Albania: visa application for Russians in 2021

At what time of year and for whom is the visa-free regime valid?

So, the answer to the question whether Russians need a visa to Albania depends on exactly when the traveler is going there. Since 2009, the authorities of the Balkan state have opened the possibility of visa-free entry for the population of the Russian Federation. This is done to stimulate tourism.

The period during which you are allowed to cross Albanian borders without a visa varies slightly each year. In 2019, visa-free travel is valid from April 1 to October 31.

Visa-free travel is allowed only for tourist and private trips. The maximum period of stay is 90 days. There are no other restrictions for those arriving in Albania without a visa.

Holidays in Albania within the framework of a “visa-free” visa are also allowed to citizens of the Republic of Belarus. In similar terms and on the same conditions as for Russians.

Albania visa-free regime for Russians and Ukrainians in 2021

The need and procedure for obtaining a visa to Albania for citizens of different countries is determined annually. From April 1 to December 31, 2021, a visa to Albania is no longer required for Russians.

Entry rules for Russians

The period of visa-free entry into Albania for Russians changes annually.

This year, a visa-free regime was introduced for the period until December 31 of the year. At this time, Russians do not need a visa; the Albanian government has again introduced the possibility of visa-free entry into the country for this period.

Albanian visa sample

Validity period of the passport

For visa-free entry in the summer, Russians needed to have a foreign passport with a validity of at least 3 months after the expiration of the visa and a return ticket.

Medical insurance

Tourists are also required to have an insurance policy and a paid hotel reservation.

Insurance can be purchased online within 5 minutes. You can compare prices from all insurance companies and choose the most profitable option on the Cherehapa.ru service.

Is it possible to travel to Albania with a Schengen visa?

Holders of multiple entry visas for the Schengen area, the United States of America, Northern Ireland and England do not need a national visa for tourism and transit. In this case, the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months.

Russian citizens with a Schengen visa can enter Albania during the winter period, when the visa-free entry permit is no longer valid.

Detailed map of Albania

Note: these visas must be used at least once for their intended purpose, that is, to enter the EU countries, the USA, Northern Ireland and England.

Citizens of more than 60 countries will not need a visa in 2021, including Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Entry rules for Ukrainians

For Ukrainians in 2021, a visa will not be required at all. In this case, the period of stay in the country should not exceed 90 days in 180 days.

The main thing is to have a foreign passport, the expiration date of which is at least 3 months after the expiration of the visa. Upon entry, a Ukrainian is given a stamp at the airport indicating the date of entry.

Do Russians need a visa to Albania when traveling outside the visa-free period?

With the exception of 7 “visa-free” months, visitors from Russia absolutely need a visa to Albania. Only holders of diplomatic and service passports are exempt from this requirement. They can stay in the country for up to 3 months even during the “visa” season.

In addition, a visa to Albania will be required in case of a visit not related to tourism or private purposes. For example, for employment or admission to study. Even if the duration of such trips falls within the specified 7 months, they do not fall under the conditions of “visa-free travel”.

How to get a visa to Albania?

A visa to visit Albania in the autumn-winter period must be obtained through the embassy.
Photo taken from forum.awd.ru Before getting a visa to Albania, you need to go to the consulate. You must take the following documents with you:

1. An original passport that allows you to travel abroad, the validity of which does not expire from the moment you return from Albania for another six months. You should prepare a scanned version of the 1st page of the document.
2. A completed application form signed by the applicant, the document can be either downloaded on the Internet or taken directly from the consulate.
3. One color photograph, size 47 x 36 mm. The photo cannot be processed in Photoshop.
4. A document confirming the reservation of a hotel, apartment, or invitation from a travel agency or private individual.
5. Notification from the place of work, which is issued on the company’s letterhead and signed by the manager. It indicates the person’s position and his salary. The company seal must be affixed.
6. Material confirmation of financial capabilities (a bank account statement will do). For each day you will need 50 €.
7. A scanned version of the issued medical insurance, which is provided for the entire period of stay in the state.

Application form for a visa to Albania (One Download) Sample of filling out an application form for a visa to Albania (185 Downloads)
Citizens who do not officially work must attach a certificate from their spouse’s place of work to the above-mentioned documents. Attach a photocopied copy of the marriage certificate.

