Albania Residency

Not under that name. For property buyers, the route is the temporary residence permit for owners of immovable property under article 84 of Law No. 79/2021 on Foreigners: no minimum property value is set in the law or its implementing decision, the first permit runs for up to one year and can be renewed every year, and permanent residence is possible after five years of lawful, continuous residence. Since 2025 the law also has a separate investor residence permit, tied to a business investment that employs five Albanian citizens for each foreigner, which this page does not cover. Albania does not offer citizenship by investment.

Yes. A foreigner who owns immovable property in Albania, or half of one as a co-owner, can apply for a temporary residence permit under article 84 of Law No. 79/2021 on Foreigners. You show an ownership certificate, or a notarised sale contract proving the price is paid, proof of sufficient means for your stay and a statement of your reason for staying, and you apply on e-Albania within 30 days of entering Albania. The implementing decision names the ownership certificate of a dwelling, so confirm before you buy whether commercial property, land or an off-plan purchase qualifies.

There is no minimum property value in the law or its implementing decision. Under the decision's general rule you also show sufficient means: a deposit in an Albanian bank of at least ALL 300,000 per person for one year, or a monthly income of at least ALL 32,000 per person. The permit fee is set by Council of Ministers decision and invoiced by email after your application is accepted, to be paid within 24 hours. The State Cadastre Agency charges ALL 5,000 to register the sale contract and ALL 3,000 for the ownership certificate; notary fees, purchase taxes, translations and health insurance are separate.

Under article 84, up to one year the first time, renewable every year while you still own the property and meet the conditions. Apply to renew within 60 days before it expires, with proof that your Albanian taxes and local taxes for the last calendar year are paid.

Most of the year. Spending more than 180 days outside Albania within a permit year is a ground to refuse renewal or cancel the permit, and e-Albania describes renewal as for foreigners who stayed in Albania for more than 180 days in a calendar year. For justified reasons you may be away up to 180 days if you notify the police first. To qualify for permanent residence after five years, your absences must not exceed six months at a time or ten months in total.

You apply online on e-Albania within 30 days of arriving. e-Albania states that you are told by email within 30 days whether the application is accepted, that approval takes up to 30 days, and that this can be extended for objective reasons. After acceptance and payment you receive an electronic provisional permit valid for up to two months. You then collect a biometric card in person and register your address within 30 days. Buying and registering the property, and any type D visa, come before you apply.

You can request family reunification once you hold a permit valid for at least one year that you can renew, while your family is still outside Albania. It covers your spouse or a partner you live with in a stable, proven relationship, your minor children, and unmarried children up to age 30 whose living costs you cover; dependent parents can qualify in the cases the law sets. Each family member receives their own permit, and you need suitable housing, health insurance for the family and stable means. The property permit is issued for up to one year the first time, so confirm that yours will run a full year before you plan when your family joins.

After at least five years of lawful, continuous residence. Absences of up to six months at a time, and ten months in total over the five years, do not break continuity. You also need lawful income, Albanian health insurance cover, suitable housing and a record of paid taxes; the decision is due within 60 days.

Naturalisation needs at least seven years of lawful, continuous residence, a valid permanent residence permit, certified spoken and written Albanian, basic knowledge of Albanian history, lawful income, suitable housing and no final conviction for an offence that Albanian law punishes with three years' imprisonment or more. The citizenship law does not require you to give up your current citizenship; check whether your own country allows dual citizenship.

No. An Albanian residence permit gives the right to enter, stay in and leave Albania only, and Albania is not part of the Schengen area. Visa-free short trips to the EU are a right of Albanian citizens, not of Albanian permit holders.