recent developments, Kosovars still require a traditional visa for 97 countries worldwide. They can obtain a visa on arrival in 32 countries and an eVisa when traveling to 33 countries. The announcement from Spain is a significant step for Kosovars, offering them greater freedom and ease of travel within the Schengen Zone.
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