Albania · Spouse visas
Albania Spouse of a resident
First stay: 1 yr
Family reunification with a foreign resident
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a resident is a spouse visas route for Albania. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- First stay
- 1 yr
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
The first permit is for one year and can be renewed.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
After 5 consecutive years on a family reunification permit the spouse or adult child can apply for an autonomous residence permit, and can also apply for permanent residence after 5 years of legal residence.
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.
- Work isn't allowed on this route
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The sponsor holds a residence permit valid for at least one year and can renew it.
- The family members are outside Albania when the request is filed, except on humanitarian grounds.
What you must show1
- The sponsor shows stable income to support the family without social assistance.
Documents2
- Copy of the sponsor's residence permit, family or marriage certificate and health insurance for the family.
- Proof of housing in normal living conditions.
After you arrive1
- The permit is first issued for one year and is renewable.
What happens at day 183
How Albania decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
1 year at first, renewable
- 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
Copy of the sponsor's residence permit, family or marriage certificate and health insurance for the family
- Accommodation
Proof of housing in normal living conditions
- Police certificate and civil documents
Copy of the sponsor's residence permit, family or marriage certificate and health insurance for the family
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence permit for family members of a foreigner with a residence permit valid for at least one year in Albania. 1 2 3
Requirements
- The sponsor holds a residence permit valid for at least one year and can renew it. 1 2
- The family members are outside Albania when the request is filed, except on humanitarian grounds. 1 2
- The sponsor shows stable income to support the family without social assistance. 1 3
- Copy of the sponsor's residence permit, family or marriage certificate and health insurance for the family. 3
- Proof of housing in normal living conditions. 1
- The permit is first issued for one year and is renewable. 2
Stay
- First permit valid for one year; renewable.
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- 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
The holder may pursue an economic activity without prior National Agency for Employment and Skills authorisation, unless a law prohibits it.
Family
A permit holder whose permit is valid for at least one year can request family reunification with family members outside Albania, with suitable housing, social insurance and stable income; unmarried children can apply up to age 30.
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
Spouse of a resident and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a resident | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| Spouse of a citizen | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Portugal | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a resident Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a resident Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a resident?
First permit valid for one year; renewable.
Can I work on the Spouse of a resident?
No. The holder may pursue an economic activity without prior National Agency for Employment and Skills authorisation, unless a law prohibits it.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a resident?
A permit holder whose permit is valid for at least one year can request family reunification with family members outside Albania, with suitable housing, social insurance and stable income; unmarried children can apply up to age 30.
Does the Spouse of a resident lead to permanent residence in Albania?
Time on the Spouse of a resident counts toward permanent residence in Albania, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Spouse of a resident holders taxed in Albania?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a resident. 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
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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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.