Visa, Work Permit & Immigration Support in Albania via EOR

Processing time: up to 4 weeks from application (statutory). Permit type: Unique Permit (Leje Unike). Application: e-Albania portal, online. Last reviewed: November 2026

Albania’s work permit framework was significantly modernised under Law No. 79/2021 on Foreigners, as amended by Law No. 43/2025. It replaced separate work and residence permits with a single combined document, the Unique Permit (Leje Unike), that covers both work authorisation and residence rights in one card.

Applications are submitted digitally through the e-Albania portal. Where the role requires employment approval from the National Agency for Employment and Skills (AKPA), the employer must first publish the vacancy on the employment services portal for at least five calendar days — the labour market test that gates most employer-sponsored applications. Since August 2026, AKPA must respond within one working day.

Quick answer

Non-EU foreign nationals working in Albania require a Unique Permit before they start work. For roles that need AKPA approval, the employer first publishes the vacancy for at least five calendar days. The application is then submitted via e-Albania, AKPA responds within one working day, and the permit must be decided within 4 weeks of application. US, Schengen and Western Balkan nationals are exempt from AKPA approval but still need a Unique Permit. Employed EU citizens need no permit but must register online within three months of arrival. Total lead time: plan for 6–8 weeks before the intended start date.

EU citizens — no Unique Permit required

Citizens of EU member states who are employed or self-employed in Albania can stay beyond three months without a residence permit or Unique Permit. They must register online with the Border and Migration authority where they live no later than three months after arrival, and receive a registration certificate.

Nationals of non-EU Schengen countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), the United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia do not need AKPA employment approval, but they still require a Unique Permit before starting work. All other non-EU nationals require a Unique Permit with AKPA approval unless their category is exempt. Nationals of countries with visa requirements must also obtain a Type D long-stay visa before travelling.

The vacancy publication: the first step for most employers

Before AKPA approves the employment of a foreign national, the employer must publish the vacancy on the employment services portal for no fewer than five calendar days, and the vacancy must have been posted no more than 90 days before the employment approval request. The purpose is to establish whether a suitable Albanian jobseeker or other priority candidate lawfully resident in Albania is available for the role.

AKPA also checks whether the foreign national’s proposed salary, working hours and other conditions comply with Albanian labour law. Annual employment quotas were abolished by Law No. 43/2025.

For intra-company transferees, highly qualified workers, contractual service providers and athletes, AKPA checks only the legal compliance of pay and conditions — not local availability. The permit is issued without regard to the labour market for spouses of Albanian citizens, graduates of recognised Albanian institutions, intra-company transferees, highly qualified workers and digital mobile workers.

Practical implication: Applications for roles that require AKPA approval will be refused if the vacancy has not been published or the documentation is not submitted electronically within one week of AKPA’s request. Confirm whether the candidate’s nationality or category is exempt before advertising, so the vacancy is not published unnecessarily. Renewals for the same employee do not require a new vacancy publication.

Unique Permit categories relevant to employer-sponsored hiring

The Unique Permit is issued under different categories depending on the nature of the employment and the employee’s role. For standard employer-sponsored foreign nationals, the employment category is the relevant route. Other categories exist for distinct situations.

Unique Permit — Employment category

Standard employment: For foreign nationals employed by an Albanian employer or Employer of Record. Covers full-time employees and other standard employment relationships. Issued for the duration of the employment contract, for 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 5 years; 1-year permits can be renewed up to five times in a row and 2-year permits once. US and Kosovo citizens receive a 5-year permit on first application. Requires AKPA approval (unless exempt) and e-Albania submission.

Unique Permit — AL Blue Card (highly qualified workers)

Highly qualified professionals: For foreign nationals in highly qualified roles whose contract sets an average gross annual salary of at least the national average gross annual salary. Issued for 2 years and renewable for 3 years. AKPA checks pay and conditions only, with no labour market test. Family members receive residence permits for the same period as the Blue Card.

