The government of Kosovo has approved the decision to permit citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter Kosovo without visas by only holding a biometric ID card from January 1, 2025.
The decision has been confirmed through a statement by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, through a post on his Facebook account, VisaGuide.World reports.
The government made the long-announced decision last night, allowing citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to travel to our Republic with a biometric ID card starting January 1 of next year.
Kosovo’s PM said that November 2024 marks two years since the Agreement on Free Movement with ID Cards in the Western Balkans was signed in Berlin as part of the Berlin Process agreements. Kurti said that Kosovo was the first to ratify this agreement in parliament.
As part of the Berlin Process, Western Balkans’ foreign ministers signed the Agreement of Freedom of Movement with ID Cards back in 2022.
The Assembly of Kosovo ratified the agreement for free movement with ID cards on February 23, 2023. However, the agreement has not yet been ratified by the Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina after being opposed by the leader of the ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), Milorad Dodik.
The president of the Republika Srpska, Dodik, said last year that Republika Srpska would “not permit any progress to happen regarding that question.”
The Prime Minister of Kosovo said that the blockade by the Republic of Srpska entity has deprived citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo of the right to move by only obtaining ID cards at a time when the entire region travels freely to the EU.
Kosovo Hopes BiH Will Soon Ratify the Agreement
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, announced the decision taken yesterday, December 12, by the country’s government and expressed his hopes that a similar step would soon be announced by authorities in BiH as well.
While we are ending the wait for citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina, we remain hopeful that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be able to ratify the agreement as soon as possible so that the entire region can enjoy the freedom of movement.
Kurti expects the decision will further tighten connections between the two Balkan countries, increasing cooperation opportunities and stimulating exchanges in culture, sports, education, and economy, as well as other areas of common interest.
Kurti: Kosovars Eligible to Travel Visa-Free to EU but Not in BiH
In October this year, during the Berlin Process Summit held in Germany, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, unfolded plans to permit entry for BiH citizens by only holding ID cards.
Kurti said that a paradox arose in January 2024, when Kosovo citizens gained visa-free travel access to the EU countries but still lacked freedom of movement to BiH.
Kosovo citizens have been subject to visa requirements when planning to travel to Bosnia since 2008, when Kosovo declared its independence from