Living in Kosovo guide for expats

Until 2008 the UN administered Kosovo. Now, Kosovo is a parliamentary republic, which is diplomatically recognised as an independent country by most United Nations' members, and by 23 out of 28 EU members. It is also a potential candidate for EU membership itself.

Since the turn of the 21st century, the population has been comprised of approximately 90% Albanians and less than 10% Serbs (concentrated in northern Kosovo, particularly in Mitrovicë and Shtërpcë on the Macedonian border). The remaining population is comprised of Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims), Turks, Gorani, Croats, Montenegrins, and traditionally itinerant people.

As a result of this ethnic composition, most of the 1.8 million Kosovars follow Islam ' although this Muslim-majority nation does not have an official religion, and its citizens are relatively liberal in their practices. Albanian and Serbian are the official languages but, according to the 2008 constitution, Turkish, Bosnian, and Romany also have official status in certain municipalities. The subvariety of Albanian spoken in Kosovo is commonly known as kosovarce, but standard Albanian is used in the media and written communication.

After years of strained relations between its minority Serbian and majority Albanian inhabitants, it is considered safe to travel here now. And travel comes highly recommended in this beautiful landlocked country that is deemed to be one of the few remaining off-the-beaten-track destinations in Europe.

Located in the heart of the Balkans, Kosovo boasts a moderate continental climate that makes it enjoyable to explore its charming old mountain towns, such as picturesque Prizren, and its 13th-century domed Serbian monasteries, such as the ancient Visoki DeÄani Monastery. There are also incredible hiking opportunities in the Rugova region, and the country is arguably a nature lover's paradise, as forests cover almost half of the land, and brown bears, Eurasian lynxes, wildcats, and grey wolves inhabit the mountainous border regions.

Kosovo is a lower-middle-income country that has experienced solid economic growth over the past decade. In fact, it is one of only four countries in Europe that can boast having experienced growth every year since the start of the global financial crisis in 2008.

However, although Kosovo's economic growth has outperformed its Western Balkan neighbours, it has not significantly reduced its high rates of unemployment, and it remains the third-poorest country in Europe. Many of its citizens rely heavily on remittances to boost their standard of living, and the country has received a great deal of aid from the international community ' particularly from the EU and NATO, which have provided many expatriates with job opportunities in the region.

The service sector represents the largest in the economy, and agriculture remains relatively strong. The financial sector in Kosovo is dominated by a profitable banking sector, which open opportunities for foreign professionals in international financial institutions (IFIs).

According to the World Bank, Kosovo's growth strategy needs to focus on creating an environment more conducive to private sector development. Provided the country manages to establish a stable political environment and a better business climate, there is potential for more productive investment opportunities ' notably in the energy sector ' which could make the smallest country in the Balkans very attractive to expats in the near future.