Can an Italian citizen buy property in Albania?
Yes. An Italian citizen can buy an apartment or a house in Albania on the same terms as an Albanian; only agricultural land is closed to foreigners. Italy and Albania have a double taxation convention in force since 21 December 1999 and an investment protection agreement in force since 1996 (Farnesina, January 2026).
Data compiled by Fedir AlpatovUpdated
What an Italian buyer can own
Albanian law has no rule specific to Italian citizens: an Italian buyer is a foreign private person, free to buy buildings and limited only on 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)
Agreements between Italy and Albania
Under the standard OECD structure such conventions follow, income from immovable property may be taxed where the property is; Albania taxes rent at 15% and a gain on sale at 15%. How Italy relieves that income for an Italian resident (credit or exemption) depends on the convention's article on eliminating double taxation, which we have not yet checked in the text.
| Agreement | Signed | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Double taxation convention, with protocol | Tirana, 12.12.1994 | 21.12.1999 |
| Investment promotion and protection | Rome, 12.9.1991 | 29.1.1996 |
Sources · 1
- DATA-TAX-IT-0001Convention for the avoidance of double taxation on income and capital, with protocol, signed in Tirana on 12 December 1994 and in force since 21 December 1999. An investment protection agreement (Rome, 12 September 1991) has been in force since 29 January 1996.Italy–Albania double taxation convention: signed 12.12.1994, in force since 21.12.1999
Stay and residence
Citizens of visa-exempt countries may stay up to 90 days in any 180 under Article 29 of the Albanian law on foreigners. A property owner can apply for a one-year renewable residence permit under Article 84; a retired person can use the pensioner permit of Article 85, with a pension income of at least 1,200,000 ALL a year.
| Question | Answer | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free stay | 90 days in any 180 | Law 79/2021 Art. 29 |
| Permit for an owner | Up to 1 year, renewable | Law 79/2021 Art. 84 |
| Permit for a pensioner | Pension ≥ 1,200,000 ALL a year | Law 79/2021 Art. 85 |
Sources · 3
- DATA-LEGAL-001390 days in 180Visa-free stay: up to 90 days in any 180; longer needs a residence permitConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 2025–2026verified 2026-10-19Law No. 79/2021 "Për të huajt" (On foreigners), consolidated text as amended by Law 43/2025
- DATA-LEGAL-00141 year, renewableResidence permit for a property owner: up to 1 year, renewable; no minimum property value foundConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 2025–2026verified 2026-10-19Law No. 79/2021 "Për të huajt" (On foreigners), consolidated text as amended by Law 43/2025
- DATA-LEGAL-001513040.64 EUR per year (income floor)Residence permit for pensioners: pension income of at least 1,200,000 ALL a yearConfidence: MEDIUMPeriod: 2024–2026verified 2026-10-19Law No. 79/2021 "Për të huajt" (On foreigners), consolidated text as amended by Law 43/2025
Questions and answers
Yes. The convention signed in Tirana on 12 December 1994 has been in force since 21 December 1999.
No visa is needed for stays up to 90 days in any 180 under the Albanian law on foreigners. For a longer stay you apply for a residence permit.
A building plot, yes, once the investment on it reaches three times the plot value. Agricultural land cannot be owned by a foreign private person.
Sources
- Albania: accordi in vigore (scheda reciprocità). Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, 2026-01-23 (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Law No. 79/2021 "Për të huajt" (On foreigners), consolidated text as amended by Law 43/2025. Albanian State Police (ASP), 2025-11-01 (accessed 2026-10-19)
- 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.
- The Italy–Albania convention's method for eliminating double taxation (credit or exemption) on Albanian rent was not read in the text.
- Whether an Italian identity card is accepted at the border, and its validity rule, was not confirmed on viaggiaresicuri.it (page did not load).
- No consolidated official text was found that states in so many words that foreigners may buy apartments; the rule rests on the absence of any restriction in the land laws and on legal practitioners. To be confirmed against the Official Gazette (qbz.gov.al was unreachable on 2026-10-19).