Kosovo has been granted visa liberalisation, with the agreement entering into force on January 2024.
Before the agreement, Kosovar nationals had to apply for a visa in order to enter the Schengen Area which is a lengthy process and very limited movement to other countries, VisaGuide.World reports.
Schengen Visa Statistics show that the number of Multiple-Entry Visas (MEVs) granted to Kosovar nationals in 2023 was the highest compared to other countries, showing that Schengen States were significantly more generous in granting such visas to this nationality, right before visa liberalization.
Schengen States Had the Highest Approval Rates for MEVs to Kosovars in 2023
With 61,006 MEVs issued representing 95 per cent of all visas approved, Kosovars were the main nationality with the highest approval rates for such visas in 2023.
The total number of visa applications filed by Kosovars was 120,573, with 64,184 being approved and 15,338 being rejected. In proportion with visa application rates, 50 per cent of approved requests were for MEVs.
Visa Liberalisation Prompts Kosovo Passport to Become 97th Most Powerful Internationally.
According to VisaGuide Passport Index, the Kosovo passport ranks 97th up from the 188th position it ranked in 2023.
With a score of 42.84, the Kosovo passport allows its holders visa-free entry to 47 countries and passport-free movement to four. The visa liberalization agreement has had a huge impact on Kosovars, as outbound tourism of this nationality has grown exponentially in 2024.
This is a historical achievement for Kosovo, and a historical climb up in the passport strength index, which showcases that only the EU has the exclusive authority to increase the power of a passport overnight, to such an extent.
Top 10 Nationalities That Were Most Likely to Be Granted a Multiple-Entry Visa Last Year
Multiple-Entry Visas (MEVs) represent type C visas that enable nationals of third countries to enter the Schengen Area for up to three months (90 days) in every six-month period (180 days).
MEVs are not the typical visas that Schengen states issue to applicants, considering that MEVs offer more freedom to move. Germany granted most multiple-entry visas to applicants in 2023 – 1.1 million of them.
These are ten nationalities that were most likely to obtain a multiple-entry visa in 2023:
- Kosovars (95 percent of all visas received were MEVs)
- Bahrainis (91.3 percent)
- Saudis (89.8 percent)
- Belarusians (87.3 percent)
- Omanis (86.8 percent)
- Bosnians (85.96 percent)
- Macedonians (79.02 percent)
- Kuwaiti (78.38 percent)
- Palestinians (75.79 percent)
- Qataris (74.97 percent)