Albania · Student
Albania Student permit
First stay: 1 yr
Residence permit for students (type D visa)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student permit is a student route for Albania. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- First stay
- 1 yr
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
The permit is renewed yearly until studies end.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Time spent in Albania for study or vocational training counts as half toward the 5 years needed for a permanent residence permit.
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.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a place at a school or university in Albania
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- Applicant is admitted to a recognised public or private educational institution in Albania.
What you must show1
- Enough funds to cover living costs during the stay.
Documents2
- Admission letter, proof of knowledge of the teaching language or admission to a preparatory language course, and proof the tuition fees were paid.
- Health insurance, valid travel document and a clean criminal record certificate.
After you arrive3
- Renewal requires proof of study progress.
- After the first year of study the student may work up to 15 hours a week, or the equivalent per day or month in a year, outside study time without National Agency for Employment and Skills authorisation.
- After the studies, students up to EQF level 7 can stay at least nine months to look for work or start a business.
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 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
Residence permit for foreigners admitted to a recognised Albanian school or university, renewed yearly until studies end. 1 2 3
Requirements
- Applicant is admitted to a recognised public or private educational institution in Albania. 2 3
- Enough funds to cover living costs during the stay. 2 3
- Admission letter, proof of knowledge of the teaching language or admission to a preparatory language course, and proof the tuition fees were paid. 3
- Health insurance, valid travel document and a clean criminal record certificate. 3
- Renewal requires proof of study progress. 2
- After the first year of study the student may work up to 15 hours a week, or the equivalent per day or month in a year, outside study time without National Agency for Employment and Skills authorisation. 2
- After the studies, students up to EQF level 7 can stay at least nine months to look for work or start a business. 1
Stay
- First permit valid for up to one year; renewable yearly until studies end. Students in EU or multilateral mobility programmes get a two-year permit.
- 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
After the first year of study, work up to 15 hours a week outside study time.
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
Student permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Student permit Portugal | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 3 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Internship permit Spain | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| D3 study visa Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| Student visa Italy | Needs savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k | – | Yes |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Student permit?
First permit valid for up to one year; renewable yearly until studies end.
Can I work on the Student permit?
After the first year of study, work up to 15 hours a week outside study time.
Can I bring my family on the Student permit?
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 Student permit lead to permanent residence in Albania?
Time on the Student permit counts toward permanent residence in Albania, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Student permit holders taxed in Albania?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student 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
Study 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.