Standard of living and moving to Albania for permanent residence in 2021

The Albanian Republic is one of the least studied countries in Europe by Russians. It is located in the west of the Balkan Peninsula, bordering Montenegro, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece. A small strait separates the country from Italy. After the Second World War, for 45 years, the communist regime pursued a course of political isolation of the country. Since the 90s of the last century, life in Albania began to change. Now she is a candidate for membership in the European Union and is a member of NATO. Potential immigrants from Russia and other post-Soviet states have recently begun to pay attention to one of the poorest countries on the continent.

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Albania

Albania has beaches on the Adriatic and Ionian seas. During the holiday season from April to October 2021, Russians can come for 90 days without a visa. It has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild but wet winters. The houses do not have central heating; you can warm up using an air conditioner or a gas boiler. Low temperatures occur only in mountainous alpine regions. Despite the fact that more than 60% of the population of Albania are Muslims, the country is tolerant of representatives of other religions; there are no strict requirements or restrictions. Significant advantages include low prices for goods, services, and real estate.

Living in Albania has many disadvantages:

1. The local language, without knowledge of which it is difficult to find a job, is difficult to learn.
2. The country's industry is in need of reconstruction, agriculture is still poorly developed, and many products are imported from neighboring countries.
3. The legacy of the previous regime was bad roads, lack of asphalt, and dust.
4. There are no beautiful architectural ensembles or historical monuments in the Albanian capital and other cities. As a result of the cultural revolution, ancient temples and mosques were destroyed.
5. The environmental situation is the worst in the Mediterranean region due to garbage and wastewater.

The tourism sector is developing rapidly, there are good five-star hotels with fairly clean beaches. The country strives to become a modern European state, but much remains to be done.

How to obtain Albanian citizenship

An Albanian citizen's passport allows you to visit 93 countries without a visa, including all European countries. If you are interested in how to obtain Albanian citizenship, you should keep in mind that there are only three ways:

• one of the parents is a citizen of Albania;
• adoption by Albanian citizens;
• naturalization.

Conditions of registration

To obtain Albanian citizenship by naturalization, a foreigner must meet the following requirements:

• be of legal age (18 years old);
• live in the Republic of Albania for 5 years continuously;
• have a stable income and housing in Albania;
• have no criminal record either in the Republic of Albania or in their home country (except for cases of conviction for political reasons and imprisonment for less than three years);
• know the Albanian language at a basic level;
• not pose a threat to Albanian society.

Albanian citizenship by marriage is issued based on the general conditions of naturalization, with the exception that the period of residence in the country is reduced to one year, and knowledge of the language is not mandatory.

Applicants over 18 years of age who have made a special contribution to the development of the economic, scientific, research or cultural sphere of the state can obtain Albanian citizenship without meeting the basic requirements.

When considering applications from persons without any citizenship, only the period of residence in Albania is taken into account.

The period of residence in Albania is reduced to three years for applicants whose one parent has Albanian citizenship.

Required documents

To obtain Albanian citizenship, foreign citizens must prepare the following documents:

• an application from a foreign citizen addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs or the President of the Republic of Albania;
• application for citizenship to persons of Albanian origin (the form can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.punetejashtme.gov.al/en/services/consular-services/citizenship-issues);
• birth certificate;
• certificate of marital status;
• certificate of no criminal record (with apostille);
• documents confirming that the applicant is a direct descendant of an Albanian citizen (up to the third generation) and that the relative has not renounced Albanian citizenship;
• receipt for payment of state duty.

All documents for acquiring citizenship must be submitted by applicants in person.

Registration procedure

Decisions on granting Albanian citizenship to foreign citizens are made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The procedure for obtaining citizenship in Albania is carried out in several stages:

• personal submission of the required documents to the local police station, from where the documents are forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• approval of documentation by the consul;
• official redirection of documents to the Department of Citizenship Affairs under the President for approval of the final conclusion;
• receiving a response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

All documents (issued in Albania or other countries) are accepted for consideration if they are complete and free of errors or corrections. Consideration of the application depends on the workload of government agencies and can last up to 30 months.

The state fee is 30 euros (32 US dollars). Payment is made through the bank.

Registration of citizenship for children

Children of foreigners applying for Albanian citizenship by naturalization who are under 18 years of age at the time of application are also eligible to become Albanian citizens. This requires parents to fill out a special application, as well as the official consent of children aged 14 to 18 years. If only one of the parents acquires Albanian citizenship, then in order to obtain citizenship for a child, the consent of both parents, or one of them, is required if the second parent is a stateless person and the child lives in Albania.

