The European Union, while granting visa-free Schengen Area travel, urged Serbia to create a special authority for its Kosovo-residing citizens.
This was deemed necessary as Serbia couldn't effectively verify the authenticity of documents needed for passport applications from this group.
[2] In 2009, Government of Serbia established the Coordination Directorate for Kosovo and Metohija.
Serbian passports issued by the Coordination Directorate for Kosovo did not allow the holder to enter the Schengen Area without a visa, even for a stay of less than three months within half a year.
Holders of these passports had to apply for visas to travel to the European Union in Pristina, Skopje or Tirana, not in Belgrade.