Kosovo

Legal status and visa requirements for those who were forced to leave Ukraine
Access to the healthcare services
Services for People Living with HIV
Services for People Living with Hepatitis B/C
Tuberculosis services​
Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) Services​
Sources
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Legal status and visa requirements for those who were forced to leave Ukraine

Kosovo applies a visa regime with Ukraine. Due to the invasion of Ukraine, no Ukrainian citizens transiting to Kosovo need a visa (see government decision no.14/67 from point 1 above). A biometric passport is not necessarily needed to enter Kosovo. To stay in Kosovo, they need to register with the authorities and apply for a residence permit under the Law on foreigners and according to Law on Asylum. There is currently no special decision from the Government of Kosovo regarding the status. However, with a decision on 09.03.2022, GoK, Kosovo lifted the transit visa regime for Ukrainian citizens who pass through Kosovo. In addition, the GoK has committed to receiving 5000 Ukrainian citizens.

Portal of Government of Kosovo

UNHCR Kosovo

    Phone: +383 (0) 38 241 509

    Address: Lorenc Antoni Str. no 26, Pejton, 10000

    Email: hoxha@unhcr.org

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kosovo

Refugee status/ Asylum seeker status/ Temporary protection status

Concerning provisions of the Law on Asylum, Ukrainian citizens must register with authorities to obtain one of the following statuses, refugee or temporary protection, to have access to health care.

According to Article 11 of the Law on Asylum, Ukrainian citizens will get a decision on their status within 15 days after the application is submitted to authorities. However, the law allows for an urgent procedure for the processing of the applications.

Law on Asylum: gzk.rks-gov.net

Learn more about staying in Kosovo:

Access to healthcare services

Medical care for Ukrainians in Kosovo

With reference to provisions of the Law on Asylum, Ukrainian citizens must register with authorities to obtain one of the following statuses: refugee, temporary protection, to have access to health care.

Depending on which status category Ukrainian citizens are granted, they will be provided access to health care: Immediate medical examinations including treatment (Articles 22, 28, 32 and 78).

According to Article 22 of the Law on Asylum, the applicants will be provided access to health services while the application is processed. However, immediate access to health care is also provided.

Ukrainian citizens will be provided/granted with the same health care services that are provided to Kosovan citizens (Law on Asylum).

According to the Law on Health, the principle of service fee is applied. The basic fee starts from 2.00 EUR for the primary health care level.  However, due to the status of refugee/temporary protection status co-payment may be waived.

The majority of health services will be available also to Ukrainian citizens.

By default, the services are in Albanian and/or Serbian.

Law on Asylum by the Ministry of Internal Affairs
Law on Health by the Ministry of Health

Where can the Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine go for healthcare services?

Registration with health services is not required. They will be able to receive health services without registration. Ministry of Internal Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and UNHCR will take measures to ensure health care.

University Clinic in Pristina is the main health care centre in Kosovo where all the clinics provide health services for Kosovo. Ukrainian Citizens, depending on their illnesses, can go as the following: 

A) Centres of Family medicine (primary health care service)
B) University Clinic in Pristina, regional hospitals
C) Combination of A and B

University Hospital Service of Kosovo

Apart from the public health care institutions, Ukrainian citizens can also obtain services from private hospitals. 

Visiting family doctors

Registration with family doctors is not required.

Services for People Living with HIV

HIV-testing

According to AI No.01/2019, testing can be done at public health hospitals that are staffed with trained personnel to conduct testing as well as mobile testing services. Minors can also get HIV testing with the permission of parents or legal guardians. 

Ministry of Health
Ministry of Interior

According to the Law on Asylum and Administrative Instruction No.01/2019 of the Ministry of Health

Testing is provided free of charge by public health institutions and/or NGOs that are licensed to carry out testing.
University Clinic of Kosovo

If a Ukrainian who was forced to leave Ukraine tests positive, the result is communicated to the person. The person is obliged to inform their spouse, partner, parents, or legal guardian. Additionally the centre for asylum if they are accommodated in such a facility, and the clinic where they are being treated if this is the case.  