Citizenship for children can also be obtained if both parents have Albanian citizenship and intend to adopt a minor child without citizenship or with citizenship of another country.

Is it possible to have dual citizenship

The legislation of the Republic of Albania does not prohibit having dual citizenship, provided that this is not prohibited by the laws of another state.

Average prices

The standard of living in Albania is much lower than in neighboring countries. The low cost of goods and services attract tourists and immigrants. The official currency is the lek, however, many places happily accept euros or dollars.

Food

Albanian shops have their own products: fruit jam, veal, white cheese, olive oil, wine. Most food products are imported from neighboring countries. The largest supplier is Italy. Compared to the Russian capital, everything here is cheaper by an average of 10 percent. The table shows food prices in Albania in 2021.

Lunch in a cafe will cost a tourist an average of 5.5 euros. Locals pay much less.

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For household goods and services

Hotel accommodation, public transport and taxi travel in Albania are much cheaper than in other European countries.

Albania does not have such a wide selection of all kinds of food and industrial goods that residents of Moscow or other Russian cities are accustomed to. A tourist may not find diapers, cosmetics, or baby food from a certain manufacturer.

Real estate market

The cost of housing in Albania is very attractive. In resort towns on the coast, a large three-room apartment will cost €40,000, a two-room apartment – ​​€22,500, a studio of 35 m2 – €16,000. Buying property in Albania has its pros and cons. You won’t be able to buy an apartment on the sea coast so cheaply anywhere else in Europe. Housing can be used as a profitable investment and will increase in value. An increase in tourist flow will make it possible to earn money on rentals. Utility costs are low and there are no property taxes at all. The disadvantages include the low popularity of the country among tourists and insufficiently developed infrastructure.

Permanent residence permit

Moving to Albania for permanent residence is possible if a foreign citizen has been living in Albania legally for five consecutive years and has a stable job or is in a serious relationship with a local resident.

What is the difference between a residence permit and a permanent residence permit?

The difference between a temporary residence permit and a permanent one is that a temporary residence permit is valid for a certain period and must be renewed, while a permanent residence permit has no restrictions on the time of residence in the country and is issued only once. If you are applying for a permanent residence permit, you must meet certain requirements.

Conditions for obtaining permanent residence

In order to obtain a permanent residence permit in Albania, a foreigner must meet the following requirements:

• live in the country for 5 consecutive years;
• have a legal activity in the country that generates profit (business or work) or be in a serious relationship with an Albanian citizen;
• have no outstanding administrative penalties or criminal convictions;
• have an account in an Albanian bank.

Registration procedure

Foreigners should apply to their local police station to obtain a permanent residence permit. You must submit the documents on the basis of which the permit is issued in person. The documents will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for approval of permanent resident status. The review lasts from one to three months.

Transport

There are no domestic flights in Albania. The only international airport named after. Mother Teresa is located 25 km from Tirana. The main sea gate of the country is Durres, from where you can take a ferry to Italian coastal cities. The city is connected to the capital by railway; diesel trains move slowly, up to 40 km/h. There are many private buses in Albania that travel on various routes. Tickets are inexpensive, but there is no schedule, as well as a single bus station. You need to arrive at the bus stop early in the morning; the transport leaves after it is fully loaded.

Roads in Albania are still broken despite heavy investment in road repairs. The driving style of local residents is aggressive: those who travel by car need to be careful. There are inexpensive taxis and car rentals.

Education

Education in Albania starts from an early age and consists of several stages:

1. Preschool in kindergarten from 3 to 6 years.
2. Primary from 1st to 4th grade.
3. Junior secondary from 5th to 9th grade.
4. Complete secondary: 4-year general education program or professional courses from 2 to 5 years.
5. Bachelor's degree 3 years.
6. Master's degree 1.5 – 2 years.

Education in government institutions is free. Students are accepted by the Polytechnic, Agricultural, Pedagogical and Tirana Universities. In private institutions, a semester costs about €1000.

Work in Albania

The country has a very high unemployment rate of 15%. It is difficult to find employment; good conditions are offered to highly qualified, sought-after specialists. Work in Albania is possible for Russians in the fast-growing tourism sector. Knowledge of the local language is not necessary here, English is required. Recently, the number of vacationers from the Baltic countries and Belarus who speak Russian has been increasing. It is possible for migrants to work in the IT sector and construction.

