--- title: "Moving to Albania 2026: visas, requirements and tax" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- The bay of Porto Palermo on the Albanian Riviera # 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/digital-nomad/). Smallest investment: [Strategic investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/strategic-investor-permanent/), from €1M ≈ $1.1M. Checked against official sources on 12 October 2026. **Nomad visa:** **1** Digital nomad permit **Smallest investment needed:** **from €1M ≈ $1.1M** Strategic investor residence **Longest first stay:** **3 years** Self-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 employers investors and property owners pensioners with income from abroad self-employed people starting a business skilled employees and researchers ## Nomad / Remote work · 1 ### [Digital nomad permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/digital-nomad/) **First stay:** 1 yr Can work: limited Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/digital-nomad/) ## Investing · 3 ### [Strategic investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/strategic-investor-permanent/) **Investment needed:** from €1M ≈ $1.1M [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/strategic-investor-permanent/) ### [Investor permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/investor/) **First stay:** 2 yrs [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/investor/) ### [Property owner permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/property-owner/) **Income needed:** ALL 32k+ a month ≈ $390 Stay 1 yr, renewable Needs money in the bank [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/property-owner/) ## Retire or live on savings · 1 ### [Pensioner permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/pensioner/) **Income needed:** ALL 1.2M+ a year ≈ $15k Stay 1 yr, renewable Can't work Retirement [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/pensioner/) ## Business / Startup · 1 ### [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/self-employed/) **Savings needed:** ALL 500k+ ≈ $6,100 Stay 3 yrs, renewable Can work: yes [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/self-employed/) ## Work · 4 - [Researcher permit **First stay:** 1 yr](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/researcher/) - [Employee permit –](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/employee/) - [Blue Card **First stay:** 2 yrs](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/blue-card/) - [Intra-company transfer –](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/ict/) ## Student · 1 ### [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/student/) **First stay:** 1 yr Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/student/) ## Spouse visas · 2 For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident. ### [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) **First stay:** 1 yr Can't work Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) ### [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/spouse-of-citizen/) **First stay:** 1 yr Needs health cover [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/spouse-of-citizen/) **Free movement and visa-free stays · 2** - **[Open Balkan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/free-movement-open-balkan/)** · Lets you live here Open to 2 passports: [North Macedonia](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/north-macedonia/), [Serbia](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/serbia/). - **[Visa-free stay (12 months)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/visa-free-365d/)** · Up to 12 months without a visa Work not allowed Open to 1 passport: [United States](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/united-states/). [Where each passport can live without a visa →](https://settleanywhere.com/passports/) ## 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/tax/#tax-al-pit-ordinary) **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 11 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/tax/) Checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) **Shorter stays · 1** Work ### [Seasonal work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/seasonal-worker/) **First stay:** 6 mo Can work: limited [Details](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/seasonal-worker/) **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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/digital-nomad/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/strategic-investor-permanent/) asks for an investment from EUR 1,000,000 (≈ $1,120,000). [Investor permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/investor/) gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. [Property owner permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/property-owner/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/pensioner/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/self-employed/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/researcher/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/blue-card/) gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. There is also [Employee permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/employee/). ### How do I get a student visa for Albania? Albania has 1 student visa. [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/student/) 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/spouse-of-citizen/) gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. ## Compare with [🇵🇹 Portugal](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/) [🇪🇸 Spain](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/) [🇬🇪 Georgia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/) [🇮🇹 Italy](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/) [🇬🇷 Greece](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/) [🇩🇪 Germany](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/) [🇫🇷 France](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/) [🇬🇧 United Kingdom](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.