Vision Consulting Albania is delighted to provide some useful details for any foreigner or expat in Albania regarding visa, work permit, residence permit information.
Based on your nationality you may or may not be required to obtain a visa prior to entering in our country.
You can check the visa regime which Albania applies with your country in the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania.
From time to time Albania applies exemptions from visa requirements for certain countries – exemptions might be sometimes temporary so make sure to check the website at all times in order to be on the safe side!
If you do need a visa, here’s what you need to know:
TABLE 1 – VISA
| Type of Visa | Motives | Term | Timeline of issuance |
| Tourist visa
– Type C |
This type of visa entitles its holder to enter and stay in the Republic of Albania for visit motives | Not more than 30 days within a 180 days period
(single or multiple entry) |
Up to 15 days from the submission of application.
In exceptional cases might take up to 30 days. |
| Long term (residence) visa
– Type D |
1- Business/investor or self-employed visa – issued to foreigners who own a business in Albania under their name
2- Family reunion visa – issued to a foreigner’s family member when the foreigner lives in Albania. 3- Student visa – issued to foreigners who want to study in Albania. 4-Work/seasonal work visa – issued to foreigners whose intention is to work in Albania. 5- Visa for humanitarian reasons 6-Diplomatic visa |
Up to 365 days
(single or multiple entry) |
Up to 15 days from the submission of application.
In exceptional cases might take up to 30 days. |
Any foreigner who wishes to stay in Albania for more than 90 days within a 180 days period, needs to be equipped with a residence permit, based on the motive of stay in the country.
TABLE 2 – RESIDENCE PERMIT
| Type of RP | Motives | Term | Timeline of issuance |
| Temporary Residence Permit | 1- Work or self/employment – This type of permit is issued to foreigners who are employed or own a business under their name in Albania.
2- Family reunion – This type of permit is issued to a foreigner’s family members when the foreigner lives in Albania. 3- Student residence permit is issued to foreigner who want to study in Albania. 4- Crew of sailing vessels – This type of permit is issued to foreigners who are employed in a marine vessel registered in Republic of Albania/ a foreign marine vessel. 5- Other types: seasonal work, humanitarian, human-traficking victims, voluntary work, etc.
|
– 3 months,
– 6 months – 1 year – 5 years – renewal for 2 years for 2 times |
Within 60 days from the submission of application. |
| Permanent Residence Permit | This permit is issued to foreigners who have resided legally and continuously as a resident in the Republic of Albania, for at least 5 years from the first submission of the application for a residence permit.
|
Within 60 days from the submission of application.
|
Any foreigner who is self-employed, employed or wishes to work in Albania, needs to be equipped with a work permit, based on the type of economic activity.
TABLE 3 – WORK PERMIT
| Type of WP | Motives | Term | Timeline of issuance | |||
|
Type A
|
– This type of work permit is issued to foreigners who work in Albania as employees ether full-time or as domestic workers, family member-workers, athletes, etc. | 1 year for initial work permit
– 2 years renewable 2 times in a row
|
15 days from application
|
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|
Type B |
-Type B/VP – This type of work permit is issued for independent economic activity, as self-employed (e.g. A foreigner who owns a business).
-Type B/I – This type of work permit is issued to the foreign investor, for independent economic activity, with a term of 3 years, when he makes an investment, at least in the amount of 200’000 Euros. |
1 year for initial work permit
– 2 years renewable 2 times in a row
|
15 days from application
|
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|
Other types of Work Permit |
-Type C – This type of work permit is issued to the foreigner for exceptional cases
-Type C/SHK – This type of work permit is issued to the foreigner who performs an activity or offers a service based on a contract, signed with the recipient of services in the Republic of Albania. -Type D – The Permanent work permit is issued to the foreigners who have worked continuously in Albania for at least 5 years |
1 year for initial work permit
– 2 years renewable 2 times in a row – permanent
|
15 days from application
|
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*The information contained in this publication is provided for general information purposes only and does not contain a comprehensive analysis. Before taking any action or decision, readers should seek professional advice. No liability is accepted for acts or omissions taken in reliance upon this information.