Albania: New Single Permit Available for Digital Nomads and Others

Key details of the new Unique Permit include the following:

• More eligible categories of applicants. The Unique Permit will be available to locally hired staff, intracompany transfers and highly qualified staff; self-employed persons, digital nomads, contractors and investors; job search or self-employment for students and researchers after finishing their studies or research in Albania; seasonal and cross-border workers; vocational training; retirees and real estate owners; as well as stateless persons, volunteers, au pairs and athletes, among other categories. Many of these categories were not previously eligible for immigration status in Albania.
  • • Digital nomads. Foreign nationals employed abroad can obtain a one-year permit for Digital Mobile Employees to reside in Albania while continuing their work abroad through information technology tools. The permit is renewable for two years, five years, and can then be changed to permanent residency. Applicants must have a valid home employment contract, sufficient income to support their stay and that of any dependents, health insurance, a clean criminal record, an Albanian bank account and local accommodation. Self-employed individuals can work remotely in Albania. However, permit holders can perform activities only for clients outside Albania.
    • Job search. Students and researchers finishing their studies or research in Albania can apply for a one-year job search permit to find employment or start self-employment, renewable once for six months. They must have an education level not above level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework.
• Application process. The application will be filed to a single authority, where currently employment-based residence requires separate applications to the Labour Office and Border and Migration Police. Ministerial decrees are required to establish the new application process in more detail. Visa nationals requiring a long-term entry visa will still be required to obtain an e-visa on a separate portal.
• Expanded labor market test. The existing labor market test, required for locally hired foreign nationals, will be expanded to include a check on quota spots or quota exemption, and a check on whether the foreign national’s employment conditions (salary, working hours and other working conditions) meet local standards. Employment-related applications under the Unique Permit will require preliminary employment approval before proceeding to the single permit application.
  • • Exemptions Under the new law, the following categories will be exempt from labor market testing (but subject to a quota and employment condition check): highly qualified employees (not yet defined), digital nomads, graduates from an Albania-accredited university, vocational trainees, those working under international or intra-governmental agreements, and spouses of Albanian nationals resident in Albania.
• Processing time. Government issuance of a Unique Permit is expected to take approximately four to 12 weeks from the date of application, slightly faster than the current six to 12 weeks. The permit can be issued for one year.
• Expanded online application system. Additionally, the new law formalizes the online visa application process and digital visa issuance which was implemented during the pandemic. Online visa applications and e-visa issuance are now incorporated into the standard immigration process.

The introduction of the Unique Permit will significantly decrease processing times to obtain a work and residence permit. Additionally, the expanded eligibility for residence permits and online visa improvements will add additional flexibility to immigration processes.

The Unique Permit was introduced to align Albanian immigration legislation with EU legislation, specifically the EU Single Permit project, as part of the accession process to become an EU Member State. By including a unique range of eligible applicants, Albania is creating diverse and attractive options for foreign talent.

Ministerial decrees are required for most elements of the new law to take effect, and are expected to be published by mid-2022.