Albania · Work
Albania Employee permit
Single permit as employee (type D/PM visa)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Employee permit is a work route for Albania. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
The permit lasts for the work contract or offer and is renewed on application 60 days before expiry.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
You can apply for a permanent residence permit after 5 consecutive years of legal residence, with lawful income, health insurance, housing and taxes paid. Absences must stay under 6 months at a time and 10 months in total.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Enter on a long-stay type D visa, or visa-free where eligible, then apply for the residence permit within 30 days of entry.
Presence rulesAway max 6 months in a row
Absences from Albania over 6 consecutive months, or over 10 months in total within 5 years, break the residence period for permanent residence.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Albania
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- Applicant has an employment contract under the Albanian Labour Code, in Albanian.
Documents2
- Proof of professional skills such as a diploma or certificate, or a CV self-declaration.
- Health insurance, valid travel document and a clean criminal record certificate.
Steps3
- The worker, the employer or a licensed private employment agency applies online through e-Albania; the National Agency for Employment and Skills approves the employment first.
- Where a visa is needed, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs approves the visa after the employment approval.
- The law sets 4 weeks from the application to examine and issue the permit; Decision 858/2021 allows up to 12 weeks.
After you arrive1
- The permit is valid for the length of the work contract.
What happens at day 183
How Albania decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- More than 183 days in 365 daysStaying constantly or intermittently in Albania for more than 183 days in a period of 365 days makes a person a tax resident.
- Income tax
Albanian tax residents pay personal income tax on income from all sources; non-residents pay only on Albanian-source income.
All tax rules for Albania Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Health insurance, valid travel document and a clean criminal record certificate
- Police certificate and civil documents
Health insurance, valid travel document and a clean criminal record certificate
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Single residence and work permit for foreigners with a work contract with an Albanian employer, approved first by the National Agency for Employment and Skills. 1 2 3
Requirements
- Applicant has an employment contract under the Albanian Labour Code, in Albanian. 3
- Proof of professional skills such as a diploma or certificate, or a CV self-declaration. 3
- Health insurance, valid travel document and a clean criminal record certificate. 3
- The worker, the employer or a licensed private employment agency applies online through e-Albania; the National Agency for Employment and Skills approves the employment first. 1 3
- Where a visa is needed, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs approves the visa after the employment approval. 3
- The law sets 4 weeks from the application to examine and issue the permit; Decision 858/2021 allows up to 12 weeks. 1 3
- The permit is valid for the length of the work contract. 1 2
Stay
- Valid for the length of the work contract or offer.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Foreign nationals; visa-exempt nationals apply for the permit in Albania and others first need a type D visa.
Work
Work for the employer named in the permit; changes of employer or conditions need approval.
Family
Family reunification is possible once the holder has a permit valid for at least one year.
Official sources
- Law No. 79/2021 On Foreigners, updated text with Law No. 43/2025 · Albanian State Police, Border and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-06-26
- Law No. 79/2021 On Aliens, English translation · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2021-06-24
- Council of Ministers Decision No. 858/2021 on criteria, procedures and documents for entry and stay of foreigners, as amended · Albanian State Police, Border and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2021-12-29
Employee permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee permit | – | – | – |
| Researcher permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Blue Card | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Intra-company transfer | – | – | – |
| Seasonal work permit | – | 6 mo | Limited |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Employee permit?
Valid for the length of the work contract or offer.
Can I work on the Employee permit?
Work for the employer named in the permit; changes of employer or conditions need approval.
Can I bring my family on the Employee permit?
Family reunification is possible once the holder has a permit valid for at least one year.
Does the Employee permit lead to permanent residence in Albania?
Time on the Employee permit counts toward permanent residence in Albania, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Employee permit holders taxed in Albania?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Employee permit. The standard rules apply: Albanian tax residents pay personal income tax on income from all sources; non-residents pay only on Albanian-source income.
More in Albania
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Law No. 79/2021 On Foreigners, updated text with Law No. 43/2025 · Albanian State Police, Border and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-11
- Law No. 79/2021 On Aliens, English translation · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania · checked 2026-10-11
- Council of Ministers Decision No. 858/2021 on criteria, procedures and documents for entry and stay of foreigners, as amended · Albanian State Police, Border and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.