Do you need a visa for Albania?
The official link goes to punetejashtme.gov.al. NUM isn’t a government agency or a visa service. Rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay or travel.
What your passport needs for Albania.
No visa for a short visit · 25
- American citizens
- Canadian citizens
- Mexican citizens
- Brazilian citizens
- British citizens
- Irish citizens
- German citizens
- French citizens
- Italian citizens
- Spanish citizens
- Dutch citizens
- Swiss citizens
- Turkish citizens
- Israeli citizens
- Emirati citizens
- Saudi citizens
- Chinese citizens
- Hong Kong citizens
- Taiwanese citizens
- Japanese citizens
- South Korean citizens
- Singaporean citizens
- Malaysian citizens
- Australian citizens
- New Zealand citizens
What Albania checks.
- Before you go. None. Albania is outside the EU and Schengen, so EES and ETIAS do not apply.
- Your passport. Visa-free visitors: valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure and issued within the previous 10 years (MFA). Visa holders: valid at least 3 months beyond the visa's expiry, with 2 blank pages (MFA). US State Dept says 3 months from arrival; FCDO 3 months after you leave. Passports reported lost or stolen are refused.
- Onward ticket. A return ticket may be requested at the border.
- Money for the stay. May be requested at the border. Indicative amount: ALL 5,000 per adult per day and ALL 2,500 per minor per day. The Chinese Embassy in Albania states the same rule as about EUR 50 per adult and EUR 25 per minor per day, in lek, convertible cash or a credit card with enough limit.
- Travel insurance. Not listed as an entry requirement by FCDO.
- Also. Dual British nationals returning to the UK must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement.
- Also. Visa-free entry for holders of a valid multiple-entry visa or residence permit of a Schengen state, an EU state, the US or the UK (the visa must already have been used to enter the issuing country): you must leave Albania at least 3 days before that visa or permit expires. Holders of a 10-year UAE residence permit with at least 1 year left also qualify. Iranian nationals are excluded and always need a visa.
The visitor visas for Albania.
| Visa | Who it’s for | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Short-stay visa (type C) / e-Visa | Nationals not visa-exempt who do not qualify for the Schengen/EU/US/UK visa or residence-permit exemption (Iranians always need a visa) | Up to 90 days in any 180; single, double or multiple entry, validity up to 5 years |
| Short-stay visa (business) or visa-free business visit | Visa-exempt visitors may make business trips within the 90/180 rule | Up to 90 days in 180 |
| Long-stay visa (type D) | Anyone planning to stay more than 90 days in 180 (except US citizens up to 1 year); required before applying for a residence permit | Over 90 days; leads to a residence permit |
| Unique Permit (residence + work) for employment | Foreign employees of Albanian employers | Usually 1 year, renewable |
| Unique Permit for digital nomads | Remote workers employed by or contracting for companies outside Albania | Up to 1 year, renewable (law allows up to 5 years in total) |
Data the moment you land in Albania
A NUM eSIM on One Albania, Vodafone: install on wifi before you go, switch it on when you land, keep your own number. Your NUM concierge comes with it.
Get my Albania eSIM All plans and networks
Prices on 4 Nov 2026; the shop shows today’s, and the price on the pay button is the price you pay. Full refund if we can’t issue it.
Recent and coming changes in Albania.
- 2026-04-15 — Temporary visa waiver: Saudi and Qatari nationals may enter visa-free for tourism from 15 Apr to 31 Dec 2026 with a valid passport.
- Coming 2026-12-31 — The temporary visa waiver for Saudi and Qatari nationals ends on 31 Dec 2026 unless extended.
How to spot a copycat visa site.
- Check the address. Albania’s official link on this page goes to punetejashtme.gov.al. Look-alike sites use similar names and flags.
- Compare the fee. If the price is far above the government fee, you’re paying a private service. It should say so plainly.
- Ignore “fast-track” upsells. Nobody outside the government can speed up or promise a decision.
The short answers.
Do I need a visa for Albania?
It depends on your passport. Of the 33 passports NUM checks, 25 need no visa for a short visit and 8 need a visa before travelling. Pick your passport on this page for the exact rule, the fee and the stay.
Does Albania have an eVisa?
Not for most visitors: 25 of the 33 passports NUM checks need no visa for a short visit. The rest apply for a visa before they travel, and the official site, punetejashtme.gov.al, says how.
How long must my passport be valid for Albania?
Visa-free visitors: valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure and issued within the previous 10 years (MFA). Visa holders: valid at least 3 months beyond the visa's expiry, with 2 blank pages (MFA). US State Dept says 3 months from arrival; FCDO 3 months after you leave. Passports reported lost or stolen are refused.
Does NUM issue Albania visas?
No. Only the government issues them. NUM isn’t a government agency or a visa service: it explains the rule for your passport and links the official site, free.
Need the rest? The full Albania entry requirements cover customs, vaccines, travelling with children and every passport in one table.