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How a residence permit application is reviewed

Albania residence permit procedure under Joint Instruction No. 137 of 15.07.2026: e-Albania filing, provisional permit in 1 day, 30 days for documents, refusals.

Updated

Filing
e-Albania
Provisional permit
1 day, valid 1 month
Upload missing documents
30 days / 1 week
Permit term starts
From the provisional permit date
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Submitting the application

Foreigners submit residence permit applications and renewals themselves, online on the e-Albania portal. A single permit (leje unike) application can also be filed by the employer or a licensed employment agency acting under a power of attorney.

  • The single permit is reviewed by the migration directorate where you work. The exception is digital nomads: they apply where they live.
  • If you declared a criminal record in your country of origin on the form, you will be asked for a criminal record certificate with an apostille, issued no more than 6 months earlier, translated into Albanian and notarised. The original is sent by post; without it the application is rejected.
  • If the application is refused, the fee is not refunded.

Temporary (provisional) permit

While your application is under review, you stay in the country legally on an electronic temporary permit.

  1. 1Within 1 working day of the application being accepted, you receive the temporary permit electronically at the email address given in the application. It is valid for 1 month.
  2. 2If there is still no decision, submit an online request to extend the temporary permit. Each extension is for no more than 30 days; extensions can follow one another until a decision is made.
  3. 3Once finally approved, the residence permit’s validity is counted from the date the temporary permit was issued, not from the date of the decision.

If documents are missing

  • Regular residence permit

    30 calendar days

    A migration specialist checks the application within 1 working day. If documents are missing, they write to you and you upload them on e-Albania under «Dokumentacion plotësues».

  • Single permit (leje unike)

    1 week

    You are notified of any deficiencies within 1 working day. You have a week to correct them and upload the documents.

  • If you don’t upload them in time, the application is rejected.
  • If the migration service asks for the original documents, you have to send them.

How long the checks take

After approval at the local level, the application is checked by central authorities. The deadlines are set by the instruction.

  1. Up to 2 working daysThe local directorate forwards the approved application to the central border and migration authority.
  2. Up to 2 working daysThe central authority sends the application for checks to the State Intelligence Service (SHISH) and the criminal police.
  3. 5 / 7 working daysSecurity check: 5 days for a single permit, 7 for a residence permit.
  4. Up to 3 working daysThe central authority makes a decision.
  5. Up to 2 working daysThe local directorate notifies you of the approval and next steps (Njoftim).

Grounds for refusing or revoking a residence permit

  • Missing application deadlines without a valid reason.
  • Not meeting the conditions for residence.
  • A threat to public order and security.
  • The basis on which the permit was issued no longer exists.
  • Being outside Albania for more than 180 days.
  • A refusal can be appealed under Law № 79/2021 «On Foreigners».

What’s next

Source — Joint Instruction № 137 of 15.07.2026 of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the State Intelligence Service (it replaced Instruction № 196 of 14.10.2024). The new procedures apply once the electronic systems are updated, so in practice the changes may be introduced gradually.

FAQ

What is a provisional permit when applying for an Albania residence permit?

A temporary electronic residence permit. It's issued within 1 working day of the application being accepted, is valid for 1 month and is sent to the e-mail address in your application.

How do I extend the provisional permit if there's no decision yet?

Submit an online request to the local migration directorate. Each extension is for up to 30 days; you can extend repeatedly until a decision is made.

How long do I have to upload missing documents for a residence permit?

For a regular residence permit — 30 calendar days (via the "Dokumentacion plotësues" section on e-Albania). For a single permit (leje unike) — 1 week. If you miss the deadline, the application is rejected.

From which date does the residence permit term start?

From the date the provisional permit was issued, not from the final decision — as set out in Joint Instruction No. 137 of 15.07.2026.

Can a residence permit be cancelled for a long absence from Albania?

Yes. Among the grounds for refusal or cancellation is staying outside Albania for more than 180 days (Art. 34 of Law No. 79/2021 "On Foreigners").

Something changed or spotted a mistake?

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See also

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Albania Residence Permit Review: Provisional Permit, Timelines