Work / Employment in Albania: Requirements and Fees

Single (Unique) Work & Residence Permit — Employee

Combined work-and-residence 'unique permit' for foreign employees with an Albanian Labour Code-compliant contract. Requires prior employment authorization from the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES/AKPA), except for EU citizens who self-declare. Issued for up to 3 years.

Processing time: Unique permit issued within a maximum of 12 weeks (typically 4–12 weeks); NAES employment approval ~10 working days
Validity: 1–3 years depending on permit chosen; renewable
Language requirement: None for the permit
Permanent residence: 5 consecutive legal years
Citizenship: 7 years of lawful permanent residence

Requirements

Valid passport with all entry stamps
Employment contract compliant with the Albanian Labour Code
NAES/AKPA employment authorization (EU citizens self-declare and are exempt)
Proof of professional qualifications/experience
Proof of adequate housing to Albanian standard
Application form (Annex 8 for unique permits)

Required Documents

Valid passport including all entry stamps and pages required
Photo 47×36 mm, white background, taken within 6 months, frontal and neutral required
Employment contract compliant with the Albanian Labour Code required
Proof of professional qualifications/experience required
Proof of adequate housing to Albanian standard required
Unique permit application form (Annex 8) required
NAES/AKPA employment authorization (unless exempt under Art. 79/80, incl. EU citizens) required
All foreign documents translated into Albanian, certified, legalized/apostilled, issued within 6 months required

Official fees

Employee single permit (≤1 year) 8,000 ALL
Employee single permit (≤2 years) 9,000 ALL
Employee single permit (≤3 years) 10,000 ALL
Renewal 4,000 ALL
US/EU/Kosovo citizens, first-time 5-year permit 12,000 ALL
Biometric card fee (paid separately at a Level-2 bank)

Process Steps

1

Obtain employment authorization

Employer/applicant obtains NAES (AKPA) employment authorization unless exempt under Art. 79/80 (EU citizens self-declare).
2

Apply online

Apply on e-Albania service code 15146 using the official Request for Unique Permit form.
3

Pay fee

Pay the service fee and upload the payment mandate.
4

Provisional permit

Receive a provisional/electronic permit within ~5 days.
5

Register and submit originals

Within 30 days register residence at the civil status office, pay the biometric card fee at a Level-2 bank, and mail original documents to the regional migration office.
6

Biometric appointment

Attend in-person biometric (fingerprint) appointment.
7

Collect card

Collect the biometric card within ~2 weeks of final approval.

Official Sources

Seasonal Worker Unique Permit

A short-term work and residence permit for foreign nationals employed in seasonal activities in Albania, valid for up to 6 months per calendar year with a mandatory 6-month break between seasons.

Processing time: Provisional permit within 5 working days; biometric card within approximately 2 weeks of approval
Validity: Up to 6 months per calendar year
Language requirement: None specified
Permanent residence: Not applicable
Citizenship: Not applicable

Requirements

Valid travel document
Signed seasonal employment contract with Albanian employer
Employer's prior employment authorisation from NAES/AKPA
Proof of adequate accommodation
Passport-size photograph (47x36 mm, white background, taken within 6 months)

Required Documents

Valid passport copy with entry stamps required
Seasonal employment contract (compliant with Albanian Labour Code) required
Employment authorisation from NAES/AKPA required
Proof of accommodation in Albania required
Passport-size photograph required

Official fees

First-issuance service fee 4,500 ALL

Process Steps

1

Employer obtains employment authorisation

The Albanian employer applies to the National Authority for Employment and Skills (NAES/AKPA) for authorisation to hire the foreign seasonal worker.
2

Submit residence application

Submit the unique permit application via the e-Albania portal (service code 15146) or at the Ministry of Interior / State Police office, together with all required documents.
3

Receive provisional permit

A provisional (electronic) permit is issued within 5 working days, allowing the applicant to legally reside and work pending the physical card.
4

Collect biometric card

Collect the biometric residence card from the issuing office within approximately 2 weeks of approval notification.

Official Sources

Albania Ministry of Interior — Residence and Unique Permit Procedures Official

Intra-Company Transferee Unique Permit

A work and residence permit for managers, specialists, and graduate trainees transferred to an Albanian entity within the same multinational company group.

