The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution approving the Council's position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kosovo).
The proposed Regulation aims to transfer the reference to ‘Kosovo’ from Annex I (list of countries subject to the visa requirement) to Annex II (list of countries exempt from the visa requirement) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. As a result, holders of Kosovo biometric passports will benefit from visa-free travel for short stays (i.e. up to 90 days within a period of 180 days) in the EU.
Visa liberalisation will take effect on 1 January 2024, in parallel with the launch of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which allows the digital processing of information on travellers entering the EU.