Foreigners who need a visa to enter work in Kosovo must apply for a regular entry visa. In addition, if you want to be allowed to work, you must also get a work permit. 

After arrival in Kosovo, foreigners must apply for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of work.

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However, first of all, you need an employer who is willing to hire you and start the necessary procedure for obtaining a work permit. Applications are submitted in person no later than three months before the start of the planned trip.

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Work permit in Kosovo

Individuals who are not citizens of Kosovo, if they wish to work in the territory of the Republic for a period of less than three months, must obtain a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

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There are the following types of work permits in Kosovo:

1. A Work Permit of the type A issued to foreign citizens for a period of at least six months;
2. A work permit of the type B issued to foreign citizens to work in an established profession, in a certain geographical area assigned to the employer. This permit is issued for a year and can be updated for a one-year period, if the main circumstances of granting a previous work permit have not changed;
3. A work permit of the type C issued to resident foreigners in the Republic of Kosovo who receive a work permit of the type B for 3 years of continuous residence. This type of work permit can be used for up to five years;
4. A work permit with the type D (self-employment permit) is issued to self-employed foreign citizens, restricting their activities in a certain geographical area. The duration of this work permit is one year with the right to renew;
5. A work permit with the type E (self-employment permit) is granted to self-employed foreign citizens for any activity and without geographical restrictions who have had a Type D work permit for at least three years. This work permit is valid for five years;
6. A work permit with the type F (for students) is issued to foreigners studying in Kosovo for the continuation of the academic year. This work permit is issued only part time during your studies and full time during the holidays between the school year or semester;
7. A work permit with the type G is granted to foreigners who invest in the Republic of Kosovo and employ at least two Kosovo citizens for each foreign employee. The permit is valid for one year with the right to restore it.
8. A work permit with the type H is issued to foreign citizens who have a permit of the type G for a period of three years. A work permit with the type H is granted for a period of five years.

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Applying for a work permit

The application for obtaining a work permit is submitted by the employer in writing prior to the start of work. A work permit is issued by the Department of Labor and employment of the Ministry of Labor and social protection of the population.

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The following categories of foreign citizens are exempt from obtaining a work permission:

• Representatives of diplomatic institutions of international organizations with diplomatic status and foreign citizens who are employees of such institutions;
• The main personnel of commercial enterprises defined by the stability association agreement between EU member states and Kosovo;
• Representatives of non-governmental and non-profit organizations;
• Executive directors and important employees of foreign companies who work or intend to work in the Republic of Kosovo;
• Other employees and specialists of a foreign company who come to work with branches of such companies in the Republic of Kosovo;
• Specialists who come to work in accordance with bilateral and multilateral agreements;
• Personnel for cross-border transportation of goods and people;
• Teachers, researchers, university teachers, employees of private scientific institutions;
• Media representatives, correspondents or reporters working for a foreign employer;
• University students who participate in the exchange program during the summer holidays, as a result of relevant agreements;
• Military and civilian officials of other governments arriving in the country to work under a cooperation contract with the Government of Kosovo,
• Representatives of religious associations.

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What documents are required to obtain a work permit?

Together with the request for a work permit, the employer must submit:

• Document for permission to stay in the Republic of Kosovo or confirmation of the existence of an official valid visa;
• Information about the position, qualifications and nature of work and employment of a foreign employee;
• Details of the employer's head office with justification for hiring a foreign person, terms of the employment contract, number of employees, types of work and their duration;
• Certification to register a business or other activity that operates in its trading company, which owns a majority of shares in the joint venture in Kosovo; A certificate from the Employment Bureau confirming that there are no persons among the job seekers in Kosovo who meet the working conditions where a foreign citizen should work.

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Employment contract

The employer is obliged to sign a written employment contract with a foreign employee before starting work no later than fifteen days from the date of issuing the work permit.

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Recovery a work permit

An application for renewal of a work permit is submitted one month before the end of the permit. The request will be renewed within one month, if the main circumstances of issuing the initial permit have not changed.