Albania is a country located in southern Europe, west of the Balkan peninsula, surrounded by the Adriatic sea.
The capital city of Albania is Tirana, a popular destination for tourists all over the world. Tirana can offer different things to tourists but there are many other cities in Albania, each with its own uniqueness.
If you plan to travel to Albania, you have the option to explore a mix of old and new. What I mean by that is that there are cities such as Berati, Gjirokaster, Shkoder, or Kruja which are considered to be old cities with medieval and modern architecture mixed together.
With that being said, if you want to travel to Albania, you may need a visa. There are also countries that are visa-exempt.
Read this article until the end to find out more about Albanian visas.
Who needs an Albania visa?
While Albania has been engaged in integration discussions with the European Union for a long time and has been an eligible nominee since 2014, Albania is not a full member of the European Union and has a visa policy of its own.
There are several bilateral or multilateral visa arrangements in Albania with various countries around the world that remove lengthy visa procedures. Residents of these countries are permitted to remain in Albania for 90 days over a span of 180 days beginning on the date of their first arrival:
- International citizens holding a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa, subject to the requirement that the given visa must have previously been used in one of the Schengen Area states or have a legitimate residency permit in one of the Schengen Area countries
- Foreigners holding a legitimate multiple entry visa or a valid residency visa granted by the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, provided that the granted visa should have already been used in the authorized country
- International citizens who are allowed to enter and remain without the need for a visa in the Schengen states
General visa requirements
Below you can find the general documentation required when applying for Albanian visas. Keep in mind that along with these documents you will also need to submit additional documentation for different types of visas which you can find further in this article.
- The application form of the visa which can be done online
- Passport size photos not older than 6 months
- A valid passport or a copy of a travel document
- Health insurance papers
- For children under the age of 18: a document stating the approval of the child’s parent or legal guardian for the travel, or of the individual responsible
- A host’s invitation followed with their passport copy. It is necessary to remember that a copy of the invitation must be deposited by the host at the appropriate Regional Department for Border and Migration, where the host resides.
For more information regarding the required documents for every type of visa, you should visit the official website or contact the appropriate authorities for any questions.
Types of Albanian visa
The Albanian visa types can be short term and long term visas. When traveling to Albania you must apply for the one that indicates your purpose of travel.
Albania tourist visa
The Albania tourist visa is a short term visa granted to people who travel to Albania for tourism purposes. You can enter the country without a visa depending on the country of residence. If your country is not visa-free entry to Albania then you are required to apply for this type of visa and submit additional documentation such as suitable financial capital, evidence of lodging, insurance of travel, as well as a booked ticket that indicates your return date.
Albania business visa
A business permit to Albania is given to people intending to enter the country for business-related reasons such as meetings, conferences, negotiations, or trade fairs. This visa is short term only. However, if you want to stay longer then you will have to apply for a visa extension.
The required documents are:
- A passport that is valid
- A completed application form
- Passport size photographs
- A letter from the company in your home country that indicated your reasons for traveling to Albania, the duration of stay, and also the contact information of that company
- An invitation letter from the company in Albania
- The flight ticket with the return date
Albania family visa
The Albanian family visa is granted to foreigners who want to travel to Albania to visit a friend or a relative. This is a short term visa, meaning that you can stay in Albania for only a short period of time.
The necessary documents required are as follows:
- An invitation letter by the relative that is residing in Albania
- A statement that verifies the relationship with the relative
- Supplementary documentation indicating a good relationship with the individual seeking a family reunion
- Records showing that the host has sufficient living conditions
- A copied documentation that is notarized, showing that the international host is working or self-employed and has an appropriate salary.
- Signed papers by an Albanian institution or by a foreign institution from which the applicant demands evidence that the foreign national has or has had another relative with Albanian nationality
Albanian study visa
This type of visa is for students who travel to Albania to study in one of the educational institutions. The study visa is a long term visa, which means that you can stay in Albania for a long period of time for your studies.
The applicant must submit these documents:
- Certification document for enrollment to an educational institution
- Records proving and certifying the coverage of all living expenses and payments for tuition
- Health insurance certificates
- A paper containing evidence of lodging in the Republic of Albania
- Documentation that demonstrates your knowledge of the Albanian language for the purposes of your studies
- Criminal records
Albanian holiday work visa
This visa is granted to internationals who want to travel to Albania during seasons for employment purposes.
For this visa you will need:
- An invitation letter from the host
- A copy of the contract for the job you have been offered. Make sure that it is notarized
- Copy of the working permit given by the authorities of Albania
- Criminal records
Other types of visas
- Albanian visa for cultural reasons
- Visa for medical purposes
- Albanian family reunification visa
- Visa for humanitarian purposes
- Diplomatic visa
- Visa for religious purposes
How to apply for an Albania visa?
The Albanian visa application can easily be done online. The process will be carried out by the consulate. The application form must include all the required documents.
If the application is approved then a letter will be sent to the applicant informing that the visa has been approved and the fees to be charged.
If there is missing information or documents in the application, then you will be informed where you will be required to submit those documents.
In the case where the application does not comply with all the criteria, the individual will be told that his visa application has been rejected, with the appropriate reason.
