Kitchen Restaurant Helper

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The government in Kosovo has designated several countries, including the United States, visa-exempt. Foreign nationals from these countries are free to travel to Kosovo without a visa and stay there for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. Foreigners from other countries will need to obtain an entry visa from the nearest embassy or consulate of Kosovo.

Regardless of whether or not your employees are from a visa-exempt country, they’ll need to obtain a work permit as well as a temporary residence permit to live and work in Kosovo.

The general requirements to get a visa for Kosovo entrance include:

• A duly completed and signed application form

• A passport that is valid for at least six months after the applicant’s planned date of arrival in Kosovo

• A passport photo that was taken within the last month

• Evidence that the applicant has travel medical insurance coverage for their time in Kosovo

• Proof that the applicant has sufficient financial means to support themselves in Kosovo

• Evidence that the applicant has accommodations in Kosovo

• Proof of payment of the visa fee

Diplomatic officials may request additional documents on a case-by-case basis. To obtain a temporary residence permit, foreign nationals will need to provide proof of insurance and accommodations in Kosovo. They’ll also need to submit an official police background check from their country of residence.

The requirements to obtain a Kosovo work permit include:

• A temporary residence permit or valid visa

• Details regarding the applicant’s professional position and qualifications

• An employment contract with a business in Kosovo

• A certificate of business registration for the employer

Kosovo is located in Europe and has a population of 1.8 million. The capital city of Kosovo is Pristina which has a population of about 210,000. About 90 percent of Kosovo’s two million people are ethnic Albanians, most of whom are Muslim. The remaining 10 percent are mainly Orthodox Christian Serbs living in northern Kosovo, near the border with Serbia.

When negotiating terms of an employment contract and offer letter with an employee in Kosovo, it may be useful to keep the following in mind:

In Kosovo, employment contracts can be oral or written, but it is best practice to put a strong, written contract in place, in Albanian or Serbian, which spells out the terms of the employee’s compensation, benefits, and termination requirements. An offer letter and employment contract in Kosovo should always state the salary and any compensation amounts in Euros rather than a foreign currency. The employment contract template is part of the service with Globalization Partners; no need to draft a separate template if you use our employer of record and PEO service in Kosovo. 

• New Year’s Day

• Second Day of New Year

• Christmas Day

• Independence Day of the Republic of Kosovo

• Easter Monday

• Constitution Day of the Republic of Kosovo

• International Labour Day

• Europe Day

• Eid al Fitr

• Eid al Addha