Pensioners provide a scanned version of the pension certificate, a letter that is filled out by the sponsor. Students traveling to Albania for admission or for other purposes take notifications from the place of study with them. Attached is a letter and a scanned version of your student ID.

When going to Albania for treatment, the medical institution must send confirmation of the upcoming.

Women who are going to apply for a fiancé visa must provide an additional package of documents. Availability is important:

• official confirmation of no criminal record;
• notifications about the absence of marital relations with a Russian citizen;
• certificate with date of birth;
• invitation written by the groom from Albania;
• medical insurance for six months or a year;
• copies of the future husband's passport in color.

It is important to know! If you collect all the necessary documents and fill out the application correctly, there will be no problems obtaining a visa.

An Albanian visa can be obtained at the consular section of the embassy or at visa centers.

What visa is required to visit Albania?

Entry into the republic is allowed with the following valid documents:

1. Albanian C visa issued at the consulate before traveling to Albania.
2. Multiple entry Schengen, which can be obtained at the diplomatic mission or visa center of any state in the Schengen area. The multiple visa must already be used to enter Schengen.
3. Residence permit in one of the republics or monarchies of the Schengen agreement.
4. Multiple US, Northern Ireland or UK visa. The visa must have already been used to enter the country that issued it.
5. Permission to reside in the US or UK.

If you have any of the above documents, you can stay in Albania for up to 90 days within six months. The purpose of the visit must be equivalent to obtaining a type C visa. If a foreigner intends to stay in the republic for more than 90 days, he needs an Albanian visa D.

Note! Although Albania is in Europe, it is not part of the Schengen area. You cannot visit any Schengen state with an Albanian visa.

What restrictions apply to tourists in Albania?

The situation in Albania is ideal for tourists for a comfortable holiday.

Although Albania has opened its borders to Russian citizens, restrictions on entry and stay are still in place. For example, the country has introduced a curfew starting from ten o'clock in the evening and ending at six o'clock in the morning. If you want to eat after curfew, you can order food delivered directly to your hotel.

Landmarks and other similar places are freely accessible, but it is worth remembering safety measures such as face masks and distancing between people in public places.

Is there quarantine in Albania for arrivals?

No, quarantine has been lifted, so it is not required to go through it immediately after arrival.

Where and how to apply for an Albanian visa

If you need a visa for your trip to Albania, you should apply for it in advance. For Russians, entry papers are opened by the consular section of the Albanian embassy.

Address of the Albanian Embassy in Russia: Moscow, st. Mytnaya, 3. The diplomatic department is open from Monday to Friday. Reception hours: 11:00 – 14:00.

If you need a visa to Albania, you must follow a number of steps. To obtain permission to enter the Balkan state you must:

• fill out a visa application form (filled out in Russian);
• collect mandatory documentation (for the purpose of stay);
• personally visit the consul at the diplomatic mission and submit the prepared documents;
• pay the fee;
• If the response to your application is positive, obtain a visa.

In general, obtaining an Albanian visa on your own is a fairly simple procedure.

Seasonal features of the visa regime

Every year during the tourist season, the republic’s leadership simplifies the visa regime. Previously, it was possible to enter the country without obtaining a visa for a period of two weeks. So, last year, 2014, to travel to Albania from May to October, you did not need a permit; you could enter freely. To obtain a tourist visa to Albania, a Russian tourist was required to have with him:

1. International passport;
2. Ticket to leave the country;
3. Reservation for a hotel room or rental agreement;
4. Insurance policy.

When crossing the border, people were not always asked about the availability of a medical insurance policy and reserved accommodation.

For 2021, the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania dated June 10, 2015 No. 487 established a tourist visa-free period from June 1 to November 1, as reported on the website of the Albanian Embassy in Russia. The key condition is to visit the country solely for the purpose of tourism, private travel or transit . The period of stay in Albania without a visa for Russians is up to 90 days. The valid validity period of a foreign passport is no less than 3 months at the time of travel.

