Kosovo Student permit

Residence for foreigners studying at a higher-education institution in Kosovo, on an exchange, or doing an authorised internship, valid up to one year or the academic year. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What you must show and pay

• Savings of at least EUR 500 a year (≈ $560) · Means of subsistence for pre-university and higher education: the Ministry of Internal Affairs guidance says an annual financial turnover of EUR 500 (≈ $560) must be shown; a bank statement or other notarised proof is accepted. ⁵
• A fee of EUR 10 (≈ $11) · Fee for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of study. ⁴

Requirements

• Applicant studies at a higher-education institution in Kosovo, arrives under a student or youth exchange, or comes for an authorised internship. ¹
• Applicant meets the general conditions of Art. 48: purpose of stay, valid travel document, sufficient means of subsistence, health insurance, no entry ban and no security threat. ^{1 2}
• The Ministry of Internal Affairs sheet asks for proof of an annual financial turnover of EUR 500 (≈ $560) for pre-university and higher education, shown by a bank statement or other notarised proof. ^{5 4}
• Proof of enrolment in an accredited institution, proof of living means and proof of accommodation. ^{1 3}
• Travel document valid at least three months beyond the requested residence period. ^{1 3}
• Health insurance. ³
• 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. ³
• Apply in person at a Kosovo diplomatic or consular mission; a visa-exempt foreigner can apply at the Department for Citizenship, Asylum and Migration. ¹
• The Department decides within 30 days of receiving the application; a refusal can be appealed within eight days. ¹
• The permit is valid up to one year or until the end of the academic year. ¹
• A graduate seeking work can extend residence by nine months, if applying within three months of graduation. ²
• Study time counts at half toward permanent residence. ¹

Stay

• Permit valid up to one year or the academic year; nine more months after graduation to seek work.
• 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

Students may work through an authorised intermediary without an employment relationship; an internship is not work.

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. 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
3. 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
4. Temporary residence permit for foreigners: criteria, required documents and fees · Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo · checked 2026-10-11
5. Amount of sufficient means of subsistence for foreigners · Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo · checked 2026-10-11