Albania business visa application, requirements, price, and processing time

Albania Visa Policy

Albania has a comprehensive visa policy that mandates visitors to hold visas before being allowed into the country unless they are from visa-exempt countries. Visas are issued by Albanian diplomatic missions at the entry port and online. One of the most important documents required for entry is a valid passport, but a select number of nationalities are allowed to enter the country with valid ID cards. Passports must be valid for at least three months from the visitor entering the country.

The policy is based on the 108/2013 immigration law on foreigners as amended by the Council of Ministers, which spells out the criteria for entry, stay, and treatment of foreigners. 

Under this law, visitors from selected countries are free to enter the country without a visa as long as they are not seeking permanent residency.

Albania Visa Free Country

There are many countries in Albania's visa free list and persons from these countries can enter the country without having visas and stay for varying durations. Currently, US citizens can stay for up to one year visa free while European Union citizens can stay for up to 90 days visa free. Nationals from dozens of countries may also stay in Albania for up to 90 days visa free while Belorussians can stay for up to 30 days.

Albania also has special visa free access for some GCC nationals who may visit the country for 90 days within 180 days as long as their passports are valid.

The Albanian government also grants substitute visas to visitors who have a valid multi-entry visa, it residence permit issued by the UK, US, or a Schengen country. Such a visitor is allowed to stay in Albania for up to 90 days. Furthermore, the visa must have been used at least once before they arrived in Albania. There is also a visa Exemption program for holders of Green cards too. As for foreigners with Albanian ancestry, they can visit for 90 days within a 180-day period without visas.

Note: The visa policies of nations are not cast in stone and are constantly changing and Albania is no different. Before making travel decisions make sure you consult the visa free list to check if your country is on the list of visa waiver approved countries; if not, you must apply for a visa to visit.

Albania Port of Entry

Airports: Vlore International Airport – Kukes International Airport – Tirana International Airport

Border Crossings

• Albania – Montenegro Border (Muriqan-Subokin Integrated crossing, Han I Hotit, Bozaj Podgorica, Bashkim Vermosh, Grahom, and Cem I Trieshit, Qafe Vranice, Zogaj, and Hutaj
• Kosovo – Qafe Prush, Qafe Morine – Morine -Vernice – Prgjoat Kukes – Borje Gllobocice – Prgjoat and Orquishe (Pedestrian crossing only)
• North Macedonia – Trebisht – Dzepiste in Debar, Bllate Spas, Tushemisht Pogradec and Sceti Naum, Qafe Thane and Kjafasan main border crossing, Gorice- Stenje
• Greece – Kakavi, Tre Urat, Kapahtice, Kakavije – Ktismata main border, Tre Urat Permet and Melissopetra in Konitsa, Sopik Dropull and Drymade Pogoni (pedestrians only), Qafe Note – Sagiasa, Rips – Ampelonas

Railway Crossings: Montenegro – Podgorica – Shkoder Railway, Greece – Pogradec – Krystallopigi Railway

Seaports: Vlore, Shengjin, Sarande, Durres, Himare (Summer only).

Albanian e Visa

The electronic visa for Albanian is an online visa created for short-term trips that last up to 90 days in most cases. This visa is for tourism, business trips, and international travelers transiting through Albania. All nationalities that do not make the visa-exempt list are eligible for electronic visas. The application form is available online, so applicants don't have to visit a foreign mission to apply in person. They can complete the application form, attach their documents, pay the application fee for processing and submit for approval.

Approval takes only a few days before the visa is released to the visitor. Visitors must then travel to Albania with the visa and use it as a valid entry document to access the country.  Note that not all foreigners are eligible for e visas.  To qualify your country must be on the eligibility list and you must have a valid passport and sufficient funds to cover your expenses throughout your stay in the country.

Key Information About The Albanian e Visa

Print Out A Copy: When traveling to Albania, make sure you print out a copy of your e-visa to show as proof at the entry point. The visa will be forwarded to your email inbox, so endeavor to print it out and submit it alongside your passport to the officers in charge at the entry point.

Your Visa is Linked To Your Passport: e visas are linked to the visitor's passports used in the registration, so it is important that you bring the same passport along on your trip, not a different one. If you travel with a different one, you may not be allowed to enter the country.

Not For Work: E visas are for tourism, transit, and noncommercial business activities. Working with this document in Albania is prohibited. Neither can you stay in the country as a permanent resident. To work or live in Albania, you must apply to the foreign mission for a work or residency visa.

Use Approved Routes: Not all routes are valid for entry into Albania so make sure you use only the approved routes highlighted above under each visa.  Transit visitors can only enter and exit the country through the international airports.

Don't Overstay: Never overstay your e visa by a single day or face severe sanctions from the government. Electronic visas are only valid for visits that do not exceed 90 days. If you wish to stay for much longer we implore you to visit the Albanian embassy nearest to you to apply for a consular visa which have longer validity. Also note that you can only apply for a visa outside Albania not while you are still in the country.

Albania Visa Online – Get your Albania e-Visa with VisaHQ

You can apply for an Albanian visa if you are from an eligible country, and VisaHQ makes it possible to do so without stress. Instead of applying to the Albanian embassy, you can fill out and submit your application online for a short trip to the Southern European country.

How To Apply For A Visa With VisaHQ

Interested applicants can apply for any of the e-visas reviewed above with VisaHQ. All they need is to follow some simple steps, as explained below.

Complete The Application Form: The first step is to complete the e-visa application form on the page. You must pick the visa you prefer, then go about filing out different sections on the form from start to finish. Make sure all your entries are accurate.

Upload Documents: Upload all the required documents into the slots provided, such as the scanned copy of your passport, digital photograph, etc. Only valid documents will be accepted. When you are done, cross-check for errors, then submit.

Get Your Visa: After a few days, the visa will be forwarded to your email.

Why Use VisaHQ?

You enjoy several benefits when you apply for an electronic visa with VisaHQ.

• Enjoy fast and speedy application form completion
• Apply for several visas at once
• Track the status of your application
• Your information is secure with us
• Enjoy technical support round the clock

So what are you waiting for? Visit the visa application page now to apply.