Guide on how to apply for Albania Long-Stay Visa
Are you a student, entrepreneur, religious leader, or job seeker wondering about the best suitable visa to visit Albania? If yes, you need an Albania long-stay visa to achieve your desire. This is because people in the above categories must stay beyond ninety days to achieve their aims. The Long-stay visa has different types but with similar benefits for the holders.
However, obtaining an Albania long-stay visa can be difficult if you don’t have all the requirements. But easy if you carefully provide all that is required at the right time.
Therefore, this guide will teach you the different types of Albania long-stay visas, application steps, and fees. In addition, you will learn how to apply for Albania permanent residence, but first, let’s take a quick look at Albania.
About Albania
Albania is a country located in south-eastern Europe with a population of just over 3 million. It has a unique culture and heritage, including its music, food, and architecture.
Tirana’s capital city is filled with impressive architecture and historical sites. In addition, the country’s mountains and lakes offer fantastic scenery. Albania is also known for its wine, cheese, and carpets.
Albania has made significant strides in recent years in terms of economic development. The country has a GDP of $24.5 billion and is expected to grow at a rate of 5.8% this year. Additionally, the unemployment rate decreased from 27% in 2009 to 18% as of 2016, attributed to increased investment and an improved business climate. Albania also ranks among the top 10 countries for ease of doing business.
What is Albania Long-stay Visa?
Legal documents permit foreign nationals to come and stay in the country for more than three months. The long-stay visas are of different types, and each is granted according to the purpose of the visit to the country. It has a validity of one year but can be renewed after expiration.
Types of Albania Long-stay Visa
These are the types of Albania Visas that are categorized as Long-stay.
Study Visa: Albania, through its embassies or consulates, issues this type of long-stay visa to students visiting the country to study. Such a student must have secured or enrolled in one of the academic institutions in Albania.
Work Visa: This type of visa is issued to a foreigner that already has job placement in Albania. It is also issued to people that the government of Albania needs its services in the country. This type of visa is easier to get if a work permit is secured first.
Business visa:Â Entrepreneurs and investors planning to visit Albania to invest or grow a business for a longer time need this visa. This type of visa is one of the easiest to obtain because foreign investments or companies are highly welcome in Albania.
Spouse-dependent visa: This visa is granted to a spouse of someone who is a residence permit holder in Albania
Asylum Visa: Foreign nationals sent in exile or those who seek protection against political or social prosecution are issued this visa. It is neither a common visa nor an easy one to secure.
Albania Family Reunion visa:Â This also falls under the Albania Long-stay visa. It is issued to foreigners that wish to reunite with their family members in Albania. The members can be parents, grandparents, or children (biological or adopted).
Benefits of Albania Long-stay visa
Having a long-stay visa in Albania offer you the following benefits.
- You can renew the visa and your residence permit when they expire up to five times.
- You have the chance to apply for Albania permanent residence permit.
- Ability to work and earn a living in the country.
- You may choose to apply for Albania citizenship after PR
Albania Long-stay Visa exemptionÂ
Albania, like other EU countries, also offers visa exemption to Schengen, the EU, and a few other countries with different conditions. See the list here.
Nevertheless, the countries exempted from Albania’s short-stay visa must apply for a long-stay visa to live longer in the country.
Documents needed for Albania Long-stay VisaÂ
These are the documents you must submit to secure a long-stay visa in Albania.
Albania Long-stay visa application form: This should be filled out online correctly before printing it. You can as well download the form and fill it out without mistakes.
Traveling Document; This can be your recent valid national passport. It should contain empty pages.
Declaration of Accommodation: This document must show that you already have a place to stay when you arrive in Albania. It may be a hotel reservation arrangement, a rental agreement, or a family member’s apartment that is convenient.
Standard Passport Photographs:Â This must be colored, bright, sharp, and follow the recommended dimensions.
Medical Insurance Plan: You must provide proof you have a medical subscription plan or reservation for it. You need a minimum of €30,000 for this. It covers all your medical engagements in Albania.
Means of Survival: You can provide documents like Bank statements, credit cards, bank cheques, and other financial papers as evidence of sustainable income. Note that you will need $400 or more to live conveniently in Albania aside from rent.
Security Clearance:Â This document can be obtained from the Police or other relevant security agencies. The document will attest that you have no criminal records.
Additional documents for Albania Long-stay visa applicationÂ
These are optional because they are connected to your purpose of visit to the country. They are:
Work permit: This will be provided if you have a job placement already in Albania. But if you don’t have it, you can skip it though it is best to have it if you are applying for a work visa.
Enrollment letter: As a student, this will be requested as proof of admission to the Albania academic institution. Also, if you have any scholarship awards, attach the evidence because it will expedite your visa consideration.
Letter of invitation: This should be attached if you’re invited by the Albanian government to invest in the country or other business partnership deals. Also, applicants visiting Albania for humanitarian or religious need this.
How to apply for Albania Long-stay VisaÂ
Here are the basic steps you should follow to apply for Albania Long-stay,
Step one: Log in to the official website.
You can access the visa application portal here (Albania Long-stay Visa). First, create a user account and fill out all the required sections of the form with verifiable information.
Step two: Upload required documents.
The next step is to upload all the requested documents to support your application. They must all be in PDF format. Once they are uploaded and verified, you will receive a message to proceed with visa fee payment.
Step three: Make payment.Â
The visa fee payment can be made immediately online or through the bank. If you make a payment through the bank, you must upload your evidence of payment.
Step four: Expect the Embassy’s Final decision.
The embassy will take the time to review your application. If successful, you will be contacted on how and when you will receive your visa.
Alternatively, you can apply for Albania Long-stay Visa offline by following these steps.
- You download the application form and fill it out.
- You Visit the Albanian embassy or consulate in your country to book an appointment. If there is no Albanian embassy or consulate in your country, contact the sister county’s embassy in Albania.
- You Submit all the documents and make payment for your visa application.
- You must attend a physical interview to answer relevant questions at the embassy.
- Finally, expect a notification on the status; if it is successful, you can move in as soon as possible.
How to Apply for Albania permanent residenceÂ
You can apply for permanent Albania residence if you have stayed in the country for five years without criminal records. You must apply to Albania immigration and attach all relevant documents. The documents include your residence permit, passport, work permit, means of income, and others.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s Albania’s National Currency?
The Albanian lek is the national currency of Albania. It is subdivided into 100 qindarka, although qindarka are no longer in use. 10000 Lek is equivalent to 86 USD.
How long does it take to get Albania Long-stay Visa?
Getting the visa will take up to fifteen days or more. However, you might receive it after one month if the authority needs to verify more information. Therefore make sure all your information is correct and provided appropriately.
What’s the best time to apply for Albania Long-stay Visa?
It is best to apply for the visa two months before your departure.
How much does it cost to get Albania Long-stay Visa?
Securing the visa will cost you from fifty to eighty USD. This is because charges are made based on how fast you need them.
Is Albania a Schengen country?
Albanian is neither part of Schengen nor the European Union. However, it is a European country.
Is Albania nice to visit?
Albania is a great place to visit! The people are friendly and welcoming, and there is a lot to see and do. The scenery is beautiful, with mountains and lakes and lovely beaches. There is also a rich history and culture to explore. I would recommend visiting Albania if you get the chance!
Conclusion
Albania’s long-stay visa has lots of benefits for foreign nationals. Every foreigner must obtain a visa to enjoy living in the country. Hopefully, you will find this guide very useful and worthy to share with those in need.
Here are some recommended articles that may be of help to you.
- Top 10 reasons to visit Albania for Vacation.
- Study in Canada from Albania
- Albania visa for medical purposesÂ
