Country: Kosovo
There are no major changes from the 06 July message.
Event: General pandemic and travel information.
If you plan to enter or depart Kosovo this summer, please read this entire Health Alert for important details.
Curfews are still in place for Pristina, Prizren, Ferizaj, and Vushtrri between 2100-0500. Facial coverings in public are now obligatory.
We understand the desire to visit family and friends, but we urge you to postpone or cancel travel to Kosovo this summer. Kosovo remains under a Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel due to Covid-19. The health situation is deteriorating, and public institutions are struggling to keep up with demand. Travel restrictions could be re-imposed with little notice, and the frequent changes are causing confusion at airports and borders.
If you ignore our recommendation and decide to travel, please see the applicable categories below:
– International air travel: The Pristina International Airport is open to all travelers; however, some U.S. citizens were denied boarding in the U.S. because they could not prove they are residents or citizens of Kosovo. Contact the airline before your trip to verify the requirements, or the Kosovo Embassy for clarification and assistance. Kosovo does not require a Covid-19 test, nor is there a mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
– EU travel and transit: Neither U.S. nor Kosovo citizens can enter the EU as of 28 June. This travel ban does not include passengers in transit, but each country has the right to institute further restrictions. Austria has banned all flights from Kosovo until at least 31 July. Check with the airlines, airports, and the U.S. Embassies located in your transit to verify entry/exit requirements and be aware that they can change frequently and without warning. If you travel to Kosovo (or back to the U.S.) on vacation you should be prepared to stay for a long period of time in the event that the travel ban is extended to transiting passengers and flights are cancelled.
– Land borders: Kosovo’s land borders remain open without restrictions to passenger traffic entering Kosovo. The North Macedonian and Albanian borders are also open and there are no requirements for PCR tests or quarantine. Montenegro requires a negative PCR test and/or quarantine. Border guards have the authority to deny entry to travelers at their discretion. Check the entry/exit requirements for each country before crossing international land borders.
Note: RT-PCR (Covid-19) tests are not available upon request in Kosovo. Due to the limited capacity of the national lab, they currently are only available to those with severe symptoms; however, they are available to the public at several locations in Skopje for 60 Euro.
Archived Information:
Normal consular operations remain suspended due to COVID-19. Travelers with an immediate travel need may contact us at PristinaACS@state.gov to make an emergency appointment. We can usually issue an emergency passport on the same day as the application, and it is valid for one year. As soon as we can begin processing regular passports, we will advertise that update here. All non-emergency services, including notarials, remain suspended until further notice.
On March 31, the Department of State updated the Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel, due to the global impact of COVID-19.
On March 16, the United States Embassy in Pristina reduced staffing and operations, however, emergency consular services for U.S. citizens continue to be available. To apply for an emergency passport, or if you have any other urgent matter, contact PristinaACS@state.gov.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Check with your airlines or cruise lines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit our Embassy web page on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Kosovo.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Pristina, Kosovo
+ (383) 38-5959-3000
PristinaACS@state.gov
https://xk.usembassy.gov - State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 - Kosovo Country Information
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
