Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani will not sign any new decrees granting citizenship until the end of her mandate, according to the Office of the President.
Kosovo law allows the president to grant citizenship by decree to individuals who have made a special contribution to the country. However, the Presidency confirmed that Osmani has decided not to approve any new citizenship requests during the remainder of her term, and any future applications will be handled by the next president.
Under constitutional powers, the president may grant citizenship to foreign nationals who are considered to have made significant contributions to the state, including in areas such as the economy, sports, culture, or professional fields.
Despite this provision, no foreign citizen will receive Kosovo citizenship by presidential decree during Osmani’s remaining time in office.
The president’s cabinet said that any request submitted this year will be reviewed by the next head of state.
“Any request that may have been submitted this year will have to be handled by the next president. The president has already informed the administration that she will not review any new citizenship requests and does not plan to sign new decrees,” the President’s Office stated.
Lawyer Artan Qerkini explained that several legal conditions must be met for a person to receive citizenship through a presidential decree. Citizenship is granted only to individuals considered important to the Republic of Kosovo who contribute to fields such as culture, sports, science, or other areas of notable achievement.
According to Qerkini, citizenship through a presidential decree is not granted automatically. A relevant institution must first submit the request to the president, after which the final decision remains entirely at the president’s discretion.
Security institutions are also involved in evaluating applicants, particularly to determine whether a person poses any security risk to Kosovo. If no such risk is identified, the president then assesses whether the legal conditions for granting citizenship are fulfilled.
Over the years, Kosovo has granted citizenship by decree to several prominent figures who have helped promote the country internationally, including world-renowned Albanian writer Ismail Kadare.
