This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Safety and Security : Civil Unrest/Political Tension (update) and Entry and Exit Requirements (update). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

Civil Unrest/Political Tension

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in the Republic of Kosovo because of the threat of politically motivated violence. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks. The overall security situation in Kosovo remains calm, but could deteriorate rapidly.

The Republic of Kosovo declared independence on 17 February 2008 and has been recognised by Australia. Following its declaration of independence, Kosovo entered a period of political transition. On 9 December 2008, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) passed responsibility for the Kosovo police force and judicial system to the European Rule of Law Mission.

A North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-led (NATO) international force, the Kosovo Force (KFOR), is responsible for maintaining security in Kosovo.

You should check local developments before and during your journey. UNMIK and KFOR provide the latest security information on their websites (www.nato.intKFOR and www.unmikonline.org). Security information is also broadcast on KFOR radio (96.6 FM).

You should avoid all public gatherings, political rallies, protests, roadblocks and demonstrations because of their potential to turn violent.

On 14 November 2008, a small explosion occurred outside the headquarters of the International Civilian Organisation of the European Union Special Representative.

Other violent incidents include:

• In February 2007, two people died during a demonstration in central Pristina.
• Explosive devices targeted UNMIK and KFOR vehicles in February 2007 and March 2008, resulting in serious injuries to police and KFOR personnel.
• A grenade was thrown into the compound of a restaurant in central Pristina and an explosion outside a hotel destroyed a vehicle in March 2007.
• In September 2007, two people were killed in an explosion in Pristina.
• In March 2004, widespread inter-ethnic rioting took place and resulted in 19 deaths and the displacement of up to 4,000 people.

The potential for further attacks remains. Australians should make sure their travel documents are valid and be prepared for a possible deterioration in the security situation in Kosovo.

You should also be aware that the indiscriminate use of fireworks and firearms in ‘happy fire’ can result in accidental injury. Each year, people are injured through the misuse of fireworks and firearms at celebrations.

Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan municipalities and North Mitrovica: We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to North Mitrovica and the northern municipalities of Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan because of the threat of politically-motivated violence. Protesters attacked police and customs border posts in these municipalities in February 2008. There were serious clashes between Serbian protesters and UNMIK and KFOR personnel at the courthouse in North Mitrovica over two days in March 2008.

Civil disorder in North Mitrovica is ongoing and the situation remains tense. Following a series of incidents in late December 2008 and early January 2009, including the stabbing of a teenager in the majority-Serb region, two bomb attacks, the torching of shops and an attack on a police patrol, KFOR and the European police have increased their presence in the area.

If you intend to travel between Serbia and Kosovo, you should use alternative routes. If you do decide to travel in these areas you should exercise extreme caution.

In the past, violent, armed inter-ethnic conflict has erupted mainly, but not exclusively, in several towns in northern Kosovo, including Mitrovica. There have also been incidents along the southern border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Crime

Violent criminal acts, such as assassinations and murder, are often linked to organised crime and not directed at foreigners. Other violent crime, including carjacking and car theft, continues to increase, particularly in Pristina.

Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching is common. Criminals are known to target foreigners in crowded places including markets and on public transport.

Local Travel

Travellers may experience difficulties crossing borders between Kosovo and neighbouring countries, particularly Serbia. Intermittent civil unrest along the border between Kosovo and Serbia remains likely.

There are land mines and unexploded ordnance in Kosovo, particularly in regions bordering Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, including the Dulje Pass area close to Prizren. Australians are urged to use roads and paths labelled as cleared by a competent de-mining authority.

Driving in Kosovo can be dangerous due to poorly maintained roads and vehicles and poor driving skills. Roads are sometimes shared with pedestrians and farm animals in rural areas. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.

There is a risk of landslides on the main route between Pristina and Skopje in Macedonia.

Airline Safety

Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.

If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.

The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

Kosovo is located in an active earthquake zone. Tremors are not uncommon.

Bush and forest fires can occur in summer months (June to September), particularly in northern Kosovo. Extreme hot and dry periods may lead to water shortages.

Information on natural disasters, including earthquakes, can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Wildlife

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas.

Credit cards and travellers cheques are not widely accepted in Kosovo. Cash payment in local currency is expected.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws

When you are in Kosovo, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Further information on visa requirements is available at the Kosovo Foreign Ministry’s website.

Currently, Australians do not need a visa to enter Kosovo. You may be required to provide documentary evidence giving a reason for your visit when entering Kosovo. Upon entry, authorities issue a 90-day entry stamp, which is renewable for longer stays.

Travellers to Kosovo should be aware that Serbian authorities may react with hostility to enquiries about documentation for travel to Kosovo.

Serbia does not recogise entry points direct from Kosovo. You should not attempt to enter Serbia from Kosovo unless you travelled into Kosovo from Serbia.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity and carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Health Issues

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza 09 in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the WHO website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on H1N1 Influenza 09.

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

Medical facilities in Kosovo are below Australian standards. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities would be necessary. Costs for a medical evacuation could be considerable.

Outbreaks of food-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis A, trichinosis, brucellosis and rabies) occur from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We recommend you avoid raw and undercooked food, drink bottled water and avoid unpasteurised dairy products.

Levels of air pollution in Kosovo can be high, particularly in winter when heavy smoke from coal and wood burning heaters can linger for days or even weeks. Accidental emission of toxic substances from factories is not uncommon and public health warnings after such accidents are not always issued. Sufferers of asthma or other bronchial conditions should seek medical advice.

Travel in forested areas in Kosovo brings the risk of exposure to tick-borne encephalitis. Another tick-borne infection, Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, is endemic to Kosovo. Ticks are common in country areas and are active from spring to autumn. We recommend you take measures to avoid tick-bites, particularly in rural areas.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in countries throughout the world, including a number on the Balkan Peninsula. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.

Where to Get Help

Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Kosovo. The Australian Embassy in Austria provides consular assistance to Australians in Kosovo. Contact details are:

Australian Embassy
Mattiellistrasse 2
A1040 Vienna
Telephone: +43 1 506 7400
Facsimile: +43 1 513 1656
Email: ausemb@aon.at
Website: http://www.austria.embassy.gov.au/

The British Office in Pristina can provide limited emergency consular assistance to Australians in Kosovo. This does not include passport or visa services. Contact details are:

British Office
Ismail Qemali 6
Dragodan
Pristina
Telephone (381 38) 254 700
Facsimile (381 38) 249 799
Email britishoffice.pristina@fco.gov.uk

If you are travelling to Kosovo, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency; whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.