The application for a business license on e-Albania is made online, free of charge, for 37 types of Group I and Group II licenses. The QKB issues a decision within 2 business days for Group I licenses and within 4 business days for Group II licenses. This article explains the step-by-step procedure, with the official source and legal basis.
- The application for a business license on e-Albania is made online through the e-Albania portal, via the “New Business License Application at the QKB” service.
- You can apply online for 37 types of licenses, divided into Group I and Group II.
- The deadline for the decision is 2 business days for Group I and 4 business days for Group II, in accordance with Articles 18 and 19 of Law No. 10081/2009.
- Today the service is free of charge, and the license is issued with no expiration date.
The new business license is the official authorization required for certain activities. It goes beyond simple registration in National Business Center. If you're not sure whether you need a license, check that page first. Not every activity falls under the simple NIPT threshold.
Read also: Practical guide: how to register a new business in Albania.
How to apply online on e-Albania
The application is made by the business itself, without intermediaries, in three steps.
- Log in to the e-Albania portal as a business using the Unique Identification Number (NUIS, also known as NIPT) and the password.
- Completing the online application for the relevant license and uploading the required documents.
- Wait for the QKB decision within the relevant group's deadline. The decision will be delivered to the business account on the portal.
The documentation varies depending on the type of license. The complete list for each category can be found at the QKB documentation file. It links directly to the online service itself.
Group I and Group II: the difference and decision deadlines
Law No. 10081, dated February 23, 2009, “On Licenses, Authorizations, and Permits in the Republic of Albania,” divides licensable activities into groups. The division is made according to how the application is evaluated.
Article 16 of the law defines the two groups that apply online to this service. In Group I, the assessment is based solely on the applicant's self-declaration, without requiring any additional supporting documents. In Group II, the QKB reviews, in addition to the self-declaration, the supporting documents uploaded by the applicant.
The decision deadline varies by group. Article 18, paragraph 1, gives the QKB two working days from the date of application for Group I licenses. Article 19, paragraph 1, extends the deadline to four working days for Group II licenses, precisely because the additional documents require review time.
Which group your license belongs to isn't clear from the name of the activity itself. The online application form shows it when you select the category. We recommend confirming with the QKB by phone or email before relying on the deadline for any group.
What are the 37 licenses that can be applied for online?
The service covers 37 types of licenses, from primary production to medical, pharmaceutical, transportation, and labor market services. The full list is as follows.
View the full list of 37 licenses.
- Primary production
- Expertise services
- Veterinary clinic
- Laboratory services, dental laboratory
- Laboratory services, genetic laboratory
- Laboratory services, biochemical clinical laboratory
- Laboratory services, microbiological laboratory
- Laboratory services, optical laboratory
- Medical cabinet
- Dental office
- Dental clinic
- Medical Center
- Other health and curative services
- Pharmaceutical agency
- Medications
- Veterinary pharmacy
- Hygiene and health expert services
- Interventional hygiene and sanitation services
- Activities in the field of public health that are not licensed under another category.
- Expertise regarding environmental impact
- Professional expertise services related to forests or pastures
- Professional expertise services related to mineral resources
- Professional expertise services related to energy resources
- Driving school for obtaining a driver's license
- Driving school for issuing the professional competence certificate
- Driving school for the issuance of the professional competence certificate
- Wholesale trade of biofuels
- Wholesale trading of aircraft fuels
- Wholesale trading of oil and gas
- Wholesale trade of lubricating oils
- Job market mediation
- Community care services
- Professional water well driller
The exact list and category codes change over time. Always verify with the service itself on e-Albania before you apply. This is especially true when your activity falls between two similar categories.
How much does the license cost and how long is it valid?
According to today's service page, the online application for a new QKB license is free of charge. This article previously stated the old fee of 100 lekë paid at QKB counters. That amount is no longer valid. The service page now lists the cost as “Free.” It does not require any physical submission of documents after approval. The procedure remains fully online.
The issued license has no expiration date, so it is not periodically renewed, except in cases where the conditions of the activity itself change.
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 notificationsIn our daily work, we often see businesses postpone applying for a license because they're waiting to have time to go to the counter. In fact, everything is done online today, free of charge, and within days, not weeks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to apply for a new license at the QKB?
According to today's service page on e-Albania, the application is free of charge.
How long does it take to get the license?
2 business days for Group I licenses, and 4 business days for Group II licenses. The deadline starts from the date the application is submitted online.
Does the license obtained from the QKB have an expiration date?
No, the license is issued without an expiration date.
Can I apply as an individual, not just as a company?
Yes, the service allows applications by individuals, legal entities, or NGOs through the same portal.
What happens if I don't know whether my activity requires a license?
Verify on our Licenses and Business Permits page, or on the QKB registry itself. Don't assume that a simple NIPT is sufficient without first checking.
Do I need to physically go to the QKB after applying online?
No, according to today's service page, the procedure is carried out entirely online, with no physical submission of documents after approval.
- Check the licenses and permits page to see if your activity requires a license.
- Log in to e-Albania with your NUIS and password and complete the online application.
- Mark the deadline for the relevant group—2 or 4 business days—on your calendar, and track the decision on the portal.
Once the license has been obtained, accounting and tax reporting proceed according to the business's legal form. We adhere to these deadlines as part of our daily work with clients.
We're here to help you and always make time to answer any questions. Feel free to call or write at any time about any matters we can assist you with. Contact me
Read also: How to Register a Business in Albania.
