Albania (Europe)

The Albania digital nomad visa, officially known as the Unique Permit, invites remote workers to live in the beautiful Mediterranean country for up to five years.

While not an official digital nomad visa, many digital nomads and remote workers meet the eligibility requirements. So, we will continue to refer to the Unique Permit as the Albania digital nomad visa throughout this article. The initial visa term is valid for one year and is renewable for up to five years. Then, you may apply for permanent residency.

Main applicants may include immediate family members on their Albania digital nomad visa applications. The Albania digital nomad visa application process is done all online, making it one of the easiest digital nomad visas to apply for.

It’s important to note that those who live in Albania with the digital nomad visa will become tax residents and owe local income tax.

Albania Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

• Valid Passport – You must have a valid passport

• Work Remotely – You must work remotely as an employee or freelance for a company or clients established outside of Albania

• Earn at least $315 USD per month – You must prove that you earn at least $9,800 per year

• Including a spouse or dependents may increase the minimum income requirement

• Albanian Bank Account – You must open a bank account in Albania to deposit your salary before applying for the digital nomad visa

• Clean Criminal Record – You must present a clean criminal background check from your country of residence from the last five years

• International Health Insurance – You must have valid health insurance with at least 30,000€ of coverage in Albania

• Address of Accommodations – You must provide the address of where you will stay in Albania

• Processing Time – 12 weeks

• Tax – Yes

• Permanent Residency - Yes, after five years of living in Albania with the digital nomad visa, you may apply for permanent residency.

How to Apply for the Albania Digital Nomad Visa

The application process for the Albania digital nomad visa is fairly straightforward and does not require a visit to a consulate or embassy.

Step 1: Open Bank Account

One of the requirements when applying for the Albania digital nomad visa is to open a local bank account. Some banks allow foreigners to open an account with a passport and proof of accommodation in Albania. Other banks may require an Albanian residence permit.

Some reputable banks that are established or operate in Albania include:

• American Bank of Investment (ABI)

• Banka Kombetare Tregtare (BKT)

• Credins Bank (CB)

• Fibank

• Intesa Sanpaolo Bank

• ProCredit Bank

• Raiffesen

• OTP Bank

• Tirana Bank

• Union Bank

• United Bank of Albania

When contacting the bank, let them know that you plan to apply for the Albania digital nomad visa.

Step 2: Gather Documents

• Copy of passport

• Passport-size photos

• Proof of remote work in the form of an employment or service contract

• Proof of financial means in the form of payslips or bank statements

• Address of accommodations in Albania, such as an Airbnb reservation

• Proof of Albanian bank account

• Certified criminal background check

• Proof of valid health insurance

• Documents issued by your government must be certified with an apostille.

You may submit your documents either in English or Albanian.

Step 3: Submit Application

Once you have gathered and digitized your documents, you may submit your application through the Albanian e-visa portal.

First, register an account with your name and email address to begin.

Once registered, you will click “Apply Now” and select the option “digital mobile worker” in the list of available Type D visas.

After completing the requested information and uploading the necessary documents, you will pay the visa fee via credit card.

The cost of the visa fee varies depending on your nationality. You will pay the same amount as an Albanian national would pay for a visa to enter your country of origin.

Step 4: Wait for Approval

The average processing time for the Albania digital nomad visa is 12 weeks but could take as short as two weeks.

When approved, you will receive an email and e-document to present to immigration authorities when you enter Albania.