Ministry of Health, Link to Administrative Instruction 1/2019

Afterwards, the Ministry of Health is responsible to ensure the treatment through the infectious diseases clinic. 

Antiretroviral treatment (ART)

The medical treatment is given by the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the University Clinic and is provided according to the provisions of the Law on Asylum and its requirements.

University Hospital Service of Kosovo

How can minors get treatment?

Under Administrative Instruction No.01-2019, minors receive ART only with the permission given by parents or legal guardians.

Ministry of Health, Link to Administrative Instruction 1/2019: msh.rks-gov.net/ua-2019.pdf

Services for People Living with Hepatitis B/C

Hepatitis B/C testing, Hepatitis B vaccination, and Hepatitis B/C treatment availability

Persons under refugee or temporary protection status will be granted access to medical examinations and treatments. Testing and treatment for hepatitis B or C is centralised, and it is done at the Institute of Public Health of Kosovo/Clinic for Infectious Diseases at the University Clinic in Pristina.  

See more at:

University Hospital Service of Kosovo

Support systems (harm reduction/safer use, social support, or psychosocial support) available for the Ukrainians undergoing therapy for hepatitis C or related liver diseases

According to the Law on Asylum, the persons under the status of refugee and temporary protection will be provided support systems in line with the general protocols applicable in Kosovo.

Tuberculosis services

If the person has TB symptoms

If a Ukrainian who was forced to leave Ukraine has symptoms of TB (e.g. cough, fever, weight loss), they should go to the Central Institution for Infectious Diseases – Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Pristina. The testing is done in Pristina at the Institute of Public Health.

Persons who have been in contact with someone with TB should visit the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Institute for Public Health in Pristina to check whether they have a TB infection.

Check the University Hospital Service of Kosovo website

If TB was already diagnosed in Ukraine and the person needs to continue treatment:

According to the Law on Asylum, persons under the status of refugee or temporary protection are provided with medical examinations, including treatment. 

For this, please contact Central Institution for Infectious Diseases – Clinic for Infectious Diseases in Pristina.

The Law on Asylum provides for the provision of shelter, food, education, as well as psychological support as supporting mechanisms for the non-medical aspects to be provided to persons with the status of refugee or temporary protection.

Useful links to browse more on TB treatment within Kosovo for Ukrainians:

Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) Services

Medication rules

Ukrainians on OAT, who were forced to leave Ukraine, are allowed to bring their take-home dosage into Kosovo but should have their doctor’s prescription. To receive their dosage in Kosovo, they should go to either a licensed NGO “Labyrinth” or a national psychiatric clinic (several cities in Kosovo). An evaluation from a psychiatrist is necessary to establish the dosage, so a short interview with a psychiatrist will take place. Either an identification card or passport is needed for an OAT prescription.

Centre Labyrinth

    Safet Blakaj, Director of Labyrinth, +38344131409

    labirinti@gmail.com

    Rr. Gazmend Zajmi, Nr. 42

    Tel: +383 (0)38 / 230 104

What OAT drugs are available in the country?

Only methadone is available in Kosovo.

OAT treatment fees

OAT is NOT free for foreign citizens unless they register as refugees.

Take-home dosages availability

It is possible to get take-home dosages for no more than 1 week.

Minimum age for people who use drugs to receive OAT

If one is under 18 years of age, either a parent or legal guardian should be present.

Sources

General requirements and access to healthcare

02. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kosovo
03. The UN Refugee Agency
04. Ministry of Internal Affairs
05. Ministry of health
07. University Hospital Service of Kosovo

HIV

03. University Clinic of Kosovo

Hepatitis B/C

02. University Clinic of Kosovo

TB

02. University Clinic of Kosovo

OAT