Unique Permit — Digital mobile worker category

Remote workers: For foreign nationals working remotely for employers or clients registered outside Albania. Does not authorise employment with an Albanian company or provision of services to the Albanian market. Applied for through e-Albania. Valid for up to one year on first issue, renewable. Issued without a labour market test. Introduced to support Albania’s growing remote worker community.

Unique Permit — Self-employment category

For foreign nationals establishing or operating a business in Albania. Requires prior registration at the National Business Centre (QKB) and obtaining a tax identification number (NIPT) before permit submission. Valid for the planned duration of the business, up to 3 years. Investors apply for a separate investor residence permit: 2 years initially, renewable for 3, with five Albanian employees required for each foreign national. Not applicable for standard employer-sponsored employment relationships; for engaging independent specialists without employing them, see contractor management.

Permanent Residency Permit

After 5 years: Available to foreign nationals who have resided lawfully and continuously in Albania for five years. The application must be submitted 60 days before the current permit expires and is decided within 60 days. Absences of up to 6 months at a time, totalling no more than 10 months over the five years, do not prevent approval.

How to get a Unique Permit in Albania: the full employer process

The process is employer-led from steps 1 through 3. The employee handles step 4 in person. Visa-exempt nationals (including US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens) skip step 3 and can apply for the Unique Permit during their lawful stay without a Type D visa. EU citizens follow the registration route instead.

1. Publish the vacancy for at least five calendar days through the employment services portal (where AKPA approval applies). The employer registers with AKPA and publishes the vacancy on the employment services portal for a minimum of five calendar days. AKPA confirms whether suitable local or priority candidates are available and whether the proposed pay, working hours and conditions comply with Albanian labour law. Not required for exempt nationalities or categories, or for renewals. Prerequisite for roles requiring AKPA approval — minimum 5 calendar days; the vacancy must be posted no more than 90 days before the approval request.
2. Prepare documentation and submit the Unique Permit application via e-Albania. The employer submits the complete Unique Permit application through the e-Albania portal (e-albania.al). All foreign documents must be translated into Albanian and notarised, and legalised or apostilled where required. The application package includes the employment contract or job offer compliant with the Albanian Labour Code, the employer’s details and good standing documents, the employee’s passport, proof of qualifications, and authorisation forms. AKPA responds within one working day. The fee for an employee Unique Permit is ALL 8,000 for up to one year, ALL 9,000 for up to two years and ALL 10,000 for up to three years. Digital submission — e-albania.al; filed by the employer, the employee, or a licensed private employment agency authorised by either.
3. Employee applies for a Type D visa via the e-visa portal (if required). Nationals of countries subject to Albania’s visa regime apply for a Type D long-stay visa through the official e-visa portal (e-visa.al) no more than 90 days before travel; the decision is made within 15 days, extendable to 30. The visa can be valid for one year, with a 90-day stay period, and allows the holder to enter Albania and apply for the Unique Permit. Visa-exempt nationals, including US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens, can enter visa-free and apply during their lawful stay without a Type D visa. Employee action — e-visa.al.
4. Employee registers in Albania and receives the residence card. The Unique Permit must be decided within 4 weeks of application, and an electronic provisional permit is issued once approved. The employee then registers at the local civil registry office within 30 days, which generates the personal identity number needed for payroll reporting, and pays for the biometric card. The card is issued within about two weeks. The employer must also declare the start of employment in the tax system, which notifies the migration and employment authorities automatically. In-person step — cannot be completed remotely.

Documents required for a Unique Permit application in Albania

Documents are required from both the employer and the employee. Documents marked as requiring translation must be translated into Albanian and notarised.

Employer documents

Employee documents

Unique Permit validity, renewal and lapse conditions in Albania

The Unique Permit is issued for the duration of the employment contract, for terms of 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 5 years, and is renewable. After five years of lawful, continuous residence, the holder may apply for permanent residency. Renewal applications are filed through e-Albania within the 60 days before the current permit expires; late applications risk processing gaps, fines, or denial. Renewals for the same employee do not require a new vacancy publication. The renewal fee is ALL 4,000.

