The short answer: yes, with full ownership
Yes. Foreigners can start, own, and run businesses in Kosovo without a local partner. There are no foreign ownership caps, no nominee requirements, and no special approval process for foreign founders. A single foreign individual can be the sole shareholder and the sole director of an SH.P.K., the Kosovo LLC. Registration at the business registry is free of charge and, since June 2025, can be completed fully online through the e-Kosova platform.
| What foreign founders ask | The position in Kosovo (July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Own 100% of a company? | Yes, no caps, no local partner or nominee |
| Be sole shareholder and director? | Yes, one foreign individual can hold both roles |
| Set up without traveling? | Yes, via a notarized and apostilled power of attorney |
| Own real estate? | EU citizens on the same terms as locals; others subject to reciprocity |
| Get residence? | Temporary permit on business grounds, up to 1 year, renewable |
| Take profits out? | Free repatriation, 0% withholding on dividends |
The legal framework in 2026
The current investment law is Law No. 08/L-209 on Sustainable Investments, in force since 6 September 2024. It replaced the old Law on Foreign Investment (04/L-220) and the Law on Strategic Investments (05/L-079), so any guide still citing those is out of date. For a foreign founder, the law does three things that matter:
- Non-discrimination. Foreign investors are treated the same as domestic ones. The company law and tax law apply identically whoever owns the shares.
- Protection. Expropriation is allowed only for a public interest and against compensation.
- Free repatriation. Profits, dividends, and invested capital are freely transferable abroad. Kosovo has no foreign exchange controls.
For larger projects, the law also created a strategic-investment track: investments of EUR 10 million or more (the threshold was lowered from EUR 30 million) can qualify for facilitation, investor care services, and leases of public land for up to 99 years.
You can set up without traveling
Remote formation is standard practice, not a workaround. You sign a power of attorney before a notary in your home country, have it apostilled (Kosovo has been part of the Hague Apostille Convention since 2016), and a representative in Kosovo handles the rest. One caveat: founders from states that objected to Kosovo's accession to the convention need consular legalization instead of an apostille.
The registration file itself is short:
- Passport copy of the owner and any authorized representative
- Founding documents (charter, and a founding agreement for multi-member companies)
- A registered office address in Kosovo
- A beneficial ownership declaration
- The power of attorney, if you act remotely
- Sworn translations where documents are not in an official language
The registry is fast: it must register a complete application within 2 business days, and the certificate with the NUI (which serves as both registration and fiscal number) typically issues in 1 to 3 business days. VAT registration with the tax administration is a separate step when you need it. End to end, a remote foreign founder should budget a realistic 4 to 5 weeks including documents, tax registration, and the bank account: the slow parts are the power of attorney with apostille and the bank, not the registry. The full process is covered step by step in our complete guide to company registration in Kosovo.
There is also no capital barrier: the SH.P.K. has no statutory minimum capital, and founders commonly declare a nominal EUR 1. If you are choosing between a local company and a branch of your existing one, see our comparison of the LLC and the branch.
What foreigners can and cannot own: real estate
Company ownership is unrestricted, but real estate is more nuanced. Under Law No. 08/L-013 on Property Rights of Foreign Citizens (2022):
- EU citizens and EU companies may own property in Kosovo on the same terms as Kosovo citizens.
- Other foreigners (US, UK, and everyone else) can acquire property subject to reciprocity with their home state, which the Ministry of Justice determines.
Even where ownership is open, the law carves out categories foreign persons generally cannot buy: agricultural land and forests, natural resources and public goods, and property within one kilometre of the border, subject to narrow exceptions. In practice, many non-EU buyers acquire property through a Kosovo-registered company, which is a domestic legal person. If you plan to buy in your own name and you are not an EU citizen, confirm your country's reciprocity status and the specific parcel before committing to anything. The full rules, including the company route, are in our guide to buying property in Kosovo as a foreigner.
Taking money out
This is where Kosovo is genuinely simple. The euro is the official currency (used unilaterally since 2002), there are no foreign exchange controls, and the investment law guarantees free transfer of profits, dividends, and capital. On tax, the company pays a flat 10% corporate income tax, and dividends leave with 0% withholding, including to non-resident shareholders. The only cash formality is declaring EUR 10,000 or more at the border. The full picture, including VAT and withholding on other payment types, is in our guide to taxes for investors.
Visiting and staying
Citizens of 80+ countries, including all EU member states, the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan, enter Kosovo visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. EU and Schengen citizens can enter with a biometric ID card instead of a passport. For most founders who run the Kosovo company from abroad, that is all they ever need.
If you want to live in Kosovo, owning a company gives you a route: the Law on Foreigners (No. 04/L-219, as amended) provides temporary residence on business grounds. Company owners qualify with a work permit and do not need an employment contract. Permits are issued for up to 1 year and are renewable; apply for the extension at least 30 days before the permit expires. You will need to show real business activity, sufficient means, health insurance, and a clean criminal record. The route is covered step by step in our guide to the Kosovo residence permit through business activity.
What foreigners cannot skip
Equal treatment cuts both ways. Foreign founders face no special barriers, and they also get no shortcuts:
- Bank KYC. Banks vet the ultimate beneficial owners: passports, proof of address, the registration certificate, founding documents, and an ownership chart for corporate shareholders. A realistic timeline is 1 to 3 weeks once the file is complete, and some banks require an in-person visit. Our guide to opening a business bank account in Kosovo covers how to get through it cleanly.
- Real substance. A registered office, actual activity, and honest filings. This matters doubly if you want a residence permit, which requires evidence of genuine business activity, and it is what banks look for too.
- Tax compliance. The rates are low, but the filings are real: corporate tax, payroll if you hire, and VAT registration once turnover passes EUR 30,000 (or immediately if you import or export).
The honest summary: Kosovo is one of the easier places in Europe for a foreigner to own a business outright. The law is genuinely open, the registry is fast and free, and profits leave without withholding. The friction sits in the same two places as everywhere else: notarized documents and bank onboarding.
Where to start
Decide on the structure, prepare the power of attorney, and let the registration run while you assemble the banking file. The company registration guide walks through every step, document, and timeline.
Figures on this page are current as of July 2026 and are general guidance, not legal, tax, or investment advice. Rules like property reciprocity and residence requirements depend on your citizenship and circumstances, so confirm your specific case before relying on them.