Types of Albanian visas

There are visas to Albania:

• tourist (C);
• workers - for commercial or professional activities (C);
• medical (C);
• to participate in official, scientific, cultural, sports events (C);
• for family reunification (D/BF); Coat of arms of Albania
• for employment (D/APU);
• for professional activities (D/AP);
• for commercial activities (D/AT)
• for economic activity (D/AE);
• for seasonal employment (D/PS);
• for education (D/ST);
• for humanitarian/religious activities (D/VHF);
• for visits for humanitarian purposes (D/H);
• for diplomatic/service activities (D/DS);
• transit (type B).

All type C visas are short-term, type D visas are long-term. The validity period of Albanian visas depends on their type and purpose of entry. C visas can be valid from a few days to 5 years without the possibility of extension. D-visas can be extended in Albania. Their validity period is from 1 year to 5 years.

How to apply for an Albanian visa yourself

Above, we examined whether Russians need a visa to Albania, and under what circumstances. If you cannot do without a permit, you can apply for it yourself. To do this, you need to take a number of steps:

1. Enter the data into the application form in Russian.
2. Collect documentation for obtaining an Albanian visa, taking into account the purposes of departure to the country.
3. Visit the Consulate and submit your documents. Alternatively, you can contact the Visa Center and thereby eliminate many of the risks of refusal.
4. Pay the fee including the cost of the visa to Albania.
5. Wait for the decision.
6. Come on the appointed day to receive your stamped passport.

Pay special attention to filling out the application form and preparing to fill out the documents. If everything is done correctly, there will be no difficulties in issuing a visa.

Basic visa documents

A visa to Albania is issued upon submission:

1. A completed and signed application form of the established form.

• Form
• Sample filling

1. Identical color photographs:

• 2 pcs.;
• 47 by 36 mm;
• on a white background;
• well focused and clear;
• made no earlier than six months before the date of filing the application.

1. International passports. The expiration date of the foreigner must exceed 3 months after the expiration of the requested visa period. Make sure your passport has at least 2 blank pages.
2. Photocopied pages of the international passport containing information important for the trip, as well as a piece of paper with the basic data of the holder of the “foreign passport”.
3. Round-trip ticket or confirmed reservation (for C-visas). In case of travel by personal transport, this possibility is confirmed (international driver's license and permission to travel abroad).
4. A document confirming financial solvency (for C-visas). Usually this is a bank certificate. The minimum amount on the account is 50 euros for each day of the planned stay. Financial guarantees can be provided by both the applicant himself and the receiving party. If a medical visa is requested, proof of sources of income must be submitted for the patient and his or her accompanying person. The amount in the account must cover treatment and accommodation outside the hospital, as well as return to home.
5. Invitations (if applicable). If you are invited by a private person, you must additionally submit a photocopied document proving his identity (it is advisable to make a color copy). If the host is a foreigner legally residing in the country, then photocopies of his identity card and residence permit are submitted.
6. Certificates of no/criminal record (for D-visas). The paper must be issued no earlier than 1 month before filing the application.
7. Copies of health insurance. Coverage – from 30 thousand euros. The insurance must cover the entire duration of the visa. And when requesting a D/ST study visa - the entire period of stay.
8. Notarized consent from a parent or parents for travel (for minors traveling only with daddy/mom or unaccompanied by parents).

   
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It is worth considering that minors have the right to apply for a visa or residence permit and cross the Albanian border unaccompanied by adults. It is precisely for such cases that parental consent is required.

Gather documents for an Albanian visa

When planning a trip, pay special attention to the bureaucratic component - documents. When traveling to Albania without a visa, you must have the following documents when crossing the border:

• international passport valid for 6 months from the date of arrival;
• round trip tickets;
• confirmation of hotel or other accommodation reservation;
• health insurance in the amount of 30,000 €.

If a Russian travels to Albania outside of the summer, or the stay exceeds 90 days, a visa is required. To obtain it you need to assemble the following package:

1. An application form of a certain sample, filled out according to the rules.
2. Two identical photos 4.7x3.6 cm. A white background is required, good focusing, up to six months.
3. International passport. Validity period of three months, presence of 2 or more blank pages. Along with the original, you will also need copies of the pages with the data entered on them.
4. Travel document or confirmed reservation (both ways). When traveling by car, you need a license and approval to travel abroad.
5. Confirmation of financial solvency. As a rule, a bank certificate is required. Calculation - from 50 € per day. Financial guarantees from the inviting party are allowed.
6. Invitation (if available). Documents of a resident of Albania will be required (copy of passport or documentation indicating legal residence in the country).
7. Document showing no criminal record (for Albania visa type D).
8. Medical insurance (copy). Coverage of €30,000 and above is required. Must cover the entire period of the visit.

