Albania work permit and immigration guide for non-EU workers

Overview

Albania issues a Unique Permit (combined work and residence) for foreign workers, with a separate route for digital nomads and remote workers. Employer quota, fiscal-debt and company-activity conditions were not verified from official sources in this pass.

Quotas, caps and ratios

• Quota / cap: Not verified in this pass.
• Employer quota/cap rules were not verified from current official sources in this pass. Treat any specific figure as requiring official confirmation before filing.

Employer eligibility and restrictions

• Employer-side quota, fiscal-debt, social-security-debt and company-activity conditions were not verified from official sources in this pass.
• No fabricated thresholds are published here — confirm requirements with the official authority before relying on them.

Main work-permit routes

• Unique Permit (work & residence)
• Work permit
• Residence permit
• Digital nomad / remote work

Application process

• Job offer & labour market check — Employer via National Employment Service and Skills (Agjencia Kombetare e Punesimit dhe Aftesive): The employer in Albania secures a job offer for the foreign worker and, where required, advertises the vacancy through the National Employment Service before naming a third-country candidate.
• Type D long-stay visa — Worker via Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania (consulate/embassy, via e-visa.al): If subject to visa requirements, the worker applies for a Type D long-stay visa through the e-visa.al portal or an Albanian consulate to enter Albania for stays exceeding 90 days within 180 days.
• Unique Permit application — Worker via e-Albania portal (e-albania.al) - service 'Request for Unique Permit': The worker (or employer on their behalf) submits the online Unique Permit (Leje Unike) application on e-Albania under the relevant ground (Employment, Highly qualified, Intra-corporate transfer, etc.), uploading the employment contract, passport, qualifications and proof of payment of the administrative fee.
• Document review — Authority via General Directorate of State Police - Directorate for Border and Migration (Drejtoria e Pergjithshme e Policise se Shtetit): The Directorate for Border and Migration examines the uploaded documentation against the eligibility criteria for the chosen ground of stay and may request corrections or additional documents. (Decision issued within a maximum of 12 weeks from the date of application)
• Biometric enrolment & card issuance — Authority via Regional Directorate of Border and Migration (Drejtoria Vendore e Kufirit dhe Migracionit): Upon approval the worker attends an in-person appointment for biometric data capture and collects the Unique Permit biometric card combining work and residence authorization.
• Registration after arrival — Worker via Regional Directorate of Border and Migration (Drejtoria Vendore e Kufirit dhe Migracionit): The worker registers their local address and completes any remaining residence formalities so the Unique Permit is finalized for the duration of the employment.

Processing time and government fees

• Overall processing time: Unique Permit (Leje Unike) decided within a maximum of 12 weeks from the date of application, per official e-Albania service information.
• Government fees: An administrative fee is payable for the Unique Permit and the proof of payment must be uploaded with the application; the exact amount in ALL is Not published on the official source consulted - verify with the General Directorate of State Police / e-Albania. A separate Type D visa fee may apply via e-visa.al.
• Verified on official sources: the 12-week maximum processing time, the Type D visa requirement, the e-Albania Unique Permit application flow and the grounds of stay; the exact administrative/visa fee amounts and the labour-market-test duration still need confirmation from the General Directorate of State Police and the National Employment Service.

Core documents

• Valid passport meeting the destination validity rule
• Signed work contract or binding job offer
• Proof of qualifications / professional experience
• Criminal-record certificate (apostille/legalisation where required)
• Certified translations of foreign documents where required
• Proof of health insurance and accommodation where required

Common questions