Kosovan passport

The Kosovan passport is a travel document that is issued to the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo to facilitate international travel as well as to serve as proof of citizenship. The issuance of passports is solely the prerogative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the exception of Diplomatic passports which are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kosovan passports comply with all the recommended standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (such as size, technology, security, layout, etc.) The passport design was disclosed 14 March 2008. [cite web |url=http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/kosovo_unveils_new_passport_542795 |title=Kosovo unveils new passport - SBS World News Australia |publisher=SBS World News Australia |date=2008-03-14 |accessdate=2008-03-14 ] The first passports were issued on 30 July 2008 and as of 20 August 2008, 55,467 passports have been issued to the citizens of Kosovo. [http://www.mpb-ks.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=628&Itemid=5 "The process of production of Passports of the Republic of Kosovo, is fully normalised"] "mpb-ks.org"18 August 2008 Link accessed 2008-09-16]

The new design of the passport is a dark blue color, with the coat of arms of the Republic of Kosovo in the middle of the cover page. [cite web |url=http://www.koha.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8501&Itemid=41 |title=Koha Ditore - Dokumentet e Republikës së Kosovës para verës |publisher=Koha Ditore |language=Albanian| date=2008-03-14 |accessdate=2008-03-14 ] The word "Passport" is written on the cover of the passport in Albanian, English and Serbian. All relevant identity information about the bearer is printed in these languages as well. For citizens that are 18 or older, the passport is valid for 10 years from the date of issuance. Before the introduction of the new national passports, travel documents were issued by the United Nations administration with a maximum validity of 2 years.

There are four types of passports: Ordinary, Official, Diplomatic and Travel Document.

Ordinary (Dark Blue)

*Issued to all citizens of Kosovo with a maximum validity of 10 years to facilitate private international travel. [http://www.mpb-ks.org/images/files_shtes/pasaportat_kosoves_shqip.pdf]

Official (Maroon)

*Issued to political staff within the Government as well as their family members with a maximum validity of 5 years. [http://www.mpb-ks.org/images/files_shtes/pasaportat_kosoves_shqip.pdf]

Diplomatic (Black)

*Issued to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, members of the Government, the President of the Constitutional Court, the President of the Supreme Court, Ambassadors as well as other diplomatic staff in embassies or consulates around the world, to the Ombdusperson, members of state delegations if so required, Government officials which have been appointed as representatives of the Government in various international organizations, diplomatic couriers as prescribed by law, and persons of interest as prescribed by the law with a maximum validity of 5 years. [http://www.mpb-ks.org/images/files_shtes/pasaportat_kosoves_shqip.pdf]

Travel Document (Light Blue)

*Issued to the citizens of Kosovo if the original passport has been lost or stolen, and/or it has expired. It can also be issued for group travel of no less than 5 persons and no more than 50. A Travel Document has a maximum validity of 30 days. [http://www.mpb-ks.org/images/files_shtes/pasaportat_kosoves_shqip.pdf]

Recognition

Due to Kosovo's controversial declaration of independence, there are a number of countries that refuse to recognise it. Therefore, they may not accept passports issued by the government of Kosovo.cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/25/europe/EU-GEN-Kosovo-Ping-Pong-Diplomacy.php |title=Ping pong team to compete under Kosovo flag, but troubles linger for new state - International Herald Tribune |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=2008-02-25 |accessdate=2008-03-14 ] However, it is not excluded that some of these countries will accept the Kosovan passport as a de facto travel document, just as most countries that don't recognise the Republic of China (Taiwan) still accept Taiwanese passports. Even if most countries that recognise Kosovo are expected to recognize their passports, only a few of them have formally recognised them yet. As of October 9th, 18 countries officially recognise Kosovan passports out of Kosovorecognition countries recognising Kosovo. [http://www.kosovothanksyou.com/stats.php#passport]

Božidar Đelić, the deputy Premier of Serbia, announced that Serbia will not accept the Kosovo passports, making them invalid in Serbia [ [http://news.serbianunity.net/2008/07/16/8359/ Serbia Rejects Kosovo passports] ] .

Kosovan stamps

Serbia refuses entry to people with entry and exit stamps of Kosovo customs authority or Kosovan visas in their passports. These stamps and visas are canceled with Serbian stamp before the traveler is issued with denied access notice. [ [http://blic.rs/politika.php?id=55345 "Srbija spušta rampu za pasoše s kosovskim pečatom"] ]

pecial travel provisions

Greece does not recognise the passport as such, but issues the obligatory visa on a special travel document which allows citizens of Kosovo to travel to Greece. [ [http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/Articles/en-US/110908_alp_1619.htm Briefing of diplomatic correspondents by Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr. G. Koumoutsakos] ] A similar provision applies to citizens of the neighbouring former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, due to Greece's non-recognition of the country's passports as a result of the Macedonia naming dispute.

Recognition map

Visa-free travel

Holders of Kosovan passport can travel without obtaining any form of permission to following countries:

ee also

* Foreign relations of the Republic of Kosovo
* List of diplomatic missions in Kosovo

References

External links

* [http://afp.google.com/media/ALeqM5iMFykfMBqKGukSazh_88eKXoXChw? A side-by-side picture comparison of the UN and Serbian passport covers (AFP)]
* [http://afp.google.com/media/ALeqM5hAB_8lBNCmdkiGYD3pPWbierQf-Q? A side-by-side picture comparison of the UN and Serbian passport pages (AFP)]
* [http://spravy.pravda.sk/slovensko-neuznava-pasy-kosova-dnl-/sk_svet.asp?c=A080711_114213_sk_svet_P04 Slovakia will not accept Kosovan Passport]
* [http://www.mpb-ks.org/images/files_shtes/pasaportat_kosoves_an.ppt Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs presentation of the passport]