Conditions under which a Unique Permit will lapse or be cancelled

• The permit term expires and has not been renewed before the expiry date
• The permit holder leaves Albania for more than six consecutive months
• The employee does not begin work within three months of the permit’s issue date
• The holder is absent from Albania for more than 180 uninterrupted days within one year of stay, unless posted abroad by the employer or absent for study, illness, childcare or military service
• The employment relationship ends and the holder remains unemployed for more than 3 months in a 12-month period (or more than 6 months for holders with three or more years of lawful work in Albania)
• The holder performs work other than the work for which the permit was issued

Why Unique Permit applications in Albania get rejected or delayed

• Vacancy not published on the employment services portal for at least five calendar days, where AKPA approval applies
• Documents requested by AKPA not submitted electronically within one week
• Qualification documents submitted without Albanian translation or notarisation
• Employment contract not compliant with the Albanian Labour Code on salary, working time, or termination conditions
• Employer has unpaid social security contributions, is in bankruptcy, or carries on no economic activity
• Employer refused to hire a suitable unemployed jobseeker referred by the employment office
• Application submitted via paper rather than through the e-Albania portal — all applications must be digital
• Foreign national starts work before the Unique Permit is issued
• Permit holder leaves Albania for more than six consecutive months — permit lapses
• Renewal application not filed before permit expiry — work cannot continue on an expired permit
• Proposed salary or working conditions below Albanian legal standards for the role

Albania Unique Permit — at a glance (2026)

Immigration and Employer of Record (EOR) Solutions in Albania

Acumen International provides a single, end-to-end process for bringing foreign talent into Albania and employing them legally without the need for your own local entity.

Immigration support is not offered as a standalone service, it is integrated with compliant, in-country employment through our Global EOR model.

1. Immigration assessment – We review the candidate’s nationality, role, qualifications, and proposed employment terms to determine the correct work permit and visa route under Albanian law.
2. Permit and visa sponsorship – Acting as the local employer of record, we apply for and sponsor the required work and residence permits, liaising with Albanian authorities and embassies as needed, as part of our Global Mobility solutions.
3. Documentation management – We prepare and submit all required employer and employee documents, including employment contracts, corporate registrations, qualifications, and supporting translations or notarisation.
4. Compliance-based employment – Once the permit is approved, we employ the expatriate under an Albanian-compliant contract, manage payroll, taxes and benefits, and handle all ongoing statutory filings.
5. Ongoing immigration support – We manage renewals, amendments, and dependent applications, ensuring continued compliance throughout the assignment.
6. Lawful termination or redeployment – At the end of the engagement, we handle lawful offboarding, deregistration, and, where relevant, repatriation or redeployment to another country via our 190+ country EOR network, supporting your wider global expansion.

This integrated approach reduces the risk of permit rejection, ensures the employee’s status is fully compliant from day one, and eliminates the delays often caused by splitting immigration and employment across different providers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the official minimum wage for an Albania Unique Permit in 2026?

As of 1 January 2026, the national minimum wage is ALL 50,000 gross per month, set by Council of Ministers Decision No. 776 of 19 December 2025. A foreign employee’s salary cannot be below this level, and AKPA checks that pay and conditions comply with Albanian labour law before approving employment.

Can we hire a US citizen without the labour market test?

Yes. Under Article 80 of Law No. 79/2021, US citizens and their family members are exempt from AKPA employment approval, so no vacancy publication is needed. US citizens may also stay in Albania for up to one year without a visa, but this is a right of stay, not a right to work: they still need a Unique Permit before starting work. On first application, US citizens receive a 5-year permit.

Is the labour market test required for highly qualified IT roles?

Not if the role qualifies for the AL Blue Card. For highly qualified workers, AKPA checks only that pay and conditions comply with Albanian law, and the permit is issued without regard to the labour market. The contract must set an average gross annual salary of at least the national average gross annual salary. The AL Blue Card is issued for 2 years and renewable for 3.

Official resources

• e-Albania portal
• e-Visa portal
• Visa regime for foreigners
• Law No. 79/2021 on Foreigners (consolidated with Law No. 43/2025)
• Procedures and documentation for residence and Unique Permits
• National Agency for Employment and Skills