The NEWBORN monument in Pristina, Kosovo

Kosovo Travel Guide 2026: Visas, the Euro and What to Know

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Updated

Kosovo uses the euro as its official currency despite not being in the EU or the eurozone — adopted unilaterally, with no coins of its own minted. Both US and UK citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, making Kosovo one of the simplest entries in the Western Balkans.

Contents

Visa rules

US citizens can visit Kosovo visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period; UK citizens get the same allowance. Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure date. No advance visa or e-visa application is needed for tourism.

Currency: the euro without the EU

Kosovo adopted the euro unilaterally as its official currency, despite being neither an EU member nor part of the eurozone — it doesn’t mint its own coins, so what you’ll see in circulation is standard eurozone currency. For travelers coming from anywhere already using the euro, this means zero currency exchange hassle in Kosovo.

A note on visiting Serbia too

If your itinerary includes both Kosovo and Serbia, order matters: enter Serbia first (via Belgrade or a neighboring country) to get a proper Serbian entry stamp before crossing into Kosovo, since Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence and treats the boundary as an internal line rather than an international border. Attempting to enter Serbia directly from Kosovo without a prior Serbian stamp can be treated as illegal entry. An ordinary Kosovo stamp alone rarely causes problems, though isolated cases of Serbian authorities canceling Kosovo stamps or denying entry have been reported. See our Balkans overland route guide for the full picture.

FAQ

Do US and UK citizens need a visa for Kosovo?
No — both get 90 days visa-free within a 180-day period.

What currency does Kosovo use?
The euro, adopted unilaterally, even though Kosovo isn’t in the EU or eurozone.

Can I cross directly from Kosovo into Serbia?
Not safely without first having a Serbian entry stamp — enter Serbia first, or exit Kosovo via Montenegro or North Macedonia before entering Serbia at an official crossing there.

Photo: CAPTAIN RAJU, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

More on planning a Kosovo trip

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