In most cases, the specified package is sufficient to obtain a permit. But depending on the situation, Consulate representatives may require other documents.

Additional Documentation

In certain situations, other documents may be required:

• internal passport;
• documentation on the purposes of stay;
• certificate from the employer;
• document confirming graduation from a university;
• confirmation of hotel reservation, etc.

When applying for a child visa, other documentation will be useful, namely:

• consent of the second parent, if the trip is carried out with only one of the parents;
• recipient's birth certificate;
• permission from parents if the border is crossed without them;
• copies of mother's and father's passports.

A fiancé visa is often required. To do this, you need an invitation from the future husband and his passport, a document on good conduct, a birth certificate and health insurance for the future wife.

Additional documentation for C and B visas

The above papers are required for all applicants to obtain an Albanian visa - the purpose of the trip does not matter. But some of the visa documentation depends on which visa subcategory is being requested. Additionally you will need the following documents:

Rules for entry of Russians into Albania

Before setting off on a trip, a tourist must take into account the following simple rules.

He must:

1. Fly only on international flights.
2. Use land borders for entry, which Albania has recently opened with other countries. For example, the border with Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo is now open.
3. Use hotels, bars, restaurants, but only in compliance with a special protocol.
4. Freely enter this country. Moreover, he does not even need to observe a 2-week quarantine.

Additional Documentation for D Visa

Routes to Albania

In addition to a targeted visa to Albania, it is possible to use a Schengen visa from another country under the following conditions:

• The applicant must have visited another state one or more times on this visa;
• The country of the first visit under this Schengen cannot be Albania;
• There is a restriction on stay in the territory of another state – 90 days;
• A valid passport issued no earlier than three months ago.

In addition, visiting the country is possible under additional conditions:

• Valid Schengen visa directly for Albania;
• Permanent residence permit in Albania;
• Citizenship of any other country that is part of the Schengen zone or secondary citizenship of England or America.

A visa to Albania for Russians in 2021 is not required only from June 1 to November 1. Every year this deadline moves, it all depends on the legal acts adopted by the country for a particular year. Without a visa in the summer, you can visit the country for up to 90 days. A foreign passport must be produced earlier than three months before the intended trip.

Visa costs for Russians

The price of Albanian visas depends on their type and frequency (number of entries into the country):

• A single-entry visa C, allowing you to cross the borders of the republic once, costs 30 euros;
• A 2-entry C visa, allowing 2 entries, will cost 50 euros;
• multi-visa C, intended for multiple entries and exits, costs 50 euros;
• A visa to Albania type D will also cost 50 euros.

Albania accepts consular fees on a non-refundable basis. If the application is denied, the money will not be returned.

Types of visas

Albania, depending on the length of stay, issues permits of two categories: C and D. Based on the number of stays, Albanian visas of category C are divided into:

• One-time;
• Double;
• Multiple.

Albania category D visas are only available for multiple entries. There are also permits for tourist groups, which are issued upon crossing the border.

Who runs the risk of getting a negative answer?

The following categories of citizens may be refused a visa:

• those who have not collected the full set of required papers;
• submitting false documents;
• provided false information about themselves;
• having outstanding administrative penalties;
• entered into the national electronic register as persons whose entry is undesirable;
• posing a danger to the health of Albanian citizens;
• posing a threat to national security or public order, as well as encroaching on relations between the republic and other states.

Entry to Albania with a visa

At border control points, foreigners with visas are asked to show their visa and passport. In addition, they may be required to provide one or more accompanying papers:

• invitation;
• return ticket;
• confirmation of residence;
• work permit;
• financial guarantees;
• original international vaccination certificate (if the foreigner arrived from a country affected by an epidemic or infectious disease).

Kristallopighi checkpoint