Does Albania have a digital nomad visa, and how do you get it?

Yes. Albania issues a "unique permit" for digital nomads who work remotely for an employer or clients abroad: the first permit is for up to one year and costs 4,500 ALL, you self-declare funds of at least 408,000 ALL and show health insurance for a year, and the decision is due within 4 weeks. Under the start-up law a digital nomad is not an Albanian tax resident for the first 12 months.

Data compiled by Fedir AlpatovUpdated

Who qualifies and what you need

The permit is for people who work with IT tools, without a fixed office, under a contract with an employer or client outside Albania. It is granted without a labour-market test. You must already be in Albania lawfully, or apply from your country of residence.

Digital nomad permit (leje unike për punonjës lëvizës digjital)
ItemRule
DocumentsForeign work or service contract, funds of at least 408,000 ALL, accommodation, 1-year health insurance, criminal-record statement
TaxNot an Albanian tax resident for 12 months
Sources · 5

How to apply

Apply online on e-Albania with the service "Aplikim për Leje Unike" and the motive "Lëvizës Digital"; renewals use "Aplikim për rinovim Leje Unike". If your nationality needs a visa, you request the D visa for digital nomads (D/LD) in the same application. Foreign documents must be translated and legalised, and for a first application issued within the last 6 months. Originals are shown within 30 days of approval.

After 5 years of continuous legal residence you can apply for permanent residence; the digital nomad permit is not excluded from it.

If you also buy a flat

Buying property gives you a different route: the property-owner permit, for up to a year and renewable, with no need for a foreign work contract. It costs 8,000 ALL the first time and does not allow you to work. A remote worker who buys a home therefore usually keeps the digital nomad permit; note that owning a home in Albania can make you a tax resident under the "permanent home" test once the 12-month exception ends.

Questions and answers

Up to one year the first time; a one-year permit can be renewed up to five times in a row.

Sources

  1. 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)
  2. Council of Ministers Decision (VKM) No. 858 of 29.12.2021 on residence permits, consolidated to VKM 329/2024. Albanian State Police (ASP), 2024-11-01 (accessed 2026-10-19)
  3. e-Albania service "Aplikim për Leje Unike" (unique permit application). e-Albania (National Agency for Information Society) (accessed 2026-10-23)
  4. Law 25/2022 on start-ups, Art. 5/1 added by Law 36/2023. Ministry of Economy / qbz.gov.al, 2023-06-13 (accessed 2026-10-23)
  5. Law 43/2025 amending Law 79/2021 on foreigners. Qendra e Botimeve Zyrtare (qbz.gov.al), 2025-07-10 (accessed 2026-10-23)

What is missing

Gaps we know about: questions we have no reliable data for yet.

  • Length of renewals after the first year is not stated in Art. 68; e-Albania lists 1, 2, 3 and 5 years for unique permits.
  • The e-Albania document list (apostilled contract, qualification, 2 years of experience) differs from VKM 858; confirm with the Directorate for Border and Migration.
  • When the 12-month tax exception starts and how it interacts with the permanent-home test.