How long can you stay in Albania without a visa, and which residence permit fits your citizenship?
Most Europeans, Britons and Israelis may stay 90 days in any 180 without a visa; US citizens up to one year; Ukrainians may stay without a visa or permit until 30 March 2027 (decision of 10 April 2026). Russians and Belarusians need a visa. For longer stays Law 79/2021 offers permits for property owners, pensioners and remote workers, each for up to one year and renewable; permanent residence comes after 5 years, and there is no citizenship by investment.
Data compiled by Fedir AlpatovUpdated
Visa-free stay by citizenship
| Citizenship | Without a visa | Usual route to stay longer |
|---|---|---|
| EU (Germany, Italy, Poland...), UK, Israel | 90 days in any 180; EU citizens can enter with an ID card | Property owner, pensioner or digital nomad permit |
| USA | Up to 1 year, then 90 days outside | First permit issued for 5 years |
| Ukraine | No visa or permit needed until 30.03.2027 | Any permit route before that date |
| Russia | Visa required; 90 days with a used multiple-entry Schengen, US or UK visa or permit | Visa, then an owner, pensioner or digital nomad permit |
| Belarus | Visa required; same exemption as Russia | As for Russia |
Sources · 8
- 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-ENTRY-DE-000190 days without a visaGerman citizens: passport or ID card valid 3 months, 90 days without a visaConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 2026verified 2026-10-19Albanien: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Einreise und Zoll)
- DATA-ENTRY-PL-000190 days in 180Polish citizens: passport or ID card, 90 days in 180 without a visa, no registration dutyConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 2026verified 2026-10-19Albania: profil państwa (Podróżowanie, Zasady pobytu)
- DATA-ENTRY-UK-000190 days in 180British citizens: 90 days in 180 without a visa, passport valid 3 months after leaving
- DATA-ENTRY-US-0001Up to 1 year; then 90 days outside before a new stay. First residence permit issued for 5 years (Law 79/2021 Art. 33)US citizens: up to one year without a visa or permit, then 90 days outside AlbaniaConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 2022-03 onwardsverified 2026-10-19U.S. Embassy Tirana, entering and residing in Albania
- DATA-LEGAL-0023Until 30.03.2027, including those already in Albania (Council of Ministers decision of 10.04.2026, repeals VKM 169/2022)Ukrainians may enter without a visa and stay without a residence permit until 30 March 2027Confidence: HIGHPeriod: 2026-04 to 2027-03verified 2026-10-19RTSH: the government extends visa-free stay for Ukrainians to 30 March 2027 (Council of Ministers decision of 10 April 2026)
- DATA-ENTRY-RU-0001Visa required (EUR 30 single, EUR 50 multiple, via e-visa.al); seasonal waiver cancelled on 20.04.2023Russian citizens need a visa; holders of a used multiple-entry Schengen, US or UK visa or permit may stay 90 daysConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 2026verified 2026-10-19Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, visa regime table by country (Wayback snapshot of 9 August 2026)
- DATA-ENTRY-BY-0001Visa required (EUR 100 per the MFA table); same exemption as Russians for holders of a used Schengen, US or UK visaBelarusian citizens need a visa since the 2019 waiver was suspended in 2025Confidence: MEDIUMPeriod: 2026verified 2026-10-19Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, visa regime table by country (Wayback snapshot of 9 August 2026)
Residence permits a buyer can use
| Permit | Main condition | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Property owner | Own the property or at least half of it; no minimum value | Up to 1 year, renewable |
| Pensioner | Pension of at least 1,200,000 ALL a year | Up to 1 year, renewable |
| Digital nomad (leje unike) | Foreign work contract, insurance, funds of 408,000 ALL | Up to 1 year |
| Permanent residence | 5 years of continuous legal residence | Permanent |
Sources · 4
- 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
- DATA-LEGAL-0024408000 ALLDigital nomad permit (leje unike): up to 1 year, foreign work contract, health insurance, funds of at least 408,000 ALLConfidence: HIGHPeriod: 2024 onwardsverified 2026-10-19Council of Ministers Decision (VKM) No. 858 of 29.12.2021 on residence permits, consolidated to VKM 329/2024
- Confidence: HIGHPeriod: 2025 onwardsverified 2026-10-19Law No. 79/2021 "Për të huajt" (On foreigners), consolidated text as amended by Law 43/2025
Is there a golden visa or citizenship by investment?
No. Albania has no citizenship-by-investment scheme, and in December 2025 the European Commission asked it not to create one and to repeal its legal basis. Buying property gives you the right to apply for a one-year owner permit, not citizenship and not the right to live in the EU.
Every permit is applied for online through e-Albania. A one-year permit can be renewed up to five times in a row; after five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residence.
Questions and answers
Yes: Article 84 of Law 79/2021 gives the owner of a property, or of at least half of it, a one-year permit that can be renewed.
No, neither the law nor VKM 858/2021 sets one.
They need a visa unless they hold a used multiple-entry Schengen, US or UK visa or a residence permit there, which allows up to 90 days.
Yes, until 30 March 2027 under the Council of Ministers decision of 10 April 2026.
After 5 years of continuous legal residence.
Sources
- 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)
- 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)
- Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, visa regime table by country (Wayback snapshot of 9 August 2026). Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania (accessed 2026-10-23)
- European Commission, Eighth Report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism (19 December 2025). European Commission, 2025-12-19 (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Albanien: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Einreise und Zoll). Auswärtiges Amt, 2026-10-15 (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Albania: profil państwa (Podróżowanie, Zasady pobytu). Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP (Odyseusz), 2026-10-15 (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Albania travel advice: entry requirements. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK) (accessed 2026-10-19)
- U.S. Embassy Tirana, entering and residing in Albania. U.S. Embassy in Albania (accessed 2026-10-23)
- RTSH: the government extends visa-free stay for Ukrainians to 30 March 2027 (Council of Ministers decision of 10 April 2026). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), 2026-04-10 (accessed 2026-10-23)
What is missing
Gaps we know about: questions we have no reliable data for yet.
- Current residence permit fees (VKM 858 Annex 6) not found.
- Minimum investment for the investor permit (Law 79/2021 Art. 85/1, added 2025) not found.
- Reports of a 2026 seasonal visa waiver for Russians (25 May - 30 September) could not be confirmed in an official decision.