Oct 11, 2024 — Switzerland has joined the European Union in granting visa liberalisation for Kosovo Serbs who hold Serbian passports, a move seen as aligning with the EU’s recent decision to exempt this group from visa requirements. The change applies to passports issued by Serbia’s Coordination Directorate, which are primarily used by Serbs living in Kosovo who do not recognise Kosovo’s authority.
The European Council’s decision, formalised in September 2024, has faced opposition from Pristina, which argues that allowing Kosovo Serbs to travel using Serbian-issued passports undermines their integration into the Kosovo legal system. Despite this, the EU and now Switzerland have pushed forward, enabling visa-free travel to the Schengen zone for thousands of Kosovo Serbs who hold these Serbian documents.
The policy comes after years of deliberation in Brussels, with Kosovo passport holders having already benefitted from visa-free travel since the beginning of this year. However, despite the new opportunities for travel, Pristina has voiced its discontent, seeing the move as counterproductive to efforts to unify Kosovo’s Serbian minority within the state framework.
While the decision by the EU and Switzerland marks a significant shift for the Kosovo Serb community, the number of people using these Serbian passports has been steadily declining. Many have opted for Kosovo passports in recent years, with the number of Coordination Directorate passport holders reducing to around 18,000 by 2024.
For now, Switzerland’s adoption of the EU’s stance continues to stir debate, but for the Kosovo Serbs involved, this change opens up greater mobility within Europe.
