Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced that it has recognized Kosovo passports, allowing citizens of Kosovo to visit Spain and other Schengen Zone countries that do not recognize Kosovo’s independence without facing legal hurdles.
According to Elena Aljarilla Cortezon, spokesperson for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all Schengen countries that do not recognize Kosovo have accepted the use of regular Kosovo passports, emphasizing that this does not imply recognition of Kosovo.
This decision comes after years of waiting, with citizens of Kosovo becoming eligible to travel visa-free for short-term stays to EU’s Schengen Area countries since January 1st. Spain also announced that it permits Kosovars to enter its territory visa-free, despite previous claims that it would not allow such access. This u-turn move was announced by Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, who welcomed the news.
The EU and Kosovo visa liberalization agreement was signed in April 2023, paving the way for visa-free travel for holders of Kosovo passports from the beginning of this year. Despite Spain’s initial reluctance due to the non-recognition of Kosovo as an independent country, the recent changes mean that Kosovars will no longer be subject to additional visa requirements when traveling to Spain.
These changes mark a significant development for citizens of Kosovo who can now enjoy visa-free travel to Spain, and further demonstrates the continuing evolution of travel regulations within the Schengen Zone.
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