Kosovo

Dual Citizenship Kosovo

Allowed

Kosovo only recently became an independent country and started to establish its own legislation. In this regard, Kosovar law on citizenship was adopted, determining the manner in which Kosovar citizenship can be acquired, lost and requisitioned, as well as other issues relating to citizenship. It can be noted that this law is based on a mixture of ius soli and ius sanguinis.

Citizenship of Kosovo is acquired by birth, adoption, naturalisation, international treaties or through some other specific forms. The acquisition of citizenship by birth is based on the parentage of one or two of the parents. Kosovar citizenship laws also envisage the attainment of citizenship in the situation where a child was born in the territory of Kosovo, however, has parents who are unknown or stateless. Acquisition of citizenship by adoption is possible too.

A foreign person may acquire Kosovar citizenship through naturalisation if he/she fulfils the following requirements: residency in Kosovo for five years without interruption (with absence from Kosovo no more than 10 months over this period); integration in Kosovar society; possession of sufficient financial means and; evidence of elementary knowledge in one of the official languages.

The acquisition of Kosovo citizenship by marriage and by being a member of the diaspora is also possible. Citizenship by marriage is granted on similar requirements as with naturalisation of foreign persons, but the residency requirement is only for one year without interruption within three years of legal marriage. On the other hand, members of Kosovo Diaspora must prove that they are born in Kosovo, or are first generation descendants of citizens in Kosovo or have economic links in Kosovo.

Under Kosovar law, dual and multiple citizenship is allowed. Subsequently, a citizen of Kosovo may also be a citizen of one or more other states. The acquisition and holding of another citizenship shall not result in the loss of Kosovar citizenship and such a person is not required to register the dual or multiple citizenship.