--- title: "Albania Pensioner permit 2026: income ALL 1.2M+/yr needed" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/pensioner/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Albania · Retire or live on savings # Albania Pensioner permit **Income needed:** ALL 1.2M+ a year ≈ $15k Residence permit for pensioners (type D/P visa) Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Income needed:** ALL 1.2M+ a year ≈ $15k (Income of at least ALL 1,200,000 a year (≈ $14,700) · Minimum annual pension income from the country of origin, shown by a pension certificate.) - **First stay:** 1 yr (First permit valid for up to one year; renewable every year.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport (Foreign nationals; visa-exempt nationals apply for the permit in Albania and others first need a type D visa.) - **Work:** No (No economic or professional activity allowed.) ## Key facts Pensioner permit is a retire or live on savings route for Albania. Applicants need income of ALL 1.2M+ a year ≈ $15k. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Money needed:** ALL 1.2M+ a year ≈ $15k - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term **Shown, not spent: ALL 1.2M+/yr ≈ $15k** - ALL 1,200,000 a year (≈ $14,700) Minimum annual pension income from the country of origin, shown by a pension certificate. **Renewal: Renewable** The permit is valid for up to one year and renewable every year. [Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania](https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligj-per-te-Huajt-%E2%80%93-nr.-79.2021_English.pdf) **Permanent residence: After 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. [Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania](https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligj-per-te-Huajt-%E2%80%93-nr.-79.2021_English.pdf) **Where to apply: Abroad 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. [Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania](https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligj-per-te-Huajt-%E2%80%93-nr.-79.2021_English.pdf) **Presence rules: Away 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. [Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania](https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligj-per-te-Huajt-%E2%80%93-nr.-79.2021_English.pdf) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Work isn't allowed on this route ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - Applicant is retired in the home country and receives a pension from abroad. - Applicant stays legally in Albania when applying for the first permit. #### What you must show - Annual pension income of at least ALL 1,200,000, (≈ $14,700) shown by a pension certificate. #### Documents - Pension document from the country of origin or residence. #### After you arrive - The permit renews every year while the conditions are met. - The permit gives no right to any economic or professional activity in Albania. ## What happens at day 183 How Albania decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 1 year at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **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. - **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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/tax/) Tax records checked 11 Oct 2026 **Full official text** One-year renewable residence permit for foreign pensioners with a minimum annual pension income, without the right to work. (sources 1, 2) #### What you must show - Income of at least ALL 1,200,000 a year (≈ $14,700) · Minimum annual pension income from the country of origin, shown by a pension certificate. (source 2) #### Requirements - Applicant is retired in the home country and receives a pension from abroad. (source 1) - Applicant stays legally in Albania when applying for the first permit. (source 1) - Annual pension income of at least ALL 1,200,000, (≈ $14,700) shown by a pension certificate. (source 2) - Pension document from the country of origin or residence. (source 2) - The permit renews every year while the conditions are met. (source 1) - The permit gives no right to any economic or professional activity in Albania. (source 1) #### Stay - First permit valid for up to one year; renewable every year. - First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case. - 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 No economic or professional activity allowed. #### Family The holder may request family reunification for a spouse or partner who is not retired. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [Law No. 79/2021 On Foreigners, updated text with Law No. 43/2025](https://asp.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ligj-PER-TE-HUAJT-2021-06-24-79-perditesuar-2025-PDF.pdf) · Albanian State Police, Border and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-06-26 2. [Council of Ministers Decision No. 858/2021 on criteria, procedures and documents for entry and stay of foreigners, as amended](https://asp.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2-vendim-2021-12-29-858-iperditesuar-LEJE-QENDRIMI-DOKUMENTACION-1.docx) · Albanian State Police, Border and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2021-12-29 3. [Law No. 79/2021 On Aliens, English translation](https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligj-per-te-Huajt-%E2%80%93-nr.-79.2021_English.pdf) · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2021-06-24 ## Pensioner permit and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Pensioner permit | Needs income of ALL 1.2M+ a year ≈ $15k | 1 yr, renewable | No | | [D7 passive income visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/retirement-own-income-visa/) Portugal | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Non-lucrative visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/nonlucrative-residence/) Spain | Needs income of €2,400+ a month ≈ $2,680 | 1 yr, renewable | No | | [Elective residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/elective-residence/) Italy | Needs income of €31k+ a year ≈ $35k | – | No | | [Independent means permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/financially-independent-residence/) Greece | Needs income of €3,500+ a month ≈ $3,910 | 3 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Pensioner permit? Income of at least ALL 1,200,000 a year (≈ $14,700). Minimum annual pension income from the country of origin, shown by a pension certificate. ### How long can I stay on the Pensioner permit? First permit valid for up to one year; renewable every year. ### Can I work on the Pensioner permit? No. No economic or professional activity allowed. ### Can I bring my family on the Pensioner permit? The holder may request family reunification for a spouse or partner who is not retired. ### Does the Pensioner permit lead to permanent residence in Albania? Time on the Pensioner permit counts toward permanent residence in Albania, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. ### How are Pensioner permit holders taxed in Albania? No special regime in our records is tied to the Pensioner 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 [Digital nomad permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/digital-nomad/) [Strategic investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/strategic-investor-permanent/) [Investor permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/investor/) [Property owner permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/property-owner/) [Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/self-employed/) [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/researcher/) [Employee permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/employee/) [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/albania/blue-card/) ## Retirement and live-on-savings visas elsewhere [🇫🇷 Visitor card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/visitor-card/) [🇨🇾 Retiree on foreign income](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/category-f-retirement/) [🇲🇹 Retirement Programme](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malta/retirement-programme/) [🇧🇬 Pensioner residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/bulgaria/retirement-pensioner/) [🇦🇹 Financially independent permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/settlement-no-gainful-employment/) [🇮🇪 Retirement / Stamp 0](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/retirement-stamp-0/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 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. 1. [Law No. 79/2021 On Foreigners, updated text with Law No. 43/2025](https://asp.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ligj-PER-TE-HUAJT-2021-06-24-79-perditesuar-2025-PDF.pdf) · Albanian State Police, Border and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Council of Ministers Decision No. 858/2021 on criteria, procedures and documents for entry and stay of foreigners, as amended](https://asp.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2-vendim-2021-12-29-858-iperditesuar-LEJE-QENDRIMI-DOKUMENTACION-1.docx) · Albanian State Police, Border and Migration Department · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Law No. 79/2021 On Aliens, English translation](https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligj-per-te-Huajt-%E2%80%93-nr.-79.2021_English.pdf) · Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.