Salary rates

Remuneration for work in Albania compared to other European countries is very low: from €100 to €500. The limit for university teachers, leading engineers, programmers is €600 – €650. International companies and banks operate in Albania. They pay qualified specialists with knowledge of English €1000 – €1200. With such a salary, a person can afford a luxurious life by local standards.

Tax system

Albania has a progressive personal income tax scale. An employee with an annual income of up to €240 pays nothing. If the remuneration ranged from €240 to €1032, 13% is transferred to the state budget. For all others the rate is 23%. A taxpayer is only one who has lived in the country for at least 183 days in a calendar year. You need to contribute 9.5% for Social Security and 1.7% for Health Insurance.

Customs and laws of Albania

In Albania, generally accepted norms of behavior are the same as in Italy and Greece. Sociable Albanians are friendly towards all foreigners. These hospitable people treat the elderly with respect. Most young people speak Italian and English, with Greek, French and German being slightly less common.

Administrative and criminal law in this country are in many ways similar to common European standards. The most severe penalties apply to the sale and possession of drugs, arms trafficking, prostitution and crimes resulting in serious bodily injury or death.

Opening your own business

Albania is promising for foreign entrepreneurs. There are reserves of chromium, copper, nickel, oil, coal and bauxite. Over 400 km of sea coast, beautiful natural landscapes, mountain rivers and mild climate create opportunities for the development of tourism. Another area of ​​investment is infrastructure, which needs serious modernization. The country has created a good financial and legal framework for entrepreneurship. There are low customs duties, 45% of imported products are exempt from duties. To register a business in Albania you need €800 of authorized capital and several days to review the documents.

Social Security System

The retirement age for Albanians is 65 for men and 60 for women. The average lifetime allowance is €150 and is the smallest in Europe. Social payments are made through contributions from employed and self-employed Albanians. In addition to the pension, there are small benefits:

• on disability;
• for temporary disability;
• for the burial of a family member;
• for pregnancy and childbirth;
• in case of harm to health as a result of an accident at work.

The country's authorities are developing programs to support the population, but the lack of funds in the budget does not allow them to provide significant social guarantees.

Medical level

Albania's healthcare system needs serious modernization; the state does not have the funds to carry it out. For citizens, all medical services are free of charge, for foreigners - only emergency ambulance care. Albania lacks trained doctors and medicines, and the equipment is worn out and outdated. Private clinics are appearing, the level of service in which is much higher. Not all residents have the means to pay for medical care, although prices here are much lower than in Russia.

Albania is receiving equipment and drugs as part of humanitarian aid from neighboring countries. The government is developing insurance medicine and has developed a system of subsidies for the purchase of medicines for the poor.

Security in the country

Albania has very serious problems in the law enforcement sphere:

• corruption, extortion;
• drug trafficking, the country is the largest supplier of cannabis in Europe;
• prostitution;
• human trafficking.

The government has managed to achieve positive results in the training of qualified police personnel, however, low salaries make it difficult to eradicate elements of corruption.

Crime

Recently, the number of crimes such as violence, robbery, murder and robbery has decreased. In Tirana, visiting tourists can walk the streets safely. Crime rates are higher in certain regions of Albania, such as Lazarat, small settlements where there is virtually no police. In resort towns and the capital, it is better not to walk in the dark.

Legal ways to immigrate to Albania

More and more Russians want to move to Europe for permanent residence. You can meet compatriots in many countries. Immigration to Albania is not yet as popular as to other states of the Balkan Peninsula, but there are already couples in the country who have moved for permanent residence from Russia. Together with Russian women who married local residents, they created their own community in Albania. For those wishing to obtain a residence permit, and then citizenship, there are several legal routes.

Family reunification

This method of immigration is one of the most difficult. It will take a long time to prove your relationship with an Albanian citizen. Applicants can qualify for a D visa if the host provides housing and food for several months. It is easy to obtain citizenship only for a person whose both parents are Albanian.

Investing in the country's economy

This path is the most promising. A Russian who has purchased real estate in Albania has the right to obtain a residence permit for one year. This opportunity is also available to the owner of his own company, which is very easy to open. The authorized capital is €800, a few days to complete the documents - and you can apply for a residence permit. A simplified procedure for granting citizenship is provided for those who have invested at least 2 million euros or 2.11 million dollars in the economy.

Marriage

To apply for Albanian citizenship, you must be in a family relationship with a local resident for 3 years. You can stay legally in the country for only one year out of this period.

