Albania business visa (visa C for business)

The same visa-free rules apply to business as to tourism: nationals listed as visa-free in Decision No. 858, nationals of countries visa-free for Schengen, and holders of a used multiple-entry Schengen, EU, US or UK visa or a residence permit of those states enter without an Albanian visa for up to 90 days in 180. Other nationals need a visa C for professional, commercial and business purposes. Iranian nationals always need a visa.

Under Article 80 of the Law on Foreigners, the following need no AKPA work approval for stays of up to one month within a year: people negotiating an agreement or looking after a stand at a fair, business visitors, aircraft crew, university staff and researchers under bilateral agreements, trainers under institutional cooperation and humanitarian staff under international programmes. Preparatory steps for opening a business are not considered work.

Longer professional stays use the Unique Permit for special categories: up to 60 days a year for auditors and consultants, artists, fair workers and staff installing or repairing machinery supplied by a foreign company, and up to 90 days a year for cross-border transport staff and business service providers who do not sell to the public and are not paid from Albania.

A business visa C application in e-Visa requires the general visa documents (online form, photo 47 x 36 mm, passport copy) plus an invitation signed by the Albanian host, with a copy of the host's ID or, for a foreign host, of the host's residence permit, and a document in English or Albanian proving the applicant's professional or commercial activity in their own country that is linked to the visit. Truck drivers also show the international transport licence, international vehicle registration and an international driving permit. A full 12-month bank statement can be added as evidence of funds.

The fee follows the nationality table annexed to Decision No. 858 (revised by Decision No. 329 of 29 May 2024): many countries pay between EUR 25 and EUR 100 depending on the number of entries, and the default is EUR 35 when no reciprocal amount is set. The application must be filed no earlier than 90 days before travel. After the consul's first check you receive a payment request; unpaid applications are refused after 15 days. The assessment then takes 15 working days as a rule and up to 30 in exceptional cases. Regular travellers who have used earlier visas lawfully can obtain multiple-entry visas valid for 1, 2 or 5 years.

Register your address with the local Border and Migration authority within 10 days of entry, or make sure your hotel or host does. Keep the invitation and proof of your company link with you, since border officers may ask for them on each entry. If your plans change into employment in Albania, you must apply for a Unique Permit; a visa C or visa-free stay cannot be converted into work authorisation.

Refusal grounds include an unjustified purpose, missing funds, earlier overstays, an entry ban or doubts about your return. Appeal within 5 working days to the Directorate for Consular Affairs of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; if the appeal fails you may reapply after three months. Fees are not refunded.