Dual citizenship routes: EU passports Kosovars commonly obtain
An EU passport changes the EU mobility picture entirely. While Kosovo’s biometric passport now gives visa-free Schengen for short stays, an EU passport adds the right to live, work, study and establish a business in any EU member state without administrative friction. For Kosovars with eligible ancestry, family ties or long residence in an EU country, several routes lead to a second EU citizenship. This page is a factual map of the most common routes — not advice on the timing or merit of any particular naturalisation.
A general note: dual or multiple citizenship is permitted by Kosovo law. Whether the EU country in question allows you to keep your Kosovo citizenship is a question of that country’s nationality law and varies significantly.
Naturalisation by long-term residence
The most common route to an EU passport is naturalisation after sufficient legal residence in the EU country. Each country sets its own timeline, language and integration requirements. For Kosovars, the most relevant cases are:
Germany
Reform in 2024-25 reduced the standard naturalisation period to 5 years of legal residence (3 years for exceptional integration), with permitted dual citizenship. Requirements include:
- German language competency (B1 level)
- Civics test (Einbürgerungstest)
- Financial self-sufficiency
- Clean criminal record
- Acceptance of the German constitutional order
The reform has dramatically expanded the route for Germany-resident Kosovars and is one of the largest current shifts in diaspora citizenship.
Switzerland (not EU but relevant)
Switzerland’s naturalisation is among Europe’s strictest: typically 10 years residence (with reduced periods for spouses of Swiss citizens), federal-cantonal-communal approvals, language requirements (varying by canton). Switzerland is not in the EU but provides EFTA mobility rights and visa-free Schengen access on a Swiss passport.
Austria
Generally 10 years residence and Austrian citizenship law does not normally permit dual citizenship (exceptions exist for family or significant public interest cases). Many Austrian-resident Kosovars therefore retain Kosovo citizenship rather than naturalise.
Sweden
Five years residence, language and civics requirements less onerous than the German-speaking countries. Dual citizenship permitted. Sweden has been one of the more navigable naturalisation routes for Kosovars in the EU.
Italy
Ten years residence for non-EU nationals (subject to ongoing reform debate), plus language requirement. Italian citizenship law allows dual citizenship. Italy’s reduced residence period for descendants of Italian citizens (jus sanguinis) is a separate route, discussed below.
Other EU countries
- France: 5 years (subject to integration tests), dual citizenship permitted
- Belgium: 5 years (with conditions)
- Netherlands: 5 years, dual citizenship restricted in some cases
- Spain: 10 years (less than for Latin American applicants who get a 2-year preferential route)
- Slovenia, Croatia: Variable conditions; the Western Balkan neighbouring states
Citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis)
Several EU countries allow descent-based citizenship for those who can prove an ancestor was a citizen of that country. For Kosovars, the relevant cases are:
Italian jus sanguinis
Italy allows citizenship by descent through the male line (without generational limit historically) and increasingly through the female line for descendants born after 1948. For Kosovars with Italian ancestry — including ethnic Italian emigrants who settled in the Western Balkans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — this can be a route. The process is administratively intensive: birth certificates, marriage certificates, naturalisation records traced through generations. It is rare in Kosovo but not non-existent, particularly through Albanian-Italian community ties.
German jus sanguinis
Germany allows citizenship by descent for children of German citizens, with generational limits and birth-registration requirements. For Kosovars descended from German citizens (including those of the historic German-speaking minorities in the Balkans, or from German emigrants in past centuries), the route may apply. The recent reform around dual citizenship makes this more practical than before.
Hungarian jus sanguinis
Hungary allows simplified citizenship for descendants of Hungarian citizens (including the historic ethnic Hungarian communities of the broader Carpathian basin). The number of Kosovars eligible is small but not zero — historic communities in Vojvodina and migration patterns have left some traceable threads.
Other descent routes
Romanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Slovenian and other EU country descent routes exist with their specific rules and historical reach. Each requires detailed genealogical proof.
Citizenship by marriage
Marriage to an EU citizen does not automatically grant citizenship, but it can substantially shorten the residence requirement for naturalisation. Examples:
- Germany: Spouses of German citizens can apply after 3 years of residence with 2 years of marriage
- Italy: Spouses of Italian citizens can apply after 2 years of residence (1 year if children) or 3 years if living abroad
- France: Spouses can apply after 4 years of marriage (5 if living abroad)
- Belgium, Netherlands: Variable reduced periods
- Austria: Limited reduction; full dual citizenship still restricted
This is one of the most common practical routes for Kosovars married to EU citizens, particularly in the diaspora-heavy countries.
Investment-based citizenship
Several EU countries have run “golden passport” programmes — citizenship granted in exchange for investment in real estate, business or sovereign instruments. The EU has been progressively closing or restricting these:
- Malta: Citizenship by Investment Programme — under EU pressure, has been amended and may eventually close
- Cyprus: Closed its investment-citizenship programme in 2020
- Bulgaria: Closed in 2022
Investment-based citizenship has historically been a niche route for high-net-worth Kosovars; with EU action it is increasingly closed. Several non-EU but Schengen-associated programmes (less relevant here) still operate.
Special historical routes
Some EU countries offer special citizenship routes for descendants of historical communities — Sephardic Jews (Spain, Portugal), descendants of Holocaust victims (Germany, Austria), and others. These are highly specific in eligibility but worth checking for individual cases.
What an EU passport unlocks
For comparison with the Kosovo passport’s current rights:
- EU citizen mobility under the EU Free Movement Directive: live, work, study and establish a business in any EU member state without a work permit or visa
- Vote in EU and municipal elections in the country of residence
- EU consular protection when in third countries
- Family reunification rights under EU Free Movement, more favourable than national rules
- EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) access
- Mutual recognition of professional qualifications within the EU
- Free Movement of capital including across former hurdles
It does not extend Kosovo’s 90/180 Schengen rule — once you are an EU citizen, the rule no longer applies to you in respect of Schengen.
Practical realities
A few practical observations:
- Costs: EU naturalisation fees range from a few hundred euros (Germany, Italy) to several thousand (Switzerland’s communal fees can be substantial)
- Timelines: From application to passport in hand typically takes 1-3 years on top of the residence requirement
- Language: Most routes require demonstrated language proficiency (typically A2-B2 depending on country)
- Document preparation: Apostilled and translated birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal records and academic credentials are a recurring need
- Retention of Kosovo citizenship: Permitted by Kosovo law; each EU country sets its own dual-citizenship rules
For the broader Albanian passport route — Kosovars also holding Albanian citizenship — see our dedicated page.
In summary
For most Kosovars, the practical EU passport route is naturalisation after long residence in an EU country. The recent German reform makes Germany the most accessible route for Germany-resident Kosovars. Italy’s descent-based route works for those with Italian ancestry. Marriage routes are widely used. Investment routes are closing. The route map shifts with EU policy and national reforms; consult official sources for the latest rules in any specific case.
For the broader EU work and residence picture, see our working rights in the EU page and the diaspora communities overview.
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