Few destinations in Europe have immigration rules as facilitated, or an eagerness to welcome foreigners, as the sunny Albania. Unlike its closest neighbors, most notably Greece, Croatia and Italy, this small, largely unheard-of country allows Americans to stay for up to a year without applying for a visa in advance. You read that right. All Americans need to travel, and even set up base temporarily in Albania, is a passport.
No European Country Loves Americans More Than Albania
Although it remained sealed off from the rest of the world during most of the 20th century, owing its slow development to a strict communist regime, Albania has re-emerged from obscurity in recent years as a promising Mediterranean power, with its turquoise-water beaches going viral on TikTok and a rich, centuries-old culture being promoted by famous expats.
Among them, British popstars Dua Lipa and Rita Ora, whose family hail from the Albanian kin state of Kosovo, have been tirelessly campaigning for their ancestral homeland’s international recognition, alongside the government itself. These efforts were not for nothing, as Albania is on track to become Europe’s hottest topic each passing year.
As a matter of fact, it is perhaps one of the continent’s few bureaucracy-free destinations, at least when it comes to borders. Not being in the European Union (EU), or the EU-associated Schengen Zone, Albania has had the freedom to set out its own entry rules, and instead of pursuing the former’s well-documented tough controls, it actively encourages migration.
Very few foreigners need visas going to Albania – even Turks and Kosovo nationals, who have a very limited visa-free travel map – and on top of that, it is one of only two countries in Europe to have opened up for U.S. citizens traveling in the long term. More precisely, only Georgia also grants Americans a one-year tourist permit on arrival.
All Americans Need Moving To Albania Is A Valid Passport
When landing via Tirana Airport, the country’s main international airport, or using a land or sea crossing via any of its neighbors, namely Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo or Montenegro, Americans are granted a whole, continuous twelve months to explore the Balkan gem. That is more than enough time to discover all that Albania has to offer.
Their passport must, of course, be valid for the entirety of their intended stay, or else they may face other issues...
As far as we’re concerned, Americans are the only foreigners enjoying this privilege, with all other nationalities, including Canadians, EU and UK citizens, Australians and New Zealanders being allowed to remain in the national territory for only three months out of every six-month period, similarly to the EU’s own Schengen Area.
For example, when remaining in the country for longer than 90 days, the British must immediately report to Albanian authorities and apply for an extension visa, or a residence permit. Those failing to do so routinely face legal challenges when clocking out of Albania – on the other hand, this rule does not apply to Americans for up to a year.
Truly, no European country loves Americans more than Albania.
Getting Albanian Residency After One Year
There is one risk facing U.S. travelers, though: after experiencing firsthand the relaxed Albanian way of life, savoring its Balkan and Turkish-influenced cuisine, and marveling at its dramatic, rugged Adriatic Coast, they may never want to leave in the end. Luckily, they are eligible to apply for a residence permit once the year has elapsed.
Yes, Albania has set out an easy path to permanent migration. According to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. citizens can easily extend their one-year visa by proceeding with the following steps:
- Go to a Regional DBM Police at least 60 days before the permit’s expiration date is up, suggestively the 305th day
- Provide Albanian immigration authorities with all the relevant documentation they may require*
The one-year timeframe starts counting from the date of first entry into Albania, and it doesn’t stop until the year is up. This means you may not be eligible for an extension if you’ve been outside the country for more than 6 accumulative months within the rolling period. Visits to other countries and territories, such as Greece or Kosovo, all count as ‘time away’.
When planning to leave Albania after this period, and attempting to re-enter again to reset the clock, Americans must wait at least 90 days until they can return. Make sure you keep a record of your own travel dates, as Albanian border officers no longer stamp passports for immigration purposes:
