Do You Need a Visa for Albania?

Most visitors don’t need to arrange a visa before visiting Albania. The country wants tourists, so it keeps entry requirements relatively simple for most nationalities. That said, rules vary depending on your passport and intended length of stay.

Visa-Free Entry

Citizens of the European Union, United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and many other countries can enter Albania without a visa for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This covers the vast majority of tourists.

You show up at the border or airport, present your passport, answer a few basic questions (where are you staying, why are you visiting), and receive an entry stamp. The process takes a few minutes unless you arrive when multiple flights land simultaneously.

Your passport needs at least six months validity beyond your planned departure date. Albania enforces this rule, and airlines check it before letting you board. If your passport expires in four months, you’re not getting on the plane.

There’s no entry fee, no form to fill out beforehand, no invitation letter required. Just a valid passport and proof you can support yourself financially if asked (credit card usually suffices, though officials rarely check).

Visa-Required Countries

Some nationalities do need to arrange visas in advance. This typically includes certain African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. If you’re not from North America, Europe, Oceania, or a handful of other places, check with an Albanian embassy before planning your trip.

The process isn’t particularly difficult, but it requires submitting an application through an Albanian embassy or consulate, providing documentation (travel insurance, accommodation bookings, financial proof), and waiting for approval. Processing takes 5-15 business days typically.

Staying Longer Than 90 Days

If you want to stay beyond 90 days, you need to apply for a residence permit or specific visa category depending on your purpose (work, study, family reunion, etc.). This goes well beyond typical tourism and involves significant paperwork.

Tourist visas cannot be extended. If you enter for 90 days visa-free and decide you want to stay longer, you can’t simply extend. You’d need to leave Albania and reapply for a different type of permit, which requires demonstrating legitimate reasons for a longer stay.

The 90 days within 180 days rule means you can’t game the system by leaving briefly and immediately returning. If you spend 90 days in Albania, leave for a week, and come back, border officials will likely deny entry or only grant a very short stay. The 180-day calculation follows you.

Schengen Visa Holders

Here’s something useful: if you hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa, UK visa, or US visa, you can enter Albania without needing a separate Albanian visa, even if your nationality would normally require one. This makes Albania an easy add-on for travelers already visiting Europe.

This only works if the visa is multiple-entry and still valid. Single-entry Schengen visas that you’ve already used won’t help. And you still follow the 90-day maximum stay rule.

Entry Requirements Beyond the Visa

Having the right to enter doesn’t guarantee entry. Border officials can (and occasionally do) ask additional questions or request to see proof of:

• Accommodation bookings or address where you’ll stay
• Return or onward travel tickets
• Sufficient funds for your stay
• Travel insurance (not mandatory but sometimes requested)

Most tourists never face these questions. But if a border officer has concerns for any reason, they have authority to request documentation. Happens more often at land borders than the airport, and usually resolves quickly with reasonable explanations and evidence.

Special Cases

Kosovo – Albania and Kosovo have special agreements. Citizens of Kosovo can enter Albania with just an ID card, no passport required. This reflects the close historical and cultural ties.

Diplomatic and Service Passports – Different rules often apply. Check with Albanian authorities directly if you travel on official documents.

Previous Travel to Certain Countries – Unlike some countries, Albania doesn’t typically care if you have stamps from places they have complicated relationships with. Entry denials for prior travel are extremely rare.

What About Registration?

Technically, foreigners staying in Albania are supposed to register their residence with local police within a certain timeframe. In practice, hotels handle this automatically when you check in. If you stay with friends or in private accommodations, registration rules exist but enforcement is inconsistent.

For typical tourists staying in hotels and moving between cities every few days, this is a non-issue. The hotel registration covers you.

Checking Current Requirements

Visa rules change periodically. Albania has gradually expanded visa-free access as tourism grows. What was true two years ago might have changed.

The most reliable way to confirm current requirements is checking the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or contacting an Albanian embassy/consulate. Travel forums and blogs (including this one) can become outdated.

If your nationality isn’t immediately clear-cut, spend 10 minutes confirming before you book flights. Much easier than discovering you need a visa while standing at the airport.

Border Crossing Tips

Land borders can be more thorough than the airport. Officials have more time and sometimes more skepticism, particularly at busy crossings during summer. Have your documents organized, know where you’re going, and answer questions directly.

Evening/night border crossings sometimes face reduced staff and longer waits. If possible, cross during daytime hours, especially at smaller checkpoints.

Some land borders only accept certain currencies for any unexpected fees (though entry is free). Having euros on hand never hurts, just in case.

The Reality

For most Western tourists, entering Albania is straightforward and hassle-free. You’ll spend more time at airport security than at Albanian immigration. The country wants visitors, both for tourism revenue and international engagement, so they make the process as smooth as possible.

Just make sure your passport is valid, don’t overstay your permitted time, and keep some basic documentation handy if requested. That covers the vast majority of situations.