Complete Albania Visa Requirements: How to Apply

Chances are, you might have heard that Albania is a VISA-FREE country, and as much this is true, it also depends on your nationality. If your country isn’t listed among the Albania visa-free access (check table below), then you have to consider the Albania Visa Requirements and Application. As you read on, we will take you through everything you need to know about the various Albania visa requirements and a step-by-step guide on the entire application process.

Who Needs an Albania Visa?

As we know, travel permit requirements differ by country and Albania is no different. While some countries are exempt from the Albania visa requirements, some classifications of passport holders and residence/work permits could also be granted visa-free entry to the country typically on short stays. The below list will highlight these various categories.

S/N	COUNTRIES EXEMPTED FROM ALBANIA VISA REQUIREMENTS
1	EU Countries	Iceland	Liechtenstein
2	China	Portugal	Slovakia
3	North Macedonia	Austria	Denmark
4	Andorra	Italy	Lithuania
5	Hungary	Cyprus	Slovenia
6	Norway	Israel	Finland
7	Armenia	Azerbaijan	Luxembourg
8	Ireland	South Korea	Spain
9	Poland	Argentina	France
10	Australia	Japan	Malaysia
11	Czech	Kazakhstan	Sweden
12	Barbados	San Marino	Malta
13	Canada	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Germany
14	Romania	Kosovo	Taiwan
15	Belgium	Vatican City	Greece
16	Bazil	United Kingdom	Montenegro
17	Chile	Croatia	Turkey
18	Serbia	United States	Netherlands
19	Bulgaria	Singapore	Monaco
20	Latvia	Estonia	Ukraine
21	Bahamas	Switzerland	New Zealand

Albania Visa-Free Access Countries

Albania also offers you Visa-free entry if:

You are a foreign citizen with a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa, which has been previously used in one of the Schengen regions, or a valid permit to stay in one of the Schengen states.
You are a foreign citizen with a valid, multiple-entry US or UK visa, previously used in the country where it was given, or have a valid permit to stay in the US or UK.
If you are a foreign citizen who entered the Schengen region without a Visa.
If you are a foreign citizen with a 10-year residence permit in the United Arab Emirates, valid not less than one year from the moment of entry.

All other foreign nationals who do not fit into these categories need an Albanian visa to travel to the country.

Types of Albania Visas Explained: Short-Term vs. Long-Term

If you require an Albania visa to visit the country, then you need to know that the visa is of a different type as listed below:

Airport Transit Visa – A

This type of Visa is for travelers in transit to stay in an international airport until the time of their flight to their destination.

Short-Term Visa Type C

This type of Visa is for short-term stays and will allow you to be in the country for a duration of 90 Days within 180 days. A Short-Term Visa is usually given for the following purposes: tourism, medical purposes, cultural, sports, humanitarian reasons, and official visits.

Long-Term Visa Type D

This type of Visa gives you a longer stay compared to the short-term Visa. People who have this Visa are allowed to stay in Albania for one year. It is also issued if you plan to obtain a residence permit after entering Albania. This type of Visa is usually given for the following purposes: Student permit, Family reunion, Work visa, Diplomatic or service visa, Humanitarian or religious activities visa, and Seasonal employment visa.

Albania Visa Requirements

Passport validity requirements: Getting an Albanian Visa requires that your passport must be valid and in good condition. The passport should be valid for at least three months and must not expire within that time. This requirement is put in place, to prevent your passport from expiring during your stay and leading to difficulties in renewing it, which may further increase the duration of your stay. The passport photo should be colored, not monochrome, and should be taken on a plain background.
Financial requirements: You will be required to submit your bank statement for the last 6 months, so your finances can be assessed. The bank statement should show the inflow and outflow of money into your account during these months. This is done to assure the country officials that you are financially capable of taking care of yourself financially while in their country.
Travel insurance requirements: A valid insurance policy is also an essential requirement. This will prove that you have valid insurance such as health insurance to cover unforeseen health issues that may arise during your visit to the country.
Purpose of visit and supporting documents: You will also be required to provide documents supporting the purpose of your visit to Albania. This can be in the form of a letter of invitation from friends or family that you intend to visit.

Checklist for Albania Visa Application Documents

Online application form duly signed by the applicant.
A recent passport photograph (not older than six months).
A valid travel insurance for the duration of your stay.
A copy of your passport data page.
A round-trip flight ticket.
Hotel booking or accommodation confirmation.
Proof of sufficient income (recent bank statements).
Proof of employment from the country of residence.
Albania visa fee receipt.

Albania Visa Application Process

Online Application process

As part of the Albania visa requirements, it’s expected that applicants visit the online e-visa page to access and complete the required form. Before submission, take time to verify that all your personal information has been entered accurately, and avoid leaving out any blank spaces. Children who do not require a plane ticket should also have their personal information filled in this form. Applicants are also expected to upload the required documents to the e-visa website for review by the Albanian authorities.

If your application is approved, you will be informed via email and directed to pay the visa fees. If there are issues with your application, perhaps you submitted the wrong documents, you will be contacted to make changes to rectify the issue.

The payments for the visa fee are non-refundable and must be made within 15 days of the application. If the payment is not made after this time, the application is automatically rejected. Once the payment is made, you will be directed to upload the receipt on the website and wait for your visa to be evaluated and approved.

For children under the age of 18 years, this application is expected to be done by their parents.

Processing time

After submitting your application, it usually takes 15 days for your visa to be processed for approval. However, in some instances, it might take up to 30 days. It is therefore advisable that you apply for your visa at least two months before your travel date, to make up for unforeseen delays during processing. It is also required that the visa application be done within 90 days of the date of travel.

When the visa is approved, you will be notified via email. You can get an e-visa sent to you via email to authorize your approval, without having to physically visit the Albania embassy or representative in your country. You also have the option of visiting the embassy office in your country to get authorization in the form of an Albanian sticker visa on your passport. A copy of the e-visa should be printed out or the sticker visa on your passport should be presented to the officials at the airport when entering and leaving Albania.

In cases where your visa application is denied, you can reapply for another visa 3 months after the initial rejection notice.

Tips for applying for the Albania Visa

Carry out thorough research and ensure you use information only from verified sources. The official Albania e-visa website is one reliable platform.

Verify the validity of your international passport document. The minimum validity is three months after the date stated for your trip. An oversight could result in a visa refusal.

Collate the required documents for your application – refer to the previously highlighted checklist as a guide.

Regularly track the progress of your application via the official e-visa website. The portal grants applicants uninterrupted access during the application process.

Applicants with dual citizenship should indicate only one country on their application and ensure that it corresponds with the country on their passport and identity card.

It is highly recommended to begin your application at least two months before your scheduled travel date. This provides ample time to handle any unforeseen occurrence with the process.