Albania digital nomad visa (Unique Permit for digital mobile workers)

The law defines digital mobile workers as foreigners who work in different places rather than in an office or company seat, mainly using information technology. Article 68 requires a valid employment contract with an employer abroad, or a service contract with a contractor or client abroad, showing that you will do specific jobs without a fixed workplace; sufficient income for you and your dependants; proof of accommodation and an address in Albania; a health insurance policy valid for at least one year; and a criminal record certificate from your country of origin and your country of residence.

Digital mobile workers are among the groups that receive the Unique Permit regardless of the labour market (Article 77) and are not on the list of categories that need AKPA approval, so there is no vacancy test. The permit does not allow you to take a job with an Albanian employer.

e-Albania lists for this category: a copy of the travel document; a photo of 47 x 36 mm; proof of accommodation that meets Albanian housing standards; the employment contract with the foreign entity, apostilled, translated and notarised, stating employment without a fixed seat, the position, salary and duration; proof of professional qualification matching the contract; the Albanian bank evidence of salary transfer; health insurance in Albania; and a criminal record certificate from the country of origin issued within the last six months, legalised, translated and notarised, required for the first application only. For the D/LD visa, e-Visa asks for the contract, accommodation document and, optionally, proof of professional activity and a 12-month bank statement; no invitation is needed.

Decision No. 858 sets the financial threshold at no less than ALL 408,000, declared on the bilingual self-declaration form in Annex 10, which also covers the contract and accommodation. e-Albania additionally asks for evidence from a second-level bank in Albania that the salary set in the contract is transferred there, and for proof of health insurance in Albania. The original documents behind the self-declarations must be filed with the local border and migration office within 30 days after the permit is approved.

You file the "Application for Unique Permit" on e-Albania, choose the digital nomad reason and, if your nationality needs a visa, the D/LD visa subcategory, then download the payment order and pay at a bank. Deficiencies are notified within 5 days and must be fixed within 30 days. As no AKPA approval is needed, the file goes to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for the visa where required and then to the Border and Migration authority. The whole procedure is limited to 12 weeks. After entering Albania the permit is generated with an electronic stamp and you apply for the biometric card at the regional migration office.

Register your address with the civil registry office within 30 days of receiving the permit card; otherwise the permit is cancelled. With a permit of at least one year you become a temporary resident once registered. Report any change of address. Absence from Albania for more than 180 days within a year is a ground for cancelling a Unique Permit unless one of the listed reasons applies.

Renewal is requested on e-Albania through "Application for renewal of Unique Permit", which covers the digital nomad reason, with updated documents; the general rule is to apply within 60 days before expiry. The criminal record is required only for the first application. A permit valid for at least one year lets you apply for family reunification for your spouse or partner and children, provided you have accommodation, health insurance and stable income for the family.

A visa refusal is appealed within 5 working days to the Directorate for Consular Affairs. A refusal or cancellation of the Unique Permit is appealed administratively to the authority above the one that decided; the appeal is decided within 30 days and can then be taken to the administrative court.