U.S. Embassy Pristina

U.S. Embassy Pristina
Rr. “4 Korriku” Nr. 25
10000 Pristina, Kosovë
Telephone: +(383) (38) 5959-3000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(383) (38) 5959-3000
Email: PristinaACS@state.gov

List of Attorneys – U.S. Embassy in Kosovo

Is Kosovo a party to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters?

No.

How should requests be completed?

Kosovo is not a party to the Hague Service Convention. 

Local authorities have advised the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Department of State that, in the absence of any other international agreement, service of process in Kosovo may be accomplished by making a formal request via letters rogatory.  U.S. litigants seeking to serve process in Kosovo by other methods may wish to consult legal counsel in Kosovo for guidance.

Does Kosovo permit service via postal channels?

No 

Service on a Foreign State:  

See also our Service Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) feature and FSIA Checklist for questions about service on a foreign state, agency or instrumentality.   

Prosecution Requests:   

U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance.

Defense Requests in Criminal Matters:  

Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process.

Is Kosovo a party to the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters?

No.

How should letters of request be completed? Do they require transmittal via diplomatic channels?

All requests for obtaining evidence, including requests to compel evidence or to take voluntary depositions, must be submitted via the letters rogatory process.

Are foreign attorneys permitted to take depositions of willing witnesses without the involvement of the host government or courts?

No.

Kosovo is not a party to the Hague Evidence Convention. Local authorities do not permit foreign persons, such as American attorneys, to take depositions for use in a court in the United States.

All requests for obtaining evidence must be submitted via the letters rogatory process.

It is the U.S. Department of State’s understanding that the Kosovar prohibition on taking depositions by foreign persons extends to telephone or video teleconference depositions initiated from the United States to depose a witness in Kosovo.  The State Department advises U.S. citizens contemplating participation in such a proceeding, without Kosovo’s concurrence, obtained through diplomatic channels, to consider carefully the possible legal consequences of doing so.  Interested parties should also consult a local attorney.

May consular officers conduct depositions of willing witnesses?

No.

May local attorneys directly petition a court to conduct the deposition of an unwilling witness or must this be requested via letters rogatory?

This must be requested via letters rogatory.

Is Kosovo a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents?

Yes

Kosovo’s competent authority for the Hague Apostille Convention will authenticate local public documents with Apostilles and maintains an electronic register for the verification of Apostilles.

How can I authenticate U.S. public documents for use in Kosovo?

For information about authenticating U.S. public documents for use in Kosovo, see the list of U.S. Competent Authorities.

To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.