- The Unique Permit is the sole document that grants a foreign national both the right of residence and the right to work in Albania.
- The application is made exclusively online through the e-Albania service, without the applicant's physical presence.
- The preliminary employment assessment by AKPA is completed within one business day, down from ten business days until August 2026.
- The fee is 8,000 lek for up to one year, 9,000 lek for up to two years, and 10,000 lek for up to three years. Renewal costs 4,000 lek.
- After obtaining the permit, the foreign national appears at the civil registry within 30 days, where he receives an identity number.
The Unique Permit is the sole document that grants a foreign national both the right of residence and the right to work in Albania. The application is made exclusively online through the service. Application for a Single Permit on e-Albania, and does not require the applicant's physical presence at the time of application.
Documents are uploaded only once. Then the file is forwarded to the relevant institutions, until the license is issued with an electronic seal. This guide compiles the application types, documents, steps, actual deadlines, validity, and fees.
Read also: Employment of foreigners in Albania. Full rules
Who needs a single permit?
A foreign national may stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a permit, but without the right to work. From the first day of work, a single-entry permit is required. If the stay exceeds 90 days within the 180-day period, or if the permit itself so requires, an application for a D visa must also be submitted in advance.
Upon entering the territory, the foreign national must register within 10 days with the local border and migration authority. This is a separate step and is not replaced by the permit application.
Application Types and Documents
The form varies by type, so the first step is to select your case accurately.
- New unique permit with a D visa
- New unique permit, without a D visa
- Renewal of the single permit with a D visa
- Renewal of the single permit, without a D visa
The list of documents for each type is at Our summary in PDF. Foreign documents must be translated and legalized before being uploaded.
Steps for applying for a unified license on e-Albania
- Log in to e-Albania and select the "Application for a Single Permit" service.
- Click the Use button and select the application type.
- Fill out the electronic form with data for all fields.
- Upload the documents in the format required by the form.
- Check the data and click Send.
For categories that by law must obtain employment approval, the application is initially reviewed by AKPA. For self-employed foreigners and investors, compliance with the conditions is assessed by the commission of the ministry responsible for finance and the economy. The visa, when required, is approved by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs once the AKPA has granted employment approval.
Citizens of the United States, of the Schengen area countries outside the European Union, and of the Western Balkans—namely Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina—are exempt from the AKPA's prior assessment. This is a procedural facilitation, not an exemption from the permit requirement.
Deadlines, validity, and fees of the unified license
How long does the procedure take?
| Step | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Employment Assessment by AKPA | 1 business day |
| Review of the D visa, when required | 15 days, with an extension of up to 30 days in justified cases. |
| Electronic temporary permit after approval | Within 5 days |
| Collection of the biometric card | Within two weeks |
| Appearance at the registry office | Within 30 days of obtaining the permit |
The electronic provisional permit allows you to stay legally until you pick up your biometric card. Approval or denial is notified online.
How much is the unique license worth?
The permit is issued for a term of 1, 2, 3, or 5 years, depending on the case and category. The 5-year permit as an initial application is limited to certain nationalities. The law also recognizes the permanent residence permit and the AL Blue Card for highly qualified employment.
Fees
| Type of application | Fee |
|---|---|
| Unique employer permit, up to 1 year | 8,000 lek |
| Unique employer leave, up to 2 years | 9,000 lek |
| Unique employer permit, up to 3 years | 10,000 leks |
| Renewal of the single license | 4,000 lek |
| Initial 5-year application, only for U.S., EU, and Kosovo citizens. | 12,000 lek |
| Residence permit: initial application and renewal | 4,500 lek and 2,250 lek |
The fees are based on the Ministry of the Interior's published practice and are confirmed on the service card before each application, because they change without any change in the law.
Read also: How to open a business in Albania as a foreigner. Visa D, the unique permit, and the legal steps.
Renewal of the unified license
Renewal is done through the same e-Albania service. In the form, select "Renewal of the Unique Permit," with or without a D visa as applicable, and upload the updated documents.
For renewal, posting the open job position is not required. However, when the permit is tied to employment, the file goes back through the employment evaluation. Therefore, the application must be submitted several weeks before the current permit expires, not on the last day.
What comes after obtaining the permit?
The foreign employee is declared on the payroll just like any other employee. Contributions are calculated at the same rates and on the same basis as for a domestic employee, without regard to nationality, namely 16.71% by the employer and 11.21% by the employee on a base not less than Minimum wage.
If the employee comes from a country with a bilateral social security agreement, they may be covered by the scheme of their country of origin for a limited period, with a certificate of coverage. The rules and lists are on our website. foreigners and double taxation.
Every time there is a tax or financial change that affects your business, we notify you directly by email with a practical explanation.
Send me free notificationsFrequently Asked Questions about the Single Permit
Can I work on a tourist visa until the permit is issued?
No. Staying for up to 90 days within a 180-day period does not grant the right to work. The right to work arises with the unique permit or with the electronic provisional permit issued upon approval.
How long does the whole process take today?
The AKPA assessment is completed within one business day. After approval, the electronic provisional permit is issued within five days and the biometric card is collected within two weeks. If a D visa is also required, up to 15 days are added for its processing.
Do I need to be in Albania to apply?
No. The application and document upload are done entirely online, so physical presence is not required at the time of application.
What happens after receiving the card?
The foreigner must register with the civil registry within 30 days of obtaining the permit. From this step, the identity number is generated, which is required for payroll, banking, and public utilities.
Do I lose my license if I change employers?
The unique permit is tied to the employment relationship for which it was issued. Changing employers requires applying for a permit amendment, so each case is reviewed on a case-by-case basis before the new contract is signed.
Can I bring my family?
Yes, through family reunification. Spouses, cohabiting partners, unmarried minor children, adult children who cannot meet their own needs, and first-degree ancestors are eligible.
Legal basis
- Law No. 79/2021 “For foreigners”, as amended by Law No. 43/2025 of June 26, 2025, Articles 20, 21, 24, 29, 32 and 33.
- Government Decree No. 858, date 12/29/2021 for the criteria, procedures, and documentation for the entry, stay, and treatment of foreigners.
- Joint instruction of the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Economy, published in August 2026, on the one-working-day deadline and on exemptions from the preliminary assessment.
Applying for the unified permit with our help
If you don't want to handle the process yourself, we'll prepare the application for you. We review the documents, complete the application on e-Albania, and notify you at every step until you receive your biometric card. When you were simultaneously opening a business in Albania, We follow both folders together. Write to us and we'll tell you what you need for your case.
For questions about the e-service itself, the help address is [email protected].
