Citizenship of Albania

The legal framework in Albania allows you to obtain citizenship of this state for various reasons. Upon satisfaction of the application, the citizen will be able to use a visa-free visit to the EU, pay reasonable money for accommodation, choose a location with an optimal climate for living. In Albania, it is not necessary to renounce the first citizenship, it is possible to obtain citizenship in various ways.

There are special cases of obtaining citizenship with a significant contribution of the applicant to the culture, science of the country, or its economy. Those who wish to purchase a passport must pass the citizenship exams. They are tested for their knowledge of the Albanian language, and only after that the application is accepted for consideration. Citizenship can be obtained by any interested persons who have a residence permit in Albania or who receive this status by birth.

Ways to obtain citizenship

The Citizenship Law in force since 1998 provides for 3 ways to acquire status: by birth, naturalization or adoption. It is also possible for a foreigner who has been married to an Albanian for 3 years or more to obtain citizenship without checking basic knowledge of the national language. At the same time, you must continuously reside in Albania for at least 1 year.

Advantages of Albanian citizenship

An applicant applying for citizenship with a positive decision regarding his application gets the opportunity to visit EU countries in a visa-free regime. Interested businessmen receive loyal conditions for conducting their business in the country.

Other advantages of obtaining Albanian status:

• the possibility of obtaining a visa to the United States; 
• access to various social services, including free healthcare and education;
• acquisition of real estate ownership – the opportunity to obtain a residence permit, and subsequently citizenship; 
• visa-free travel to the countries of the Schengen agreement; 
• low tax rates that make the republic attractive to investors and businessmen; 
• ease of moving and low living costs; 
• inheritance of status by children.

Dual citizenship

Albania does not insist on renouncing native citizenship for the applicant for its citizenship. This status allows foreigners to use a national passport while in Albania, and when visiting other countries, to use another identity card that provides the most favorable conditions.

Citizenship by Investment Program

The Albanian Citizenship by Investment program has not yet entered into force. This is due to the fact that the country is making efforts to join the EU, which in 2021 criticized amendments to the citizenship law allowing accelerated naturalization of foreign investors.

Obtaining citizenship under the investment program provides for investments from interested parties in the amount of $100,000. The adoption of this program is planned to be carried out in the last quarter of 2024.

Recent reforms of the citizenship program

In 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Albania prepared amendments to the law on citizenship, according to which newborns born to parents who are residents of the country with a residence permit or permanent residence, with their consent, are granted Albanian citizenship without the need for children to reach the age of 18. It is also proposed to obtain naturalization without knowledge of the Albanian language and the history of the republic.

The amendments introduced abolish the restrictive age limit for naturalization (18 years) for foreigners with special merits who can benefit Albania.

Step-by-step application process

Before applying for the acquisition of Albanian citizenship, several important steps must be completed. After that, you can apply for the status of an Albanian citizen.

1. To come to the country with the appropriate visa.
2. Get a residence permit or permanent residence. Submit an application in electronic form with an e-mail address or 30 days after crossing the border to the Migration Service.
3. Prepare a dossier with a full set of documents, translate and apostille them for legalization.
4. Take an Albanian language proficiency test.
5. Submitting an application on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic.
6. Get a passport from the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of request.

Upon request, those living with their parents who have not reached the age of 18 can count on purchasing a passport if one of the parents has a residence permit. If they have a residence permit in the State, they can apply for the status of an Albanian citizen for their child. It is possible for children of citizens of the state to obtain a passport if the children have citizenship of another country.

Collecting documents and submitting an application

Mostly foreigners obtain Albanian citizenship through naturalization. At the same time, personal information is provided, including information about work, ownership of securities, etc. This allows us to assess whether he has sources of income for the residence of the applicant and his dependents in the republic.

After the required information is provided, the migrant goes through the process of obtaining Albanian citizenship:

• Selects the basis for its receipt.
• He moves to the country and gets permanent residence.
• Prepares an application and a set of documents for obtaining citizenship.
• Submits an application and its appendices for verification.
• Receives the status of a citizen or renunciation of citizenship.

List of documents

Applying for citizenship costs $102. In addition, it is necessary to pay a number of other state duties and fees:

• apply for a long–term D visa – from $50 to $100; 
• purchase a residence permit – $45; 
• issue an ID card – $15; 
• get a biometric passport – $ 70-130.

You will need to rent or buy housing in the republic, as well as bear the costs of current living. Documents are submitted personally to the territorial representation of the Ministry when staying in the republic or to the embassy/consulate when located outside it.

The request can also be made in electronic form via the website e-albania.al , but in the future it will still be necessary to visit the instance.

The basic list of documents includes:

Consideration and decision

Verification of the submitted documentation is carried out within 15 days after submitting the application with appendices. At the same time, a request is sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ministry evaluates the submitted documents and sends its opinion to the Minister. Another 30 days are allocated for the process of reviewing documents in the Ministry.

The Minister reviews the conclusion and, in agreement with it, sends the documents to the Citizenship Affairs Department under the President of the Republic. It also provides for a period of 30 days, and a final conclusion is made based on the results of the review. After passing all the stages, the decree on granting citizenship to a particular citizen is signed by the President. It may take up to 3 months to sign the decree.

Disadvantages of Albanian citizenship

A person should take into account the main disadvantages of acquiring Albanian citizenship:

• The high price is that to get a residence permit with its extensions, pay state duty, rent housing and current expenses, you will need a considerable amount.
• The speed of registration – sometimes with a heavy workload of the authorities reviewing the submitted documents, the process can take up to 2.5 years.
• Passport renewal – An ID card is issued for citizens over the age of 16 every 10 years, and under the age of 5.

You need to be prepared for the fact that salaries in the country are low, and in the capital the cost of renting housing may exceed the average monthly salary.