Self-employment / Freelance in Republic of Kosovo
One documented route of this kind in Republic of Kosovo, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Self-employment / Company formation (business-purpose temporary residence)
Foreigners may register a company (commonly an LLC / SH.P.K. with a sole foreign shareholder, no paid-in capital required) and apply for a business-purpose temporary residence based on genuine business activity. There is no fixed investment threshold or golden visa.
- Processing time
- Company certificate in 1-5 business days; residence decision within 30 days (practitioners cite ~30-60 days end-to-end)
- Validity
- Temporary residence typically 1 year, renewable
- Language requirement
- Elementary written knowledge of Albanian or Serbian required at the permanent-residence and naturalization stages
- Permanent residence
- Permanent residence after 5 years of continuous temporary residence
- Citizenship
- Naturalization after 5 years' continuous residence following permanent residence
Requirements
- Registered Kosovo company (e.g., SH.P.K. / LLC)
- Genuine business activity in Kosovo
- Valid travel document (validity at least 3 months beyond the permit period)
- Business-registration certificate and business information
- Certificate of not being under investigation, translated into Albanian or Serbian
- Proof of sufficient means of subsistence
- Health insurance
- No entry ban to Kosovo
Required Documents
- Business-registration certificate and information about the business required
- Valid travel document required
- Certificate of not being under investigation, translated required
- Proof of sufficient means of subsistence required
- Health insurance required
Official fees
- Company registration (ARBK/KBRA) 0 EUR
- Temporary residence (business purpose) administrative tax 50 EUR
Process Steps
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1
Register the company
File the A0 form, founding act, statute, IDs, and registered-agent consent with ARBK/KBRA (free; online via eKosova).
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2
Obtain the registration certificate
Receive the business-registration certificate, typically within 1-5 business days.
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3
Apply for business-purpose residence
Submit the temporary residence application on eKosova with the business documents; attend the DCAM appointment + biometrics.
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4
Pay the tax and collect the card
Pay the EUR 50 administrative tax and collect the biometric residence card on approval.
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5
Renew before expiry
File the renewal within the 30 days before the permit expires.