GENEVA

The Swiss government on Wednesday exempted nationals from the Balkan nation of Kosovo from visa requirements.

"Kosovo has fulfilled the requirements for visa exemption in terms of security, border control and migration management," the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration said in a statement Wednesday.

Switzerland cited relevant European Union bodies’ adoption of a Schengen regulation this April exempting Kosovars with biometric passports from visa requirements for stays of 90 days or less.

"As a Schengen country, Switzerland has committed itself to adopt further developments of the Schengen acquis," the secretariat added, referring to the Schengen area which has lifted border controls, mainly made up of EU countries but also including countries not in the bloc, such as Switzerland.

However, a visa will still be required to take up gainful employment in Switzerland.

Kosovar nationals will only be allowed to take up gainful employment on the condition that they are professionally well qualified and that no equivalent workers can be found on the Swiss labor market or in EU/EFTA states, the secretariat added. Kosovo is not an EU member.

In addition, the usual wage and working conditions must be respected. The adoption of this Schengen extension required a change to Swiss visa regulations that will go into force on Jan. 1, 2024.

Most UN member states, including the US, UK, France, Germany and Türkiye, recognized Kosovo as a separate country after it declared independence from Serbia 15 years ago. Serbia, however, continues to see it as its territory.

Switzerland recognized Kosovo in February 2008, soon after it declared independence.