Employment and university admission

To obtain a residence permit in Albania, students must present an agreement with the university, health insurance and proof of financial support for the duration of their studies. Finding employment for emigrating from Russia to Albania is not the most attractive option, although to obtain an annual residence permit, a contract with an employer and permission from the Ministry of Labor are sufficient. Finding a suitable place is difficult; salaries are one of the lowest in Europe.

For special merits

Without complying with the mandatory requirements, applicants with significant achievements in the scientific, technical, cultural or economic sphere can obtain Albanian citizenship by decision of the state authorities.

What does a residence permit in Albania provide and how to get it?

In 2014, The New York Times included Albania in its list of 52 recommended travel destinations, comparing it to "Europe when it was fresh and accessible." Despite a lot of stereotypes, Albania strives for European standards in all areas - economic, political, legal. On the other hand, the Albanian real estate market is relatively “untouched”. And as usually happens, the cream of the crop from such fresh markets is collected by the very first buyers. For example, Albania’s closest neighbors, the Italians, not only invest in Albanian residential and commercial real estate, but also move for permanent residence to cheaper and more environmentally friendly Albania (more than 20 thousand Italian citizens have received a residence permit in Albania in the last two years alone)

The real estate and tourism agency “Albania Service” became the first company that several years ago began offering the service of obtaining a residence permit to citizens of Russia, Ukraine and the former CIS countries. Aldor Balliu, lawyer and director of the company - about other advantages of Albania and the Albanian residence permit.

Candidate country

Since 2014 Albania is a candidate to join the European Union, so its migration legislation is also based on European rules and laws. The main ways to obtain a residence permit:

- opening your own company,

— study at an accredited educational institution,

- existence of an employment contract,

- family reunification,

— the presence of any other grounds that may serve as a basis for obtaining a residence permit.

Thus, the law has not yet established the process of obtaining a residence permit through the purchase of real estate, but such a possibility exists.

You need to understand that Albania is not such a “long-term” EU ​​candidate as, for example, Turkey. Since 2010, the EU has established a visa-free regime for Albanian citizens. The country is absolutely secular, the political and economic situation is stable, and the country does not have any geopolitical conflicts with neighboring states.

According to forecasts, Albania will become a full member of the European Union in 2019, or even earlier. Before joining the EU, foreigners with an Albanian residence permit do not have the right to travel to Europe without a visa. But having a residence permit in Albania, you can easily get a Schengen multiple visa for a long period, for example, in neighboring Greece or Italy.

There is a visa-free regime for citizens of Ukraine and Kazakhstan all year round; Russians and Belarusians can come to Albania without visas from May to October.

There is no division into residence permit and permanent residence

The uniqueness of Albania is that there is no division between residence permit and permanent residence. Foreigners first receive a primary residence permit for 1 year. After this year, it is extended with a minimum package of documents for another 2 years, then for another 2 years. After this, that is, after 5 years, you can apply for citizenship.

There is no such quick path to citizenship in any European country, let alone other candidate countries. For comparison: in Montenegro they give a residence permit for investing in real estate, but it is impossible to obtain citizenship this way.

Tax haven for investors

Currently in Albania, property buyers do not pay any taxes at all. When completing a transaction, the seller pays a certain amount to the government - now it is 15%, before January 1, 2015, the rate corresponded to 10% of the purchase amount. So far there is no annual property tax, luxury tax, or tourist tax.

Good news for those who obtain a residence permit through opening a company - the tax rate for small businesses from January 2021 is 0%.

However, the closer the prospect of joining the European Union, the greater the likelihood that the situation may change. So if you really want to move to Albania, you shouldn’t put it off.

Residence permit through opening a company

Let's take a closer look at this method of obtaining a residence permit. Opening a company in Albania takes place within 1 day in one stop shop mode. Moreover, if in Montenegro you need to go to court to register a legal entity, in Albania it is enough to visit a notary.

The company can be registered in the name of a foreigner; there is no need for local co-founders. There is also no need to hire and maintain workers. But keep in mind that when renewing a residence permit, there is a possibility that migration service employees will check whether the company is active or not.

When opening a small business in Albania, you will spend from €500 to €700 (this amount includes state fees, notary services and support from a Russian-speaking lawyer). Maintenance will cost €1000 - €2000. Also, when registering a company, a commercial address is required.

