Spain has started accepting passports from Kosovo, as shared by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. However, it’s crucial to note that this doesn’t mean Spain considers Kosovo as a separate, independent state from Serbia.
This change is part of the European Union’s new visa rules from January 1. Kosovar citizens can now travel visa-free within the Schengen zone, staying for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Previously, Spain was the only EU country not recognizing Kosovo’s independence, and it denied entry to Kosovar passport holders, even those with a valid Schengen visa.
Albares made it clear that Spain’s acceptance of Kosovo passports doesn’t signal recognition of sovereignty or independence, staying in line with Spain’s position against one-sided declarations of independence. Spain, alongside Cyprus, Greece, Romania, and Slovakia, still doesn’t officially recognize Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
Spain and Kosovo, Passport Acceptance, Kosovo-Spain Relations, Independence Status, Diplomatic Developments