Can I Visit Serbia after Going to Kosovo?
How to NAVIGATe THE SERBIAN BORDER
Kosovo boasts impressive history, architecture, and more – but a tumultuous political situation makes traveling there somewhat of a hassle.
If you’re considering a trip to Kosovo, you may have heard about people having trouble entering Serbia after traveling to the region.
So can you visit Serbia after going to Kosovo?
Yes, you can enter Serbia after visiting Kosovo, but you’ve got to be a little careful about how you enter and exit. Basically, you can only go from one into the other and back – if you enter Kosovo via Serbia, you have to leave via Serbia; likewise, if you enter Kosovo via a neighboring country, you may not then enter Serbia immediately after.
There are also some other factors you still need to consider, which we’ll cover below.
How can I enter Kosovo legally?
First, make sure your visa is valid for the region. If you are a national of the US, EU, or any Schengen member state (along with a whole bunch of other places), you are allowed 90 days in Kosovo within a 6-month period.
As far as actually entering the country is concerned, Kosovo has many legal border crossings by road, rail, and air. Entering Kosovo legally is easy; simply enter via one of these legal crossings and you should be fine.
The important thing is leaving legally. As far as Serbia is concerned, by entering Kosovo, your entry onto Serbian land was unlawful. This means that if you try to continue on into the Serbian mainland, you might get apprehended at the border for your “illegal” crossing.
Avoiding this is simple: enter and exit Kosovo via Serbia, or enter Kosovo via a neighboring country and leave via any neighboring country that isn’t Kosovo.
For example, you can take a trip from North Macedonia to Kosovo to Albania and Serbia will have (sort of) no issues with it. The same goes for trips to and from the same neighboring country: Albania-Kosovo-Albania is totally okay. You can also go from northern Serbia to Kosovo and back without the Serbian government coming down on you. Issues only come when you try to mix Serbian travel with Kosovo + other country travel.
What happens if I enter via Serbia and leave from Kosovo?
As far as Serbia is concerned, you never (legally) left the country, and you may have issues re-entering Serbia in the future.
They won’t follow you through Europe trying to arrest you or anything like that, but upon your return, you might get a questioning, rejection, or potentially worse.
Simply put, it’s not worth the risk. Travel from Kosovo to the rest of Serbia is cheap and easy, so if you plan on finishing your travels in Kosovo, simply buy a train or bus ticket back to Serbian territory before you leave.
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My voided Kosovo stamp.
If I have a Kosovo stamp in my passport, will I have problems going to Serbia in the future?
Probably not. While you do hear the occasional horror story, most of the time, your Kosovo stamp will simply be ignored and you will be allowed through the border with ease.
Here are the three most common occurrences:
1) No issue whatsoever. You go through the border, no problem.
2) They cross out your Kosovo stamp with a big “INVALID” stamp. This is what happened to me at the border, and it seems to be one of the more common “solutions,” at least when you travel by air.
3) They ask you if you have taken a “previous trip to Serbia.” This is their roundabout way of getting you to say that Kosovo is Serbia. Occasionally they will be more direct and ask you to outright say “Kosovo is Serbia.” As long as you comply, you should get through with no problem.
What happens if they don’t let me into Serbia?
I hesitate even answering this because they will almost definitely let you through, but just in case they don’t, here’s what you should do.
Essentially, you have to assert your legal right to be there. Ask them why they are rejecting you, and show all of the documents that prove you have a right to be there (passport, confirmation of travel to and from Serbia/Kosovo, hotel confirmations, etc.). You don’t want to cause a scene, but if you politely explain your situation (maybe throw in a “Kosovo is Serbia” for good measure), you might be able to get through.
Worst case scenario, your rejection is final and you must turn around. From Kosovo, it is easiest to get to North Macedonia, but Albania and Montenegro are also viable options. You may then directly enter Serbia from these countries.
Do I need to register with the police once I enter Kosovo?
Nope!
Unlike other Balkan countries like Serbia and North Macedonia, Kosovo does not require you to register with the police after you arrive. It is still advisable to carry some form of ID with you at all times to prevent any issues.
Is there anything else I need to know about traveling to Kosovo?
While the situation in the region may be difficult, navigating it doesn’t have to be. Nearly 200 thousand people visit this small territory every year, and if they can figure it out, so can you. As long as you follow this guide, you should be able to cross the Serbia-Kosovo border without any issues.
Have any Kosovo recommendations?
Border stories?
Leave a comment down below!
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