Albania is a small country located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is home to just over 2.8 million people. For digital nomads, the Albanian state is of interest not only because of the fact that you can comfortably relax on the coast of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The country is neighboring Greece, Croatia and Montenegro, and in the foreseeable future it may join the European Union.
But officially, there are no “nomad visas” in Albania. To legally cross the border of a European state, a remote worker from the Russian Federation will have to apply for a long-term visa of category “D”. This rule does not apply to holders of multiple-entry Schengen, American, British, Irish visas. Also, those who have received a residence permit in one of the Schengen states have the right to visa-free entry to the Albanian state.
The freelancer will receive an entry permit on the Internet portal (where the visa application form with documents is submitted). The standard application processing period varies from 7 to 15 days. The visa is addressed to the applicant by email (the document must be presented in printed form at the border control point).
Specifics of Albania’s freelance visa
From January 14, 2022, local authorities began issuing residence permits to remote employees under the Digital Mobile Workers program. But so far only representatives of the it-industry can participate in this program. Initially, a residence permit for a remote worker is issued for 1 year, then the status can be extended twice for 2 years. After 5 years of stay under the Digital Mobile Workers program, its holder can apply for permanent residence, and after another 2 years – for citizenship of the Republic of Albania.
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In 2024, the monthly income of an applicant for a program designed for “mobile workers” should be at least $446. Additionally, the remote employee must have the amount deposited in a bank deposit (minimum – $2,794). All sources of income for a freelancer working in Albania must come from abroad.
If the applicant initially indicated that he/she would perform the work of a UX designer in Albania, and, in fact, taught private lessons of “acting”, the residence permit “for mobile workers” will be canceled. Also, the candidate for “Digital Mobile Workers” should not have problems with the law, which is confirmed by a relevant certificate. Mandatory conditions are the financial reliability of the remote employee and the availability of medical insurance.
Advantages of the Digital Mobile Workers program:
- optimal amount of financial guarantees;
- short terms of consideration of the application;
- the ability to open accounts in local banks;
- the prospect of obtaining Albanian citizenship;
As for the significant shortcomings of the program provided for “mobile workers”, there is only one – it is the impossibility of visa-free entry to the Schengen zone.
What taxes do freelancers pay?
Specialists of the IT-industry who have “Digital Mobile Workers” are exempt from paying income tax for the entire period of the residence permit (1 year, until the status is extended). After the renewal of the residence permit, the self-employed are subject to a progressive taxation scale.
Tax rates for digital nomads in Albania in 2025:
- 0% – on income up to ALL 50,000 (≈ 508 €);
- 13% – income of ALL 50,001 – 60,000 is taxed, but 13% should be paid not from the entire income, but only from the part that exceeds ALL 35,000;
- 23% – tax on income over ALL 200,000 (≈ 2000 €).
How much does the visa cost?
The authorities of the Albanian Republic practice a mutual system for determining the cost of a permit to cross the state border. In other words, visa processing services are limited to the amount that is charged for the application processing.
For the issuance of a long-term visa to Albania, the applicant pays €50. In addition, the costs associated with the legalization of documents are compensated.
Necessary documents
To apply for a long-term visa for an IT-specialist, you will need:
- application;
- foreign passport;
- photo in 1 copy (4,7 х 3,6 cm);
- diploma (document confirming the level of qualification);
- contract with the employer (the company must be registered outside the Albanian state);
- residential lease agreement (valid for 1 year);
- medical insurance (the amount of coverage is at least €30,000);
- receipt of state duty payment;
- police clearance certificate.
Recent changes in the visa issuance in Albania
The Albanian authorities are making every effort to minimize bureaucratic barriers for relocants who want to live and work in the country. In particular, a single application format is provided for remote employees, investors and hired personnel, which is used when applying for a visa, residence permit and work permit.
In the foreseeable future, remote employees may be completely excluded from the category of tax residents of Albania (regardless of how long they live in the territory of the Republic).
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications for a category D visa are processed within 15 working days from the date of submission of the full package of documents. In exceptional cases involving additional verification of data, the deadline may be extended up to 30 days.
Upon arrival in Albania, the applicant has 30 days to apply for a residence permit. The review procedure takes 3 months, including the following stages:
- Initial verification (7 days);
- Application approval (up to 30 days);
- Delivery of biometrics (14 days);
- Production of the resident’s card (21 days).
