Albania Visa Policy

You can realize a planned trip to Albania by getting an Albania visa. Foreign nationals can apply for Albania short-term visas (C-type visa) for temporary reasons (tourism, business, cultural, and other short-term). If you want to stay in Albania longer for any reason (such as education, work, etc.), you can also apply for Albania long-term visas (D-type visa).

Holders of a valid type “C” multiple-entry Schengen visa (which has been previously used in one of the countries in Schengen area) or a Residence Permit to the Schengen Area, also holders of a valid UK, Canada and US visa (which has been previously used for entering that country) may enter to Albania without a visa for up to 15 days.

You can apply for an Albania Short-term visa for realizing your temporary travel to Albania. Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, short-term education, exchange programs, short-term work, and many other non-permanent nuances. Albania Short-term visa’s validity period can be a maximum of 90 days. Short-term visas can be both single-entry and multiple-entry.

Required Documents for Albania Short-term Visa

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)
• The application form is filled online through this website.

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from Albania.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photo

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.5x4.5 size

4. ID Card Copy

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from Albania

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from Albania

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• 1 copy of residence permit/visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
• Copies of the previous visas

7. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation (return ticket)
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)

• The letter must include:
  • Name, postal address, and telephone number of sponsor/company
  • Details regarding the applicant’s working position, starting date of the employment, and salary
  • The timeframe of work leave (expected date to resume duties) and purpose of travel
• Valid trade license copy and company ownership documents (if a person is an owner of the company).
• Letter from University (if student)
• Copy of sponsor’s valid passport and residence visa (if any) to be attached to letter from sponsor (if an applicant is a dependent)

9. Proof of Financial Means

• Personal bank statements of at least the last 3 months before application, personal property, assets, etc.

10. Travel Insurance

• It should cover all the duration you intend to stay in Albania

11. Supporting Documents that Show Your Reason for a Trip

      For tourism:

• Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)
• Round-trip ticket reservation

      For business/congress/sports travel:

• Original invitation letter by the company/organization
• Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)

      For private visit:

• Original invitation letter by inviting person
• Original document that confirms the ownership of estate (home) of your inviting person, if you are going to stay there
• Copies of passport, Id card/residence permit of your inviting person

      For studying (short-term):

• Original invitation letter by the educational establishment in Albania
• Acceptance letter to education establishment in Albania
• Confirmation of the accommodation (apartment rental contract, dormitory contract, etc.)

      For employment (short-term):

• Original invitation letter by a company in Albania
• Confirmation of the accommodation (apartment rental contract, hotel confirmation, etc.)

      For official visit:

• Invitation from the host institution
• Verbal Note from the institution where the foreigner is employed

12. For Minors:

• Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
• Letter of consent from parent/s or legal guardian/s, if traveling unaccompanied

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Albania Short-term Visa

The average processing time for an Albania Short-term Visa is 3-25 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.

Albania Short-term Visa Fee

Albania Short-term Visa fee is 35-60 EUR (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

Where to Apply for Albania Short-term Visa?

You will apply for an Albania Short-term Visa in Albania visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

Even if your country is exempt from visa requirements for a short-term period, if you intend to stay longer in Albania, you may need to apply for a long-stay visa from your home country before coming to Albania. You can stay a maximum period of 180 days within 1 year in Albania with a Long-term (D) visa.

The long-term visa grants entry to Albania on the basis that you will be applying for a residence permit. It enables you to enter Albania as a potential resident and stay while you apply for residency.

Required Documents for Albania Long-term Visa

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)
• The application form is filled online through this website.

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from Albania.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photo

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.5x4.5 size

4. ID Card Copy

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from Albania.

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

• Validity minimum of three months beyond the date of your departure from Albania.

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• 1 copy of residence permit/visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
• Copies of previous visas

7. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation (return ticket)
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)

• The letter must include:
  • Name, postal address, and telephone number of sponsor/company
  • Details regarding the applicant’s working position, starting date of the employment, and salary
  • The timeframe of work leave (expected date to resume duties) and purpose of travel
• Valid trade license copy and company ownership documents (if a person is an owner of the company).
• Letter from University (if student)
• Copy of sponsor’s valid passport and residence visa (if any) to be attached to letter from sponsor (if an applicant is a dependent)

9. Proof of Financial Means

• Personal bank statements of at least the last 3 months before application, personal property, assets, etc.

10. Travel Insurance

• It should cover all the duration you intend to stay in Albania

11. Supporting Documents that Show Your Reason for a Trip

      For studying (long-term):

• Original invitation letter by the educational establishment in Albania
• Acceptance letter to education establishment in Albania
• Confirmation of the accommodation (apartment rental contract, dormitory contract, etc.)
• Documents proof your language skills related to your language of course

      For employment (long-term):

• Original invitation letter by a company in Albania
• Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)
• Photocopy of Work Permit issued by Albanian authorities.

      For family reunion:

• Original invitation letter by your family member
• Original document that confirms the ownership of estate (home) of your inviting person, if you are going to stay there
• Copies of passport, Id card/residence permit of your family member in Albania
• Documents proving your ties with your family member in Albania (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)

11. Criminal Record (Police Certificate)

• A Criminal Record that issued and legalized by country of residence

12. For Minors:

• Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
• Letter of consent from parent/s or legal guardian/s, if traveling unaccompanied

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Albania Long-term Visa

The average processing time for an Albania Long-term Visa is 3-25 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.

Albania Long-term Visa Fee

Albania Long-term Visa fee is 35-80 EUR (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

Where to Apply for Albania Long-term Visa?

You will apply for an Albania Long-term Visa in Albania visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.