Kosovo to Allow ID Card Entry for Bosnian Residents.
At the Berlin Process Summit, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that Bosnian residents will be allowed to enter Kosovo using only ID cards, even if Bosnia does not reciprocate.
The announcement came during the Berlin Process Summit held in the German capital on October 14, where German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen were present, along with leaders from the Balkans.
Prime Minister Kurti stated that Kosovo will lift visa requirements for Bosnian citizens next year. This means they can enter Kosovo with just their identity documents. He highlighted a contradiction that arose in January, when Kosovo citizens received visa-free access to the EU but faced restrictions when traveling to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He explained, “While the Republika Srpska entity refuses to ratify the mobility agreement for free movement with IDs, I have decided to take action. Starting January 1 next year, Kosovo will unilaterally allow ID holders from Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter our country.”
Milorad Dodik, the president of Bosnia’s Serb-led entity, responded by stating that Bosnia will not allow entry to Kosovo residents with just ID cards.
In 2022, foreign ministers from the Western Balkans signed an Agreement on Freedom of Movement with ID Cards as part of the Berlin Process. However, Dodik expressed in 2023 that Republika Srpska will not support any progress on this issue.
Kosovo began requiring visas for Bosnian citizens in 2014. Conversely, since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, its citizens have needed visas to enter Bosnia. Bosnia is one of the few former Yugoslav countries, alongside Serbia, that does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, although it has accepted Kosovo passports since 2012.
During the summit, which marked the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Process, leaders from six Western Balkan countries signed an agreement to enhance access to higher education and facilitate study admissions in the region. They also declared their commitment to establishing a Common Regional Market by 2025-28.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the Berlin Process has been a key driver of regional economic integration. She emphasized the importance of a smooth-functioning Common Regional Market, noting that it helps Western Balkan companies trade, innovate, and create jobs. This integration brings the region closer to the EU’s single market.
The Berlin Process is a German-led initiative aimed at fostering cooperation among six Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.
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