Residence permit through the purchase of real estate

Since, as we noted earlier, this method of obtaining a residence permit is not yet enshrined in law, there are no price thresholds for real estate buyers. Your associated expenses will be approximately €1000 - €1300, in addition you need to take into account the trip for the D visa and the D visa itself (€100).

Visa D is a prerequisite for applying for a residence permit for immigrants from all CIS countries. It opens a corridor for staying in the country for 90 days every six months. Obtaining a D visa takes about a month. A residence permit is issued within 1-2 months after submitting documents.

Instead of an afterword: Albania in world rankings

1. Albania is one of the six countries in the world where the use of GMOs and pesticides is completely prohibited. Therefore, local farmers' markets bring indescribable delight to all visitors.

2. In the ranking of countries in the world in terms of the quality of life of older people, Albania ranks 53rd and is above Russia, Montenegro, Lithuania, Turkey, Greece, and Croatia. Young people here are raised in the spirit of respect for their elders. One of the favorite pastimes of Albanian pensioners is daily meetings over a cup of coffee, as well as going out to a restaurant with the whole family at least a couple of times a month.

3. In the global peace index, Albania is ranked 52nd, much higher than neighboring Greece and Macedonia, Montenegro, Cyprus, Georgia, the USA and China. The last military conflict in which Albania participated was World War II.

4. In the overall world security ranking, Albania is in 8th place in the category of countries with a population of up to 5 million people.

Text – Alena Eliseeva, ee24

Photo materials Shutterstock.com

Procedure for obtaining Albanian citizenship in 2021

A temporary residence permit, which is issued for 12 months, can be extended no more than 5 times. Before obtaining Albanian citizenship, you must live legally in the country for at least 5 years. After this, you can apply for a permanent permit. Permanent residence in Albania is available if a foreigner has a job, is engaged in business, earns income, or intends to start a family. Permission for permanent residence is not extended, the time of stay is not limited.

To obtain citizenship you must fulfill the following conditions:

• live in the country for at least 5 years;
• have a reliable source of income;
• not to be judged;
• not pose a danger to the state;
• pass a language proficiency test.

For those whose one parent is an Albanian citizen, the time of legal residence in the country is reduced to 3 years.

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How to get a visa

Getting a visa to Albania is not that difficult, but the country has not previously been very popular for tourism or migration. In 2009, the country applied for admission to the European Union, and in 2014, Albania was given candidate status, which means there is a high probability that the country will enter the common European zone and become a full member. All this increases the popularity of the country and makes investments in its economy more popular.

There are many options on how to obtain Albanian citizenship, among the most popular and simple:

• reunification with relatives (documentary proof of relationship is required, a desire to obtain citizenship for permanent residence);
• purchasing real estate (the cost per square meter in the country is low even in resorts, so the method is very popular);
• business migration involves investing in the country’s economy or opening your own enterprise, which allows you to immediately obtain a residence permit, and after 5 years apply for citizenship;
• obtaining an official work permit (documentary evidence is required, including an invitation from an employer or an employment contract);
• studying at one of the universities in Albania (gives the right to temporary residence with a visa extension);
• marriage to an Albanian;
• obtaining citizenship for special merits.

Some try to obtain permanent residence in Albania for pensioners, but in this case it is recommended to buy real estate and confirm the availability of funds or a permanent income for living.

Marriage certificate in Albania

Summing up

How Albanians treat Russians can be judged by the reviews of tourists visiting the country and the few migrants so far. There is no interethnic or interreligious strife here; Muslims marry Christians, including those from Russia. Those who come to Albania to do business say that they manage to make quite a lot of friends among the locals, and this helps a lot. Older people still have warm memories of the USSR; in those days, many schools in Albania studied Russian as a foreign language.

Marriage

If you are planning to marry a citizen of this country and immigrate to Albania, then you will have to go through a complex visa procedure and flights. To apply for a fiancé/groom visa, you must submit the following documents:

• A certificate stating that you are single;
• a certificate of good conduct (when immigrating to Albania, this document is almost always required);
• copy and original of birth certificate;
• invitation issued by the bride/groom;
• a color copy of the Albanian passport and identification card of the bride/groom;
• health insurance for 6 months/1 year;
• copies of civil and foreign passports;
• color photographs size 3*4;
• completed form.

In accordance with the agreement “On mutual assistance in civil, family and criminal matters between the USSR and Albania,” an apostille of documents is not required. But, as practice shows, it is better to affix an apostille on a certificate of good conduct, a certificate of unmarriage and a birth certificate in order to avoid an unexpected re-visa procedure.