Albania Tax Rates

Types of Work Visas in Albania

The first step in bringing employees to Albania is understanding who needs a work permit. Citizens of the European Union (EU) and Schengen countries have the same employment rights as Albanian citizens. However, some legislation may require Albanian citizenship for certain positions. US citizens can also stay in Albania for at least one year without a residence permit.

In early March 2023, Albanian authorities began accepting applications from eligible foreign nationals for the Single Residence Permit. These individuals (or their employers) are no longer required to apply for a work declaration or obtain separate work and residence permits. Individuals who have an employment contract issued by a local Albanian company are now eligible to receive a Single Permit, which authorizes them to work and reside in Albania for an initial period of up to one year, with the possibility of renewal. Previously, individuals with an Albanian employment contract had to apply for proof of their work declarations and obtain their work and residence permits separately.

Anyone who is not an Albanian citizen and wishes to work in the country for more than three months needs to apply for a work permit. Your employees must complete their work permit applications before starting work. It usually does not take more than 30 days to receive approval or rejection after submitting the documents. Some work permits have time constraints, but the general validity period of the permit depends on its type.

Four Main Categories of Albanian Work Permits

Type A: Economic activity permits for both employers and employees

Type B: Independent economic activity permits

Type C: Permits for special occasions

Type D: Permanent work permits for eligible foreigners

All foreigners also need a visa to enter Albania and a residence permit to live there.

Requirements for Obtaining an Albanian Work Visa

The steps to obtain a work permit in Albania may vary depending on the type of permit. However, the most commonly required documents include:

Standard application form signed by your employee

An extract from the National Registration Center confirming your registration as an employer

The applicant's employment contract

A copy of their passport

Five photos

Employees will also need to pay ALL 6,000, or approximately 45 Euros, to obtain a work permit from the General Directorate of the National Employment Service or the relevant regional Labor Office under the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

Albanian Visa Application Process

All your employees applying for a work permit in Albania must submit the above documents to the relevant labor office in Albania or to the Albanian Consulates in their own countries. The Albanian Regional Employment Office examines the development and needs of the country's labor market before issuing any work permit. They consider whether the job could be obtained by:

An unemployed Albanian citizen

Foreigners and family members of Albanian citizens

EU or Schengen citizens

Family members of immigrants living and working in Albania

Citizens of countries that have bilateral and multilateral employment agreements with Albania

Any job seeker who has priority in the domestic labor market

Note that foreign employees can work in the public sector but cannot hold any leadership positions in public administration.

Other Important Considerations

All employees must obtain a work visa in Albania in addition to a work permit. The visa types include:

Type C: Short-term visas

Type D: Long-term visas

Airport visa: For airport transit

All foreign citizens planning to stay in the country for more than 90 days will also need a residence permit. There are 21 different types of residence permits in Albania, so it is important to find the right one for your needs. All residence permits are valid for three months, six months, or one year and cannot be renewed more than five times.

Get Information on Obtaining a Residence Visa or Opening a Company in Albania