The Albanian legislation related to foreign citizens is in compliance with the EU directives as related to immigration policy.The Law on Foreigners provides that foreigners may work in Albania only after obtaining a work permit. Nevertheless, the Law stipulates a list of countries citizens of which enjoy equal rights with Albanian citizens as regards employment and self-employment, such as:
-citizens of the USA, the EU and the Schengen area countries;
-citizens of one of the countries of the Western Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro,
Kosovo, Serbia and Northern Macedonia;
-foreigner citizens employed in various sectors, with the aim of regulating the consequences and recovery from natural disasters.
Foreigners are divided into two categories
- those who must secure a visa when crossing the borders of the Republic of Albania
-those who are exempt from that requirement. Foreigners who wish to reside in Albania on a long-term basis (in any case more than three months within each six-month period) shall be issued a residence permit.
VISAS
Albania is relatively easy to access. Foreign citizens can enter Albania after presenting valid passports or any other valid traveling document. They have to present their valid passports or other valid traveling documents at a border checkpoint and are granted a stay permit of 90 days.
All foreigners who are not exempt from obtaining a visa must be issued a visa before they enter Albania. The request, the evaluation and the issue of the visa, under the latest amendments of the Law, can be provided online through the e-albania.al website.
RESIDENCE PERMITS
Residence and work permits are regulated in accordance with the Law on Foreigners No. 108/2013 dated 28 March 2013 and the respective sub legal acts.
A residence permit can be issued for a period of:
-A three-month, six-month, one-year term and can be renewed not more than five consecutive times;
-A two-year term which can be renewed not more than once;
-A five-year term;
Permanently, if the foreign citizen has legally resided in Albania for five consecutive years and has stable activities or relationships in the country.
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