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| Flags of Kosovo and Spain and two passports of Kosovo in the middle, montage |
On Monday, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Kosovar citizens would face no obstacles when legally visiting Spain and other Schengen countries that do not recognize Kosovo's independence, as long as they are willing to accept the use of the regular Kosovo passport.
Elena Aljarilla Cortezon, the spokesperson for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated to Radio Free Europe (RFE) that all Schengen countries that do not recognize Kosovo have accepted the use of regular Kosovo passports. She clarified that this in no way implies recognition of Kosovo's independence.
As of January 1, Kosovar nationals with biometric passports have been able to travel freely within Schengen countries following the implementation of visa liberalization. However, it was only on January 5 that they were informed they could also visit Spain, following an announcement from the Department for Migration and Internal Affairs of the European Commission that Spain now recognizes the regular Kosovo passport.
Spain's Support for Dialogue:
Cortezon emphasized to RFE that Spain supports and will continue to support the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina as a means of resolving the Kosovo issue. Spain seeks to limit its impact on citizens and views the dialogue as a crucial avenue for resolution.
Spain is among the five EU states that do not recognize Kosovo's independence, alongside Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Romania. Nevertheless, all these states acknowledge travel documents issued by Kosovo authorities.
The decision by Spain to recognize the Kosovo passport has been praised by Kosovo's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gërvalla, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi.
Visa Liberalization:
The visa liberalization allows Kosovar citizens with biometric passports to stay up to 90 days within a six-month period in any of the 27 Schengen member states. Visa-free travel is intended for tourist visits, family matters, and similar purposes. However, visa liberalization does not imply work permits or other benefits.
Kosovo was the last country in the Western Balkans whose citizens, until January 1 of this year, could not move freely within the Schengen area. Despite fulfilling all the conditions for visa liberalization, as confirmed by the European Commission since 2018, some states had consistently expressed reservations.