Temporary residence permit for family reunification
Close family members of Kosovo citizens and of foreigners with temporary or permanent residence can get a temporary residence permit for family reunification. So can family of people with international protection. Close family means spouses, partners in a cohabitation of at least 3 years, and minor children. The permit is first issued for 1 year and allows work. After 3 years, family members can get an autonomous residence permit.
Life in Kosovo
Money
3
Currency
Euro
EUR
Euro
Cost of living
41
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2022
Tax
8–10%
Income tax (national)
VAT 18%
0% up to EUR 3,000 a year (EUR 250 a month), 8% to EUR 5,400 (EUR 450 a month), 10% above.
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Spouses, long-term unmarried partners and minor children of Kosovo citizens or of foreigners lawfully residing in Kosovo.
Eligibility
Sponsor
A Kosovo citizen, a foreigner with permanent residence, a foreigner with temporary residence, or a person with international protection (art. 49).
Family members
Family members covered are a spouse or partner and minor unmarried children, including adopted children.
- A partnership is an unmarried couple living together for at least 3 years
- The period can be shorter if the couple has a child together
- Legal basis: art. 50
Official wording
Spouse or partner and minor unmarried children, including adopted children. A partnership means an unmarried couple living together for at least 3 years, or less if they have a child together (art. 50).
Quota workers' families
If your sponsor has a 1-year quota employment permit, you can generally join only after they have 2 years of temporary residence.
- Legal basis: art. 49(2)
Official wording
Family of a foreigner on a 1-year quota employment permit can generally join only after the sponsor has at least 2 years of temporary residence (art. 49(2)).
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementExcluded
- Document checklistValid travel document
- FeesTemporary residence permit - family reunification
The full requirements are for members
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- 2 more requirements
- 7 documents
- 2 fees
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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Official sources
- Official Gazette - Law No. 04/L-219 on Foreigners (5 Sep 2013), as amended by Law No. 06/L-036 (3 May 2018) and Law No. 08/L-262 (8 Aug 2024)
- Official Gazette - Administrative Instruction (MIA) No. 09/2019 on the procedure and criteria for issuing residence permits for foreigners
- Ministry of Internal Affairs - Temporary residence permit for foreigners (criteria, documents, fees)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs - Amount of sufficient means of subsistence for foreigners (PDF)
- Embassies of the Republic of Kosovo (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora) - Visas for foreign nationals