Processing time: Provisional permit within 5 working days; biometric card within approximately 2 weeks of approval
Validity: Up to 3 years for managers and specialists; up to 1 year for graduate trainees
Language requirement: None specified
Permanent residence: 5 years of continuous lawful residence
Citizenship: 7 years of lawful continuous residence

Requirements

Valid travel document
Transfer declaration submitted at least 7 days before work commences
Employment contract or assignment letter from the sending company
Evidence of intra-group relationship (corporate documents of both sending and receiving entities)
Proof of adequate accommodation
Passport-size photograph (47x36 mm, white background, taken within 6 months)

Required Documents

Valid passport copy with entry stamps required
Transfer declaration (submitted minimum 7 days before start of work) required
Employment/assignment letter from sending company required
Corporate documents proving intra-group relationship required
Proof of accommodation in Albania required
Passport-size photograph required

Official fees

First-issuance service fee 8,000 ALL
Renewal service fee 4,000 ALL

Process Steps

1

Submit transfer declaration

The Albanian host entity submits a transfer declaration to the migration authority at least 7 days before the employee's first day of work.
2

File unique permit application

Submit the ICT unique permit application via the e-Albania portal (service code 15146) or at the Ministry of Interior office with all supporting documents.
3

Receive provisional permit

A provisional (electronic) permit is issued within 5 working days.
4

Collect biometric card

Collect the biometric residence card from the issuing office within approximately 2 weeks of approval.
5

Renew if required

Apply for renewal before expiry if the assignment continues; renewal fee is 4,000 ALL.

Official Sources

Albania Ministry of Interior — Residence and Unique Permit Procedures Official

Cross-Border Worker Unique Permit

A work and residence permit for foreign nationals who live in a neighbouring country's border zone and commute daily or weekly to work in Albania's corresponding border zone.

Processing time: Provisional permit within 5 working days; biometric card within approximately 2 weeks of approval
Validity: 1 year, renewable
Language requirement: None specified
Permanent residence: Not applicable
Citizenship: Not applicable

Requirements

Valid travel document
Employment contract with Albanian employer in the border zone
Employer's employment authorisation from NAES/AKPA
Proof of residence in the corresponding border zone of the neighbouring country
Passport-size photograph (47x36 mm, white background, taken within 6 months)

Required Documents

Valid passport copy with entry stamps required
Employment contract with employer located in Albanian border zone required
Employment authorisation from NAES/AKPA required
Proof of residence in neighbouring country's border zone required
Passport-size photograph required

Official fees

First-issuance service fee 4,500 ALL
Renewal service fee 2,250 ALL

Process Steps

1

Employer obtains employment authorisation

The Albanian border-zone employer obtains authorisation from NAES/AKPA to hire a cross-border worker.
2

Submit permit application

Submit the cross-border worker unique permit application via the e-Albania portal or at the Ministry of Interior / State Police office with all required documents.
3

Receive provisional permit

A provisional (electronic) permit is issued within 5 working days.
4

Collect biometric card

Collect the biometric residence card within approximately 2 weeks of approval.
5

Renew annually

Renew the permit each year while the cross-border employment continues; renewal fee is 2,250 ALL.

Official Sources

Albania Ministry of Interior — Residence and Unique Permit Procedures Official

Domestic Worker Unique Permit

A dedicated unique work and residence permit for foreign nationals employed as domestic workers (caregivers, housekeepers, and similar roles) in private households in Albania, formally introduced by Law 43/2025.

Processing time: Not yet specified in accessible official sources; expected to follow standard timeline: provisional permit within 5 working days, biometric card within approximately 2 weeks
Validity: Duration of the declared employment relationship
Language requirement: None specified
Permanent residence: 5 years of continuous lawful residence
Citizenship: 7 years of lawful continuous residence

Requirements

Valid travel document
Formally declared domestic employment contract
Evidence of employer's identity and registered household address
Labour and social security registration of the employment relationship
Proof of adequate accommodation
Passport-size photograph (47x36 mm, white background, taken within 6 months)

Required Documents

Valid passport copy with entry stamps required
Formally declared domestic employment contract required
Employer identity document and proof of registered household address required
Proof of labour/social security registration of employment required
Passport-size photograph required

Process Steps

1

Register employment relationship

The household employer formally declares and registers the domestic employment relationship with Albanian labour and social security authorities.
2

Submit unique permit application

Submit the domestic worker unique permit application via the e-Albania portal or at the Ministry of Interior / State Police office with all required documents.
3

Receive provisional permit

A provisional (electronic) permit is expected to be issued within 5 working days.
4

Collect biometric card

Collect the biometric residence card from the issuing office, expected within approximately 2 weeks of approval.