Visa policy of Albania

Visa policy of Albania

Entry stamp of Albania

Visitors to Albania must obtain a visa from one of the Albanian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or are qualified for visa-free entry.^[1][2]

Entering with a passport is required. Citizens from certain countries or territories, however, are eligible for visa-free travel with only their ID cards in lieu of their passports.^[3] Passports must be valid for at least 3 months from the date of arrival.^[4]

Visa policy of Albania is based on the Law No. 108/13 "On foreigners" and the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 513/13 "On the treatment of foreigners".

Visa-free access

Holders of passports (or in certain cases ID cards) of the following 78 jurisdictions can enter Albania without a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days (unless otherwise noted):^[5][1]

All European Union citizens^1  Andorra  Antigua and Barbuda^2 ^3  Argentina  Armenia^2  Australia  Azerbaijan^2  Bahamas^2 ^3  Barbados^2 ^3  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Brazil  Brunei^2 ^3  Canada  Chile  Costa Rica^2 ^3  El Salvador^2 ^3  Guatemala^2 ^3  Holy See  Honduras^2 ^3  Hong Kong^1 ^2  Iceland^1  Israel  Japan  Kazakhstan ^1 ^2  Kosovo^1  Kuwait^2  Liechtenstein^1

Macau^2 ^3  Macedonia^1  Malaysia  Mauritius^2 ^3  Mexico^2 ^3  Moldova^2 ^3  Monaco^1  Montenegro^1  New Zealand  Nicaragua^2 ^3  Norway^1  Panama^2 ^3  Paraguay^2 ^3  Saint Kitts and Nevis^2 ^3  San Marino  Serbia  Seychelles^2 ^3  Singapore^1  South Korea^1   Switzerland^1  Taiwan  Turkey^2  Ukraine^2  United Arab Emirates^2  United States^4  Uruguay^2 ^3  Venezuela^2 ^3

_{1 - may enter using the national ID card.
2 - citizens of these countries or territories staying for more than 90 days within the period of six months are required to obtain a type "D" visa.
3 - countries whose citizens can enter without visas due to the "visa liberalization with the Schengen area".
4 - allowed to stay for 1 year without a visa.}

Substitute visas

Any visitor who holds a valid, multiple entry and previously used visa issued by a Schengen area country, United States, or the United Kingdom can enter Albania without a visa for 90 days. Visa must have been used at least once before arrival to Albania. The visa exemption also applies to valid Green Card holders, holders of resident permits issued by a Schengen country, or holders of refugee and stateless travel documents issued by an EU or EFTA member state.^[1]

Visitors of Albanian ethnicity do not require visa to enter Albania for a maximum stay of 90 days within 180 days.

Non-ordinary passports

Additionally, only holders of diplomatic or service passports of Algeria, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Russia, South Africa and Vietnam do not require a visa to visit Albania.^[1]

Visa application

Citizens of the countries requiring visas should apply at the following diplomatic missions of Albania (citizens of countries without an assigned embassy should contact the geographically nearest diplomatic mission):^[6]

• Abu Dhabi: Oman, Yemen
• Ankara: Afghanistan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
• Beijing: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
• Brasilia: Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Haiti, Peru, Suriname
• Bucharest: Liberia, Morocco, Palestine
• Cairo: Cameroon, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Doha: Bahrain, Qatar
• Istanbul: Afghanistan, Congo, Georgia, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• London: Belize, Fiji, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Maldives, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago
• Madrid: Gibraltar, Peru
• Moscow: Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
• New York City: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica
• Paris: Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Morocco, Senegal
• Riyadh: Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Yemen
• Rome: Angola, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Mali, South Africa
• Sofia: Cuba, North Korea
• Tokyo: Fiji
• Warsaw: Belarus

See also

• Visa requirements for Albanian citizens

References

1. "Visa Information". Timatic. IATA. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
2. US Department of State - Country Information for Albania - Entry Requirements
3. "Citizens of whom countries enter at the Republic of Albania without a visa and documents they should travel" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Albania). Retrieved 5 May 2014.
5. Who can enter Albania without a Visa

External links

• Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Visa regime for foreign citizens