August Begins with Record Influx as Thousands of Diaspora Vehicles Arrive in Kosovo

With the start of August, the number of diaspora members returning from the various countries where they live and work to spend their holidays in their homeland has once again increased significantly this year. Although the journey is tiring, they say arriving home lifts their spirits.

Denis Elshani, a diaspora member living in Denmark, says the journey went very well overall. According to him, there were some delays, but they were understandable given the season.

Bekim Basha, who arrived from Germany, says they encountered the greatest difficulties in Croatia, where they waited for two and a half hours along with 20 cars. Meanwhile, he describes the journey through Albania as fantastic.

Lumnie Bajramaj, a diaspora member from Switzerland, also made a 24-hour journey. She says they waited for two hours in Croatia, while they crossed the border checkpoints with Albania without delays.

This year, the state is once again subsidizing vehicle insurance policies for diaspora members. At the Vërmica checkpoint, this document is being issued very quickly.

Bekim Nexhipi, a diaspora member from Switzerland, says the procedure took only two minutes and that everything went smoothly. He adds that there was a short line, but according to him, such queues are always present.

Representatives of the Kosovo Insurance Bureau office say the influx of emigrants returning home reaches its peak in early August.

Agron Berisha of the KIB says July ended with at least 35,000 diaspora vehicles entering Kosovo and obtaining insurance at this checkpoint. He emphasizes that the government is continuing to subsidize the diaspora this year for the passenger vehicle category.

The largest number of diaspora members come from Germany and Switzerland, followed by Italy and the Nordic countries. To handle the influx, the Kosovo Insurance Bureau is operating 24/7.

According to Berisha, emigrants do not have to wait minutes to be served, but only a few seconds at the KIB counters. He says the staff are professionally trained and fully prepared, while both the main center and the Vërmica checkpoint are operating at maximum capacity without interruption, 24/7.

Data from the KIB office show that more than 13,000 vehicles have so far arrived from Switzerland, 10,000 to 12,000 from Germany, and the remainder from other European countries.

The influx of diaspora members arriving from Europe is expected to decline in the coming days.