SIM cards and mobile internet
Albanian SIM card for Ukrainians: Vodafone or One, passport registration, pack prices, eSIM, roaming with a Ukrainian number and keeping it for Diia and banks.
Updated
- Operators
- Vodafone and One
- To buy
- Passport
- Monthly pack
- From ≈1 100 LEK
- eSIM
- Yes, online from Vodafone
Which operators there are
Albania has two mobile operators. Both cover the cities and the coast with 4G, and the big cities with 5G too.
Vodafone Albania
Operates under the Vodafone brand. Offers tourist packs on a physical SIM and an eSIM you can buy online.
One Albania
Since 2023 ALBtelecom and the former Telekom Albania have been merged into One. Plans and tourist packs are on the website and in One stores.
- ALBtelecom no longer exists as a separate mobile network: if you see the name in old advice, it now means One.
- Coverage is weaker in the east of the country, in the mountains and on some stretches of road. If you travel there often, ask locals which network works best.
Where to buy a SIM card and what to bring
It is safest to buy at an operator’s own store: they register the number and activate the pack on the spot.
- 1Bring your international passport. Numbers are registered to a person — for foreigners, with a passport. You may be asked for an address in Albania, so have your accommodation address handy.
- 2At a Vodafone or One store, choose a tourist pack (for a few weeks) or a regular prepaid plan (for a month).
- 3Check that the pack is active: you can see your balance in the operator’s app (My Vodafone, the One app).
- 4After that, top up and buy packs in the app, online on the operator’s website, or at kiosks and supermarkets with top-up terminals.
Living in Albania for more than a few weeks? Get a regular monthly plan rather than a tourist pack: it’s cheaper, and you keep the number.
How much it costs: approximate prices
Vodafone Albania prices from the official packs page as of 12 October 2026. Operators often change data allowances and prices, so check the current offer before buying.
- 3-day pack300 min, 300 MB300 LEK
- 10-day pack300 min, 1.5 GB700 LEK
- Monthly Vodafone GO300 min, 2 GB — in the app1 100 LEK
- Monthly Vodafone Run2 000 min, 10 GB — in the app1 600 LEK
- Monthly Vodafone Fly3 000 min, 20 GB — in the app2 100 LEK
- Tourist Pack (SIM)15–30 days, 1 TB or more, 1 000 min2 700–3 300 LEK
- Full list and terms — Vodafone Albania packs page. The monthly GO, Run and Fly packs are bought in the My Vodafone app; in a store they cost 100 LEK more.
- One’s plans are on the One Albania website or in store. Compare both operators: prices for similar packs are close, but coverage in your area may differ.
- Minutes in the packs are for calls within Albania. Calls to Ukraine are usually charged separately or need a separate international minutes pack; it’s cheaper to call via messaging apps.
eSIM
If your phone supports eSIM, you can add an Albanian number without removing your Ukrainian SIM card.
- Vodafone Albania sells an eSIM Tourist Pack online: you choose a pack, pass an online identity check, pay by card and receive a QR code. The pack lasts 21 days; as of 12.10.2026 it costs from 2 400 LEK (40 GB and 1 000 min within Albania).
- Online verification requires an SMS code — turn on roaming on your Ukrainian number. If the code doesn’t arrive, the eSIM can be activated in any Vodafone store.
- For One eSIM, check the One Albania website or a store.
- An eSIM works on one device only. If you change phones, the operator will have to reissue the profile.
Roaming with a Ukrainian number
Albania is not an EU member, so the “Roam Like at Home” rule that applies to Ukrainians in the EU does not work here.
- Since 1 January 2026 Ukraine has been part of the EU roaming area — EU Council decision. But this only covers EU and EEA countries. In Albania, Ukrainian operators charge standard international roaming.
- In February 2026 the European Commission proposed opening negotiations on “Roam Like at Home” with the Western Balkan countries, including Albania. This is only the start of talks between the EU and the Balkans, and it does not concern Ukraine. As of October 2026 there are no special terms for Ukrainian numbers in Albania.
- Vodafone Ukraine includes Albania in its “GigaRoaming” pack: the operator’s page lists 300 UAH for 1 GB for 7 days. Terms are on the Vodafone Ukraine roaming page.
- Kyivstar: Albania is not among the “like at home” countries; prices and personal offers are on Kyivstar’s roaming page, under “Albania”.
- lifecell: check roaming terms for Albania on the lifecell website or in the app before you travel.
How to keep your Ukrainian number for Diia and banking
Your Ukrainian number receives SMS codes from banks, Diia (Ukraine’s state services app) and other services. Don’t give it up, even once you have an Albanian SIM card.
- 1Keep both SIM cards in your phone: the Ukrainian one for calls and SMS, the Albanian one (physical or eSIM) for mobile data.
- 2Turn off mobile data roaming on the Ukrainian SIM. Otherwise your phone may use expensive data without you noticing.
- 3Ukrainian operators usually don’t charge for incoming SMS in roaming, but check your plan.
- 4Don’t leave the number without any paid activity for too long: the operator may disconnect an inactive number. The time limits depend on the operator and plan, so check them in the app or on the website.
- 5Where possible, switch your bank and Diia logins to app or biometric authentication rather than SMS.
Home internet
- How to get internet in your flat and which providers operate — utilities and internet.
- Until you have home internet, a mobile pack with a large data allowance will do: you can use your phone as a hotspot.
FAQ
Which mobile operators are there in Albania?
Two: Vodafone Albania and One Albania. ALBtelecom and the former Telekom Albania were merged into One in 2023, so there is no longer a separate ALBtelecom network.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in Albania?
Yes. Numbers are registered to a person — for foreigners, with a passport. Buy at an official Vodafone or One store: they will register the number and activate a pack on the spot.
How much does mobile internet cost in Albania?
Approximately, as of October 2026: Vodafone monthly packs cost 1 100–2 100 LEK for 2–20 GB (in the app), tourist packs 2 700–3 300 LEK for 15–30 days. Check current prices on the operators’ websites.
Does “Roam Like at Home” work in Albania for Ukrainian numbers?
No. Since 1 January 2026 Ukraine has been part of the EU roaming area, but Albania is not an EU member. Standard international roaming applies here; EU talks with the Western Balkans on “Roam Like at Home” have only just begun and do not concern Ukraine.
Can I buy an eSIM in Albania?
Yes. Vodafone Albania sells a tourist eSIM online: online identity check, card payment and a QR code. The pack lasts 21 days and costs from 2 400 LEK as of October 2026. You can also activate an eSIM in a store.
How do I keep my Ukrainian number while living in Albania?
Keep it as a second SIM card or eSIM for SMS from banks and Diia (Ukraine’s state services app), turn off mobile data roaming on it and make paid transactions from time to time. Check your operator’s rules on disconnecting inactive numbers.
Something changed or spotted a mistake?
Prices, timetables and addresses in Albania change — let us know and we’ll update.