Unique Permit for Digital Mobile Workers (Leje unike për punonjës lëvizës digjital)

Year establishedPublished

2021

Governing lawPublished

Law No. 79/2021 "On Foreigners", Art. 68; Council of Ministers Decision No. 858 of 29.12.2021

Responsible authorityPublished

Albanian State Police — Border and Migration Directorate (Ministry of Interior)

What the program providesPublished

Work remotely for foreign clients from Albania's Adriatic coast on a low income bar, with a path to permanent residence after five years

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Minimum ageUnknown

Unknown

Clean criminal record requiredPublished

Yes

Local health insurance requiredPublished

Yes

Nationality restrictionsPublished

No

Basic eligibilityPublished

Employment or service contract with an employer or clients abroad for IT-based work, plus monthly income of at least ALL 32,000 (~US$384) or an ALL 300,000 (~US$3,600) deposit in an Albanian bank

Employment statusPublished

Full-time employee or self-employed

Type of remote employmentPublished

Employee of a foreign employer, or contractor/freelancer for clients abroad, working without a fixed office using IT tools; no work for Albanian clients

Generational limitPublished

Not applicable

Family sponsorshipPublished

Yes

Spouse includedPublished

Yes

Children includedPublished

Yes

Child age limitPublished

18 years

ChildrenPublished

Family reunification (Law 79/2021 Art. 41) covers spouse or stable partner, minor unmarried children, and adult unmarried children who cannot support themselves for health reasons

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Processing timePublished

4–12 weeks

Can apply without travelingPublished

Yes

How you applyPublished

Online on e-Albania (from abroad or while legally in Albania); visa nationals first get a D/LD visa via e-Visa

Required in-person stepPublished

Register address at civil status office, fingerprints at regional migration office, then card pickup in Albania

What the processing time measuresPublished

Review and issue of the unique permit within 4-12 weeks of application (Ministry of Interior procedure page, DCM 858/2021); electronic provisional permit within 5 days

Official application routePublished

https://e-albania.al/eAlbaniaServices/UseService.aspx?service_code=15146

Minimum investmentPublished

None required

Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published

None required

Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published

None required

Processing feeUnknown

Unknown

Application feePublished

$54

Total cost to applyPublished

$54

Monthly income requiredPublished

$384/month

Monthly pension income requiredPublished

None required

Monthly rental income requiredPublished

None required

Savings requiredPublished

$3,600

Proof of sufficient fundsPublished

Yes

Local bank deposit requiredPublished

No

Minimum local bank depositPublished

None required

Fees paidPublished

Before approval

Cost notesPublished

Service fee ALL 4,500 first issue, ALL 2,250 renewal (US, EU and Kosovo citizens: 5-year permit, ALL 12,000 ≈ US$144); biometric card fee paid separately after approval; visa nationals also need a type D (D/LD) visa

Stay required to keep statusPublished

185 days/year

Physical presence requiredPublished

Yes

In-country visit requiredPublished

Yes

Move-in windowPublished

0 months

Length of residencyPublished

12 months

Residency is lifetimePublished

No

RenewablePublished

Yes

Maximum durationUnknown

Unknown

Maximum duration is lifetimePublished

Yes

Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published

A permit can be refused at renewal or annulled if the holder stays outside Albania longer than 180 days within a year of the permit (Law 79/2021, Art. 34(1)(e)); i.e. about 185 days a year in Albania

Tax residency rulePublished

Residents with a permanent home in Albania or staying more than 183 days in a calendar year will be considered tax residents

Personal income taxPublished

range between 0%-23%

Time to permanent residencyPublished

5 years

Time to citizenshipPublished

7 years

Work for a local employerPublished

No

Start a businessPublished

No

Remote or freelance workPublished

Yes

Local healthcare accessUnknown

Unknown

University accessUnknown

Unknown

Can buy landUnknown

Unknown

Local bankingPublished

Yes

Permanent residence timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Citizenship timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published

Initial permit 1 year, renewable; US, EU and Kosovo citizens get a 5-year permit on first application. Permanent residence after 5 years of legal residence (absences up to 6 months at a time, 10 months total allowed); citizenship after 7 years with permanent residence. The queue claim of a 90-day stay reflects visa-free entry, not this permit

Official program websitePublished

https://arkiva.mb.gov.al/procedura-dhe-dokumentacioni-per-pajisjen-me-leje-qendrimi-dhe-leje-unike/

Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published

https://arkiva.mb.gov.al/procedura-dhe-dokumentacioni-per-pajisjen-me-leje-qendrimi-dhe-leje-unike/ | https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligj-per-te-Huajt-%E2%80%93-nr.-79.2021_English.pdf | https://data.globalcit.eu/NationalDB/docs/Law%20No.%20113-2020%20(English).pdf

Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.