Entry and short stays
Nationals of many countries, including EU member states, may enter Albania without a visa for stays of limited duration. A short stay allows non-work activity: visits, business meetings, site inspections. It does not allow stable working activity, which requires a different permission — a misunderstanding that causes trouble for people who start operating "temporarily".
Residence permit
Staying beyond the short-stay period requires a residence permit, granted on a qualifying ground: employment, business activity, study, family reunification. The application requires documentation of the ground, accommodation, health cover and proof of means of support. The permit is issued for a fixed term and is renewable.
Work permit
Working as a foreign national requires an authorisation, with different procedures by category: employee, company director or manager, self-employed, posted worker. Someone taking the role of director of their own Albanian company falls into a specific category, which is worth checking in advance.
Tax residence — the underestimated part
Tax residence is a separate layer from a residence permit and follows its own rules, driven mainly by time spent in the country and the centre of vital interests. Becoming tax resident in Albania affects the taxation of worldwide income and must be coordinated with the rules of the country of origin and the applicable double tax treaty. This is where do-it-yourself does the most damage.
The practical side
Relocating involves a sequence of operational steps worth ordering properly: a lease or property purchase, address registration, opening a personal bank account, enrolling in the health system, a driving licence, and schooling for children. Family reunification follows its own procedure, with accommodation and income requirements to document.
The regulatory, tax and macroeconomic figures on this page come from secondary sources and are being verified against the official sources cited. They are general information, not tax or legal advice.