Residence permit of Albania

An Albanian residence permit is an official permit for foreigners to stay in the country for a certain period (from 3 months to a year). The document gives non-residents the right to work, study or do business in a small European state with relatively low prices for housing and food, and a warm Mediterranean climate. After 5 years of legal residence in the Republic, migrants acquire the right to permanent residence, and after 7 years – citizenship.

Types of residence permit

The Council of Ministers of Albania has established several main types of residence permits – limited validity and indefinite (permanent) validity. The latter option allows non-residents to enjoy benefits, public services, receive financial assistance and subsidies on an equal basis with ordinary citizens.

Within the framework of the designated categories, they are separately distinguished:

• type A – document holders can stay in Albania during the validity period of the permit, the extension of which is not provided for by law; 
• type B – a permit with a limited period. It can be updated. Allows you to leave the country and return to it;
• type C is an indefinite document that is issued to permanent residents; 
• Karta–Blu-AL - the permit has a limited validity period with the possibility of extension. It can be obtained by specialists with specialized education and confirmed qualifications; 
• Karta-Blu-AL-C – gives the right of permanent residence to qualified specialists in demand among local employers.

The Albanian residence permit is a plastic card with a photo, personal data and biometrics. With its help, the identification of foreigners is carried out, the legality of their stay in the Republic is confirmed.

Residence permit for the purchase of real estate

Starting from 2021, in order to obtain a residence permit in Albania, you can purchase an apartment, a house, a villa. The transaction is tax-free. A foreign investor who fulfills this condition receives a long-term visa of category D, and on its basis an urgent residence permit for one year. Then the document is extended for 2 years, then for another 2. After 5 years, the applicant can become a citizen.

Necessary justifications

Mandatory requirements for foreigners applying for a residence permit in the republic through the purchase of real estate:

• conclusion of a transaction in the amount of 200,000 €;
• obtaining a certificate of ownership – a residence permit can only be obtained if you own at least 50% of the share of the object;
• the area of residential real estate cannot be less than 20 sq.m. for each family member. For example, if a family of 3 persons moves to Albania, the area of the apartment they buy must exceed 60 sq.m.

Residence permit may be terminated in case of sale of real estate.

List of documents

To form the applicant's dossier, the following set of documents will be required:

• a passport with a copy of a long-term D visa; 
• an application form;
• two color photographs;
• a certificate of no criminal record – valid for 6 months; 
• a real estate purchase and sale agreement; 
• proof of regular income or a bank statement confirming the availability of funds in a deposit account.

Before submitting an application, you need to pay a state fee of 30 €.

Student residence permits

Foreigners who plan to study at private or public educational institutions in Albania apply for a student residence card.

The necessary grounds

The residence permit for students is valid for 12 months. Then it is extended for another year and so on until a diploma is issued. A foreigner must show good academic results, not miss classes, and successfully close sessions within the deadlines set by colleges and universities.

Additional opportunities

Albanian students who have a resident card have the right to earn extra money after classes, but no more than 15 hours a week. If this condition is met, you do not need to issue a separate work permit. After graduation, the student residence permit can be replaced with a document allowing you to stay in the country for another 9 months for employment or starting your own business.

List of documents

The dossier:

• an application of the prescribed form;
• a passport with a category D visa;
• a photo; 
• a certificate of no criminal record;
• a certificate of passing an exam in the Albanian language;
  
• an order for admission to an educational institution.
  

It is necessary to issue a residence permit immediately after enrollment before the start of the new academic year.

Work permit

To apply for a work permit, you must apply to the National Employment Agency with an appropriate request. The validity period of the permit for foreign specialists is from 6 months, Blu AL Card recipients can reside in Albania for at least 1 year.

The necessary grounds

Migrants need to sign a work contract with an Albanian employer. To do this, you will need to confirm that their education and qualifications correspond to their position. Based on the characteristics and direction of activity, additional requirements may be imposed on a non-resident: for example, health status, physical fitness, knowledge of foreign languages. When considering an application for a residence permit, the availability of employment quotas for foreigners is also taken into account.

List of documents

To apply for a residence permit for employment, you need to collect a package of documents including:

• work permit – the employer submits an application for it to the Ministry of Labor of the country; 
• a passport and a visa allowing long-term stay in the territory of the state; 
• an application and a color photo; 
• a work contract; 
• documents confirming the level of education and qualifications.

Those who plan to work in Albania should also worry about finding a place to live in advance.

Residence permit for investments

Foreigners who are ready to make a significant financial contribution to the national economy can count on obtaining a residence permit first, and then permanent residence under a simplified scheme.

The necessary grounds

In addition to purchasing real estate, a residence permit for investments can be issued for:

• purchase of government bonds – the amount of the transaction is set by the Government; 
• business investment - opening your own company or acquiring a share (shares) of an existing company.

Attention

Entrepreneurs should not only benefit the economy of the state, but also provide the population with jobs with salaries not lower than the average market: for the public sector in 2024 – 900 € per month.

List of documents

The application for a residence permit for investments is considered by the Civil Affairs and Migration Service.

The following documents are attached to it:

• a passport with a long-term D visa; 
• a color photo;
• a certificate of no criminal record; 
• documentary evidence of the legality of receiving funds used for investment – buying real estate, government bonds, starting a business; 
• a business plan.

In the future, entrepreneurs must regularly submit reports on their activities and profits in order to extend the resident's card.

Residence permit by marriage

Foreigners married to an Albanian citizen can also apply for a residence permit. If they fulfill a number of mandatory requirements (legal residence in the country, passing a language proficiency exam), after 3 years they acquire the status of a citizen.

The necessary grounds

In order to obtain a residence permit by marriage, it is necessary to confirm the existence of a real marital (family) relationship with an Albanian resident. It is not only about the conclusion of a marriage union, but also about the fact of living together, maintaining a household, having common property and financial obligations.

Please note

If the marriage is not concluded in the country, it is duplicated in the local civil status authorities. When considering an application for a residence permit, spouses are often invited to an interview to verify the authenticity of family relations.

List of documents

The applicant must provide:

• application form; 
• valid passport;
• color photos of the applicant;
• certificate of no criminal record; 
• marriage certificate.

Additionally, birth certificates of children will be required - if any, a certificate of registration at the place of residence.

Family reunion

Foreigners who legally live in Albania can transfer their loved ones to the country under the family reunification program. After 5 years of stay in the country, the relatives of a non-resident apply for an autonomous residence permit.

The necessary grounds

They can use a residence permit for family reunification:

The sponsor must legally live in Albania for at least 1 year, have grounds for prolongation of a residence permit, housing, stable income, social insurance for himself and relatives.

List of documents

The following documents are required for family reunification:

• valid international passports; 
• long-term D visa;
• photographs (in color);
• certificates of no criminal record issued no earlier than 6 months ago; 
• documents confirming family ties and the fact that relatives are dependent.

Additionally, you will need to prepare certificates and certificates confirming the availability of housing, stable income or funds in a deposit bank account, medical insurance.

Extension of a residence permit

Non-residents who live, work and study in Albania must comply with the procedure established by law for extending a permit and changing its status. The application for extension should be sent 30 days before the end of the term of the current document to the same agency that issued it earlier.

A package of documents is attached to the request to confirm the relevance of the reasons for staying in the country. If the status of the residence permit does not change, the documents for its extension remain the same, while the applicant needs, for example, to confirm that he continues to study in the next year, is still engaged in entrepreneurial activity or is employed.