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The bay of Porto Palermo on the Albanian Riviera
The bay of Porto Palermo on the Albanian RivieraPhoto: Mario Gjashta · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Moving to Albania

13 ways to move to Albania in our guide: 1 nomad / remote-work visa, 3 investor routes, 1 pay-to-stay route, 1 business / startup route, 4 work visas, 1 student visa, 2 spouse visas.

Remote workers: Digital nomad permit. Smallest investment: Strategic investor residence, from €1M ≈ $1.1M. Checked against official sources on .

Nomad visa1Digital nomad permit
Smallest investment neededfrom €1M ≈ $1.1MStrategic investor residence
Longest first stay3 yearsSelf-employed permit

Albania offers a mix of residence routes for people who can support themselves or bring something to the economy. The rules are set out in law, and each route has its own conditions and paperwork.

remote workers with foreign clients or employersinvestors and property ownerspensioners with income from abroadself-employed people starting a businessskilled employees and researchers
Quick match

Nomad / Remote work · 1

Investing · 3

Retire or live on savings · 1

Business / Startup · 1

Work · 4

Student · 1

Spouse visas · 2

For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident.

Free movement and visa-free stays · 2

Where each passport can live without a visa →

Tax

Albanian tax residents pay personal income tax on income from all sources, while non-residents pay only on Albanian-source income. Fiscal residence is decided by the tax authority's tests, not by your immigration permit, and residents register for a fiscal code. Employment income is taxed on a monthly scale, with withholding on dividends and certain other payments.

Standard rules

Personal income tax: residents taxed on worldwide income

Details
  • On: Employment income is withheld monthly on gross pay: 0% up to ALL 40,000 (≈ $490)
  • Limit: ALL 40k/mo ≈ $490

Albanian tax residents pay personal income tax on income from all sources; non-residents pay only on Albanian-source income.

Taxed on

Employment income is withheld monthly on gross pay: 0% up to ALL 40,000 (≈ $490); for ALL 40,001 (≈ $490) to ALL 50,000, (≈ $610) 50% of 13% of the amount above ALL 30,000 (≈ $370); above ALL 50,000, (≈ $610) 13% of the amount above ALL 30,000 (≈ $370) up to ALL 200,000, (≈ $2,440) and ALL 22,100 (≈ $270) plus 23% of the amount above ALL 200,000 (≈ $2,440). Dividends and profit distributions bear 8% withholding; interest, royalties, technical, management, consultancy, financial and insurance service fees, rent and some other payments bear 15% withholding.

Who it applies to

  • A person is resident if they have a residence in Albania under the Civil Code, hold Albanian citizenship with a diplomatic or similar function abroad, or stay in Albania for more than 183 days in a 365-day period.
  • Residents are taxed on income from sources in Albania and abroad.

Exclusions

  • A person who meets none of the residence conditions is a non-resident taxed only on Albanian-source income.

Limits

  • ALL 40,000 a month (≈ $490) · Monthly salary up to which no tax is withheld
  • ALL 200,000 a month (≈ $2,440) · Monthly taxable income above which the 23% rate applies

Days in the country

  • More than 183 days in 365 days · Staying constantly or intermittently in Albania for more than 183 days in a period of 365 days makes a person a tax resident.

Tax residence

Fiscal residence follows the tax authority tests, not the immigration permit; residents are registered with a fiscal code.

Visas

Immigration status does not decide tax residence.

Other taxes

Social security and health contributions are calculated on gross monthly pay between the minimum wage of ALL 50,000 (≈ $610) and a maximum of ALL 186,416 (≈ $2,280) from 1 January 2026.

Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log

Full page →

Checked against official sources on Change log

Albania in pictures

Berat, the town of a thousand windows
Berat, the town of a thousand windowsPhoto: Pudelek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Theth church below the peaks of the Accursed Mountains
Theth church below the peaks of the Accursed MountainsPhoto: Liridon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
A path down to Gjipe beach on the Albanian Riviera
A path down to Gjipe beach on the Albanian RivieraPhoto: Pudelek · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The Roman theatre at Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Roman theatre at Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage SitePhoto: Marcin Konsek · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

All photo credits

Shorter stays · 1
Path to permanent residence · 2
  • PR after 10 years · Permanent residence for strategic investors
  • PR after 5 years · Permanent residence permit (type C)

Arriving in Albania: first steps

  1. Arrange health insurance that meets the route's requirement before or soon after arrival.
  2. Have a valid travel document and, where required, a criminal record certificate from your country of origin and residence.
  3. Secure suitable accommodation and keep proof, such as a lease or ownership document, for the application.
  4. Register with the tax authority to obtain a fiscal code if you will have tax matters in Albania.
  5. Open a local bank account if your route requires proof of funds held in Albania.
  6. Follow the application steps through e-Albania or the competent authority, and keep copies of every submission.

Questions people ask

What is the Albania digital nomad visa income requirement in 2026?

Albania has 1 nomad or remote-work visa. Digital nomad permit gives a first stay of 1 year.

How much do you need to invest for residency in Albania?

Albania has 3 investor routes. Strategic investor residence asks for an investment from EUR 1,000,000 (≈ $1,120,000). Investor permit gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. Property owner permit asks for an income of at least ALL 32,000 a month (≈ $390) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

Can I retire or live in Albania on my savings or pension?

Albania has 1 retirement or pay-to-stay route. Pensioner permit asks for an income of at least ALL 1,200,000 a year (≈ $14,700) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

Can I move to Albania by starting a business?

Albania has 1 business or startup route. Self-employed permit asks for savings of at least ALL 500,000 (≈ $6,100) and gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed.

What work visas does Albania offer foreigners?

Albania has 4 work visas. Researcher permit gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. Blue Card gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. There is also Employee permit.

How do I get a student visa for Albania?

Albania has 1 student visa. Student permit gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

Can I join my spouse or partner in Albania?

Yes. Albania has 2 spouse visas. Spouse of a resident gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. Spouse of a citizen gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

Compare with

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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about Albania AI

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