Can a foreigner buy land in Albania, or only an apartment?
Only some land. A foreign private buyer cannot own agricultural land, forests, meadows or pastures in Albania and may lease them for up to 99 years (Law 8337/1998, Art. 4); a building plot can be bought once the investment on it reaches at least three times the plot value (Law 7980/1995, Art. 5). Apartments and houses carry no such limit; a draft law to open agricultural land was in public consultation in May 2026.
Data compiled by Fedir AlpatovUpdated
The rules by type of land
| Property | Can a foreigner own it? | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment, house, commercial unit | Yes | No restriction on buildings |
| Building plot (truall) | Yes, with a condition | Investment on it ≥ 3 × the plot value |
| Agricultural land, forest, meadow, pasture | No | Lease for up to 99 years only |
| Anything, through an Albanian company owned by a foreigner | Yes | The company is an Albanian person |
Sources · 3
- DATA-LEGAL-0001Foreign individuals may buy apartments and residential or commercial buildings with no restriction. They cannot buy agricultural land, forest, meadows or pastures (lease up to 99 years only). Building land is allowed only if the investment built on it is at least three times the land's value.Foreigners may buy apartments without restriction; agricultural land is excludedConfidence: MEDIUMPeriod: current law (Law 7980/1995 "On land purchase"), as describedverified 2026-09-09Kalo & Associates (A. Milo, A. Toslluku) — Albania: legal restrictions facing foreigners in real estate investments, CEE Real Estate Matters
- DATA-LEGAL-00173 × plot valueA foreigner may buy a building plot once the investment on it is at least 3× the plot valueConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 1995–2026verified 2026-10-19Law No. 7980 of 27.07.1995 "Për shitblerjen e trojeve" (on the sale of plots), original text
- DATA-LEGAL-001699 years (maximum lease)Foreigners cannot own agricultural land, forests, meadows or pastures; lease up to 99 yearsConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 2026verified 2026-10-19Explanatory report to the draft law on transferring agricultural land to foreign persons (RENJK 972)
What this means in practice
- An apartment in a block: the share of the common land comes with it; nothing extra to check.
- A house with its own plot: the plot must be registered as building land (truall), not agricultural land. Ask for the property card before paying anything.
- A plot to build on: the purchase is tied to a project worth at least three times the plot. Plots of historic or archaeological value, national parks, reserves and military land are excluded.
- Farmland or olive groves: only a lease of up to 99 years, or ownership through an Albanian company.
The 2026 draft law on agricultural land
In May 2026 the Ministry of Agriculture put out for consultation a draft law on transferring agricultural land to foreign persons, linked to EU accession (free movement of capital). It would repeal Article 4 of Law 8337/1998. Until it is adopted and published, the ban stands.
Questions and answers
Yes, if the plot is building land and the investment reaches three times the plot value; coastal and protected zones carry their own planning limits.
Not in your own name: it is agricultural land. A lease of up to 99 years or an Albanian company are the routes used.
Not as of October 2026. A draft law was in public consultation in May 2026; its adoption is not confirmed.
Sources
- Explanatory report to the draft law on transferring agricultural land to foreign persons (RENJK 972). Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MBZHR), 2026-05-14 (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Law No. 7980 of 27.07.1995 "Për shitblerjen e trojeve" (on the sale of plots), original text. Parliament of Albania (FAOLEX copy), 1995-07-27 (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Kalo & Associates (A. Milo, A. Toslluku) — Albania: legal restrictions facing foreigners in real estate investments, CEE Real Estate Matters, 2026-09-09 (accessed 2026-09-09)
What is missing
Gaps we know about: questions we have no reliable data for yet.
- Adoption status of the draft law on agricultural land for foreigners (RENJK 972) after May 2026.
- Later amendments to Law 7980/1995 were not checked; the 3× rule is quoted from the original text.