From today, citizens of Kosovo can travel without visas to the European countries of the Schengen area, and the Government of Kosovo organized a three-day trip to Vienna for 50 citizens from various communities, who are prize winners in a quiz about the European Union.
The group of citizens was escorted by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the Deputy Prime Minister, also the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Donika Gervalla, at the “Adem Jashari” International Airport, not far from Pristina.
Two young girls, friends, one from Pristina and the other from Gračanica, Lidija Fazliu and Milica Marinković are traveling together to Vienna. Milica won a trip in the quiz and invited Lidija to join her.
“It means a lot, now we can travel without visas wherever we want. This is my first trip, so I hope there will be more,” says Milica.
“It is a pleasure to be able to be the first to travel without visas. I hope that we will have more opportunities to go abroad and return to Kosovo”, says Lidija.
In a statement to Anadolu, Adhurim Bajrami from Vitina says that he has traveled to the countries of the Schengen zone before, but with very large bureaucratic procedures for obtaining a visa. He considers that in general this decision is very good and that it is a relief for all citizens who want to travel.
“For the last visa I got, I spent 320 euros, and now with that I can pay for the ticket or cover half of the travel expenses,” says Bajrami.
Prime Minister Kurti and Minister Gervalla congratulated and greeted the first citizens who travel in groups, without visas, to the capital of Austria.
Kurti said that the decision to liberalize visas came into force at midnight, “which eliminated the long-standing injustice done to Kosovo”.
“We have waited too long, we have been deprived of many opportunities, that is why this day is important. A great injustice is removed and an important right is won, the right to visa-free travel to the Schengen area. At the same time, the passport of our Republic is also being strengthened, with which our citizens will now be able to travel without visas to 32 more countries. Strengthening our travel documents, in addition to daily benefits, strengthens our identity and dignity as a country in the international arena,” emphasized Kurti.
Gervala pointed out that everyone knows how much money was spent on procedures and how much was waited in front of embassies to get visas.
“No more unnecessary bureaucracy. You will have the opportunity to visit your family members in the countries of the Schengen area, to relax, but not only private visits, but also Kosovar companies will have the opportunity to expand their field of activity, to bring better and more sustainable investments to Kosovo. “Students and young people will have the opportunity not only to explore new opportunities for new studies and qualifications, but also to enjoy nature, art, culture, sports and more,” emphasized Gervala.
Visa-free travel requires biometric passports, information about the purpose of the trip, proof of residence such as a hotel reservation or details of the place of stay, travel details, including a return ticket reservation, if traveling by car, vehicle documentation is required, and proof that the traveler has sufficient financial resources.
For many years, Kosovo was the only country in the Western Balkans that did not have visa liberalization.
