Kosovo citizens are now visa-free in Europe

The visa liberalization policy, which allows Kosovo citizens to travel to the Schengen Area without a visa, has come into effect.

The decision allows Kosovars to enter the European Union's (EU) border-free zone for up to 90 days without a visa. The reform is seen as a significant step toward the goal of Kosovo, which declared its independence in 2008, to join the EU.

The business community, in particular, welcomes the decision. Businessman Rushit Sopi told AFP before boarding a flight from Pristina to Vienna, "This is a huge relief." European embassies in Pristina, especially those under heavy pressure to issue visas such as the German consulate, had been preparing for the visa-free D-Day.

German Ambassador Jorn Rohde emphasized a few days ago that the visa era had "finally closed" by personally handing out the last visas to Kosovars. He also invited the public to visit his country for the European Football Championship to be held this summer.

Kosovo, with a population of 1.8 million, became the last of the six countries in the Western Balkans to receive the exemption. For the past two months, the government in Pristina has been running a campaign urging people not to abuse the freedom of travel by seeking work in the EU. Prime Minister Albin Kurti personally led the campaign, traveling across the country to explain the benefits of the new policy.