Starting May 5, 2025, citizens of Kosovo will be eligible to travel visa-free to Israel for tourism purposes.
The decision has been confirmed by the ambassador of Israel to Kosovo, Tammy Ziv, VisaGuide.World reports.
Kosovo and Israel ratified the visa waiver agreement in the week that marks four years of diplomatic relations between both territories, according to Ziv.
In the week in which we celebrate the fourth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries, Israel and Kosovo ratified an agreement on the abolition of visas. From May 5, citizens of Kosovo can travel to Israel as tourists without the need for a visa.
Visa-Free Travel Agreement Confirmed by Kosovo’s President
In January 2024, the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, said that holders of Kosovo’s passports would soon be able to travel visa-free to Israel for tourism purposes, following talks by both countries’ authorities to facilitate the travel process.
Osmani’s comments came following a meeting held with the ambassador to the Republic of Kosovo, Ziv Nevo Kulman.
Back then, it was also reported that Ministers started procedures for the formalization of the Agreement that allows Kosovars to visit Israel.
Ambassador Ziv informed President Osmani that after the President’s request to Israel’s institutions, the government of Israel has expressed compliance with the approval of the visa waiver agreement for citizens of Kosovo.
Mutual Visa Waiver Agreement Signed in June 2024
In June 2024, Kosovo and Israel signed a mutual visa waiver agreement, as confirmed through a statement provided back then by the Embassy of Israel in Kosovo.
We are pleased to invite you to tomorrow’s reception organized by Her Excellency Ms. Tamar Ziv, Ambassador of the State of Israel in the Republic of Kosovo, in which case we will mark the Independence Day of Israel and the Agreement on the Waiver of Visas for Kosovo citizens.
Kosovars Eligible to Travel Visa-Free to 48 Countries
In the Passport Index of VisaGuide.World, which ranks passports of 199 countries, taking into account various factors, Kosovo is placed in the 98th position.
With a passport score of 43.67, holders of Kosovo’s passport are currently eligible to travel visa-free to 48 countries and passport-free to four countries. Visas are required when planning to travel to a total of 107 countries.
On the other hand, Israel is placed in the 54th position with a passport score of 78.03. Its holders can travel without visas to 130 countries, while visas are required when planning to travel to 22 countries.