There is no officially accelerated procedure.
A category D visa is issued for 1 year with the possibility of a two-time extension for 2 years. After 5 years of continuous residence, you can apply for permanent residence.
The certificate of absence of a criminal record must be certified by an apostille. Be no older than 3 months. This is especially important if you plan to apply for a residence permit after receiving a visa.
The rental agreement must be notarized in Albania, concluded for at least 1 year, the living area must be at least 20 sq.m. per resident, must contain full information about the parties to the transaction and the terms of the lease.
To obtain a freelance visa, you must confirm a monthly income of at least 30,000 LEK. When applying for a residence permit, it is also required to confirm the presence of at least 408,000 lek in a bank account for oneself and dependents.
The income is confirmed by bank statements for the last 12 months, an employment contract indicating the amount of remuneration.
The policy must cover the entire period of the requested visa. For the initial application, a minimum of 1 year from the date of entry. Upon renewal, the insurance is renewed for the duration of the new permit.
The employment contract or the contract with the customer must indicate the remote nature of the work, be valid at the time of application, contain information about the amount of income (at least 30,000 lek per month), preferably valid for at least 3 months.
Yes, IT specialists and other professionals will need a document confirming their qualifications (diploma of education or other document confirming their professional aptitude). The Digital Mobile Workers program is primarily aimed at IT professionals, although it is also available for other professions.
Yes, the application for a category D visa is carried out online through the official portal e-visa.al . After filling out the application form and uploading the necessary documents, the application will be reviewed within 7-15 days. If approved, the visa will be sent by e-mail. Upon entering the country, you must present a printed copy of the visa at the border control point.
To extend a visa and residence permit under the Digital Mobile Workers program, you will need a valid passport, proof of income for the previous period, a valid rental agreement, proof of tax payment (if applicable), and an application for renewal.
The application for renewal is submitted 60 days before the expiration of the current permit. The review takes 21 working days, while the applicant must confirm the continuity of residence, the absence of tax debts, and a valid employment contract.
In case of a negative decision, the appeal is filed within 5 working days. Consideration of the complaint takes 21 days, after which it is possible to resubmit the documents after 3 months.
Payment of the consular fee is made within 15 days after receiving the notification of the preliminary approval. Late payment automatically cancels the application.
The main costs include:
- Consular fee – 80-150€;
- Visa agency services – from 20,000 rubles for full support (including document translation and questionnaire verification).
- Medical insurance – from $45 per month.
- Notarization of documents – 5,000–10,000 rubles for a lease agreement and an employment contract.
To obtain a visa, it is necessary to confirm the presence of 40,000 Albanian LEK in the account. This amount should cover the living expenses of the applicant and dependents.
The minimum cost of a visa policy is $540 per year. The insurance must be valid for the entire period of the requested permit. Some services, such as SafetyWing, offer specialized products for digital nomads starting at $45 per month.
The lease agreement must be signed for at least 1 year. The average price for a one-room apartment in Tirana is 50,700 LEK per month. Notarization of the contract will cost 10,000–15,000 LEK.
- First year – no income tax is charged;
- Starting from the second year, a progressive rate from 0% to 23%, depending on income;
- The corporate tax for registered sole proprietors is 15%, and the tax on dividends is 8%.
The state fee for the extension is 10,000 LEK. Insurance renewal – $45-60 per month, depending on the provider.
- Opening an account in an Albanian bank requires a commission of 50-100€.
- Production of a biometric residence permit card – 80€.
Yes, obtaining Albanian citizenship through a freelance visa is possible, but it is a lengthy process. First, you need to apply for a long–term category D visa for Digital Mobile Workers, which is issued for 1 year. Then you can extend the residence permit twice for 2 years. The total period is 5 years of legal residence in the country. After that, you can apply for a permanent residence permit (permanent residence).
2 years after obtaining permanent residence, the opportunity to apply for citizenship of the Republic of Albania opens. Thus, the minimum period for obtaining citizenship through a freelance visa is 7 years of continuous residence.
Leading expert on visas and residence permits in the EU. Since 2016 I specialize in the development and coordination of programs for digital nomads. Comprehensive support at all stages of the migration process.
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