Kosovo Spouse of a citizen

One-year residence for the spouse or partner and minor children of a Kosovo citizen. After three continuous years the spouse or partner can get an autonomous residence permit, and a spouse can apply for permanent residence after three years instead of five. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

What you must show and pay

• A fee of EUR 30 (≈ $34) · Fee for a temporary residence permit for family reunion. ³

Requirements

• Applicant is the spouse or partner, or a minor child, of a Kosovo citizen. ¹
• An unmarried partnership counts if it has lasted at least three years, or less if a child was born of it. ¹
• Reunification is refused for a second spouse or where the spouse or partner is married or in a long-term relationship with another person. ¹
• No fixed amount of living means is set; the means shown by the Kosovo citizen count. ⁴
• Marriage certificate, children's birth certificates and the sponsor's valid identity document. ²
• Proof of residence with enough space under minimum housing standards, shown by ownership or a notarised lease. ²
• Travel document valid at least three months beyond the requested residence period. ^{1 2}
• Health insurance. ²
• Proof of no criminal conviction or investigation, issued by the authority of the country of citizenship or last residence and translated into an official language of Kosovo. ²
• The application is normally filed while the family members live outside Kosovo, through a mission. ¹
• The Department decides within 30 days of receiving the application; a refusal can be appealed within eight days. ¹
• The permit is valid one year; after two continuous years it can be granted for up to two years. ¹
• After three continuous years on a family reunification permit, a spouse, partner or adult child can get an autonomous residence permit. ²
• A foreigner married to a Kosovo citizen can apply for permanent residence after three years of uninterrupted temporary residence; the general rule is five years. ^{5 6}

Stay

• Permit valid one year, then up to two years after two continuous years; an autonomous residence permit is possible after three continuous years.
• First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Open to foreigners generally; nationals who need a visa for entry apply through a Kosovo diplomatic or consular mission.

Work

Holders have the right to work and self-employment without a separate work permit.

Family

Minor children can also apply.

Fine print

Law No. 08/L-262, published on 8 August 2024, amended the Law on Foreigners to bring its procedures in line with the Law on General Administrative Procedure. Its text could not be read on 12 October 2026, so the decision and appeal deadlines given here follow the law as amended in 2018.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Law No. 04/L-219 on Foreigners (Official Gazette 35/2013), amended by Law No. 06/L-036 (2018) and Law No. 08/L-262 (2024) · Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo No. 35/2013 · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2013-09-05
2. Administrative Instruction (MIA) No. 09/2019 on the procedure and criteria for issuing residence permits for foreigners · Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2019
3. Temporary residence permit for foreigners: criteria, required documents and fees · Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo · checked 2026-10-11
4. Amount of sufficient means of subsistence for foreigners · Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo · checked 2026-10-11
5. Law No. 06/L-036 amending and supplementing the Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette 6/2018) · Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo No. 6/2018 · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2018-05-03
6. Permanent residence permit for foreigners (criteria) · Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kosovo · checked 2026-10-11