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Residence Permit for Pensioners (Leje qëndrimi për pensionistë)

Albania · Southern Europe

Source: Mobility Asset DatabaseLifecycle: UnknownResidency-to-PassportIndependent Means Visas

Program facts from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database. Unknown facts are shown as Unknown, never as zero.

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Publication state
Mobility Asset Database
Lifecycle status
Unknown
Facts checked through
Sep 21, 2026
Source snapshots
Database edition

Identity and current status

The route identity and current status.

Present
Year establishedPublished
2021
Governing lawPublished
Law No. 79/2021 "On Foreigners", Art. 85; 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 provides

What the program gives the holder.

Present
What the program providesPublished
Retire to Albania's sunny coast on a modest foreign pension, with permanent residence after five years

Best suited for

Who the program tends to suit. Research only, never a personal recommendation.

Absent

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Eligibility

Personal qualifications an applicant must establish.

Present
Minimum ageUnknown
Unknown
Clean criminal record requiredPublished
Yes
Local health insurance requiredPublished
Yes
Nationality restrictionsPublished
No
Basic eligibilityPublished
Retired in home country with a pension of at least ALL 1,200,000 a year (~US$14,400), paid into an Albanian bank account
Generational limitPublished
Not applicable

Household inclusion

How spouses and children are treated.

Present
Family sponsorshipPublished
Yes
Spouse includedPublished
Yes
Children includedUnknown
Unknown
Child age limitUnknown
Unknown
ChildrenPublished
Art. 85 lets the pensioner bring a spouse or partner who is not retired; children are not mentioned in the pensioner article

Documents

Evidence categories and filing documents.

Absent

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Process and timeline

How you apply and how long it takes.

Present
Processing timePublished
4.3–8.7 weeks
Can apply without travelingPublished
No
How you applyPublished
Online on e-Albania while legally present in Albania; visa nationals first get a D/P visa
Required in-person stepPublished
Must be legally in Albania to apply; register address at civil status office, fingerprints at regional migration office, card pickup
What the processing time measuresPublished
30-60 days (accounting firm guide; no statutory deadline published for this permit); electronic provisional permit within 5 days of accepted application (Ministry of Interior)
Official application routePublished
https://e-albania.al/eAlbaniaServices/UseService.aspx?service_code=9628

Costs and investment

Fees, income and savings thresholds, and investment amounts.

Present
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
None required
Monthly pension income requiredPublished
$1,200/month
Monthly rental income requiredPublished
None required
Savings requiredPublished
None required
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 need a type D (D/P) visa

Presence and maintenance

Stay, renewal, and how long the status lasts.

Present
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%

Rights and onward pathways

Work, healthcare and other rights, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship.

Present
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
No
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

Risks, limitations, and uncertainty

Notes on changes, conflicts, and limits.

Present
Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published
Pension permit is 1 year, renewable yearly while conditions are met; US, EU and Kosovo citizens get a 5-year permit on first application. No economic or professional activity allowed. Permanent residence after 5 years (absences up to 6 months at a time, 10 months total); citizenship after 7 years. The queue's 181-day figure is not in the law; the absence cap gives about 185 days

Sources, freshness, and conflict disclosure

Where the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database took these facts from.

Present
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 | https://sherbimekontabiliteti.al/en/albania-residence-permit-guide/

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

This anonymous dossier is read-only research. It does not establish personal fit, eligibility, legal or tax advice, filing, approval, residence, citizenship, or a held Right.