Albania Type D Visa Application Service: Document Preparation and Submission Support

Ekonomist Pro provides professional support for obtaining a Type D visa for Albania. Under Albanian law (Law No. 79/2021 "On Foreigners", as amended by Law No. 43/2025), the Type D visa is a long-stay visa issued to foreign nationals who intend to stay in Albania for more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

The Type D visa is the entry visa that enables the holder to enter Albania and then apply for a residence permit or unique permit. For nationalities that require a visa to enter Albania, this is the mandatory first step before any long-term stay.

We handle the administrative, financial and business documentation required for the application. We are an accounting and business advisory firm — not a consular office or immigration agency — and we specialise in the employer-side and financial compliance aspects of the visa process.

For a detailed guide to the Type D visa, including eligibility, categories and official requirements, see our article: Albania Type D Visa — Complete Guide.

A Type D visa is required for nationals of countries that are not visa-exempt for Albania, when they intend to stay for more than 90 days. This includes citizens of most Asian, African and some other countries.

You do not need a Type D visa if:

• Your country is visa-free for Albania — citizens of EU/EEA countries, the USA, Canada, the UK, Turkey, and many other countries can enter Albania without a visa and apply directly for a residence or unique permit after arrival


• You hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa (previously used), or a valid Schengen residence permit — you may enter Albania visa-free, though you must depart at least 3 days before the visa or permit expires


• You hold a valid multiple-entry visa or residence permit from the EU, USA, or UK (previously used) — similar exemption applies


• Your stay is under 90 days — short stays are covered by a Type C (short-stay) visa or visa-free entry

The Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs publishes the complete list of visa-required and visa-exempt countries. If you are unsure about your nationality's visa status, contact us and we will verify it.

The Type D visa is issued for specific purposes. The main categories available through the e-Albania unique permit application system include:

Employment-Related

• Employment (punesim)


• Self-employment (vetëpunësim)


• Highly qualified workers


• Intra-company transfers


• Seasonal employment


• Investors


• Digital nomad workers


• Contractual services

Non-Employment

• Study


• Family reunification


• Professional training


• Scientific research


• Humanitarian or religious activity


• Voluntary service


• Use of owned real estate


• Retirement / pensioners


• Au pairs


• Youth exchange

Each category has its own documentation requirements. The visa sub-type determines which supporting documents must be submitted alongside the main application form.

For employment-related categories, the Type D visa is now integrated into the unique permit application on e-Albania — meaning the applicant submits one combined form that covers work authorisation, visa issuance and residence permit in a single process.

When you engage Ekonomist Pro for Type D visa assistance, we handle:

Step 1: Visa Requirement Check

We verify whether your nationality requires a Type D visa and identify the correct visa sub-category for your situation.

Step 2: Employer and Business Setup (if applicable)

For employment-related visas, we register the Albanian company if it does not yet exist, set up the tax registration (NIPT/NUIS), and prepare the employer-side documentation. For self-employment, we help establish the business entity.

Step 3: Document Preparation

We prepare the financial and administrative documentation required for the visa application:

• Employment contract or business registration documents


• Proof of financial capacity


• Tax compliance certificates


• Employer declaration (for employment categories)


• Accommodation proof in Albania

Step 4: e-Albania Application Support

For employment-related Type D visas, the application is integrated into the unique permit system on e-Albania — one combined form covers the work permit confirmation, visa issuance and unique permit. We guide you through the online submission.

Step 5: AKPA and Ministry Coordination

Employment-category applications are first reviewed by AKPA (National Agency for Employment and Skills) for work authorisation. After AKPA approval, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs processes the visa. We coordinate with both bodies throughout.

Step 6: Post-Arrival Support

After visa issuance and arrival in Albania, the unique permit is generated electronically. We handle the ongoing compliance: monthly accounting, tax filings and payroll.

The documents required depend on the visa sub-category. The core requirements include:

From the Applicant

• Valid passport (minimum 3 months beyond the visa expiry date, at least 2 blank pages for the visa sticker)


• 2 recent passport-size photographs


• Criminal record certificate from country of origin (apostilled or consular-legalised)


• Medical certificate


• Proof of accommodation in Albania


• Proof of sufficient financial means


• Qualifications and professional certificates (translated and legalised)

From the Albanian Employer (employment categories)

• QKB company registration certificate


• Tax compliance certificate


• Employment contract


• Employer declaration / job justification


• Proof of financial capacity to pay the salary

All foreign documents must be translated into Albanian by a certified translator. The payment mandate is downloaded through e-Albania and paid at a second-tier bank before submission.

The Type D visa application process under Law No. 79/2021 (as amended by Law No. 43/2025) follows these steps:

1. Application submission: Submit the application through e-Albania. For employment categories, this is the combined unique permit application that includes the visa request.


2. Payment: Download the payment mandate and pay at a second-tier bank.


3. AKPA review (employment categories): AKPA reviews the work authorisation aspect. Each reviewing institution has a maximum of 2 weeks.


4. Ministry approval: The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs approves the visa after the employment authorisation (if applicable).


5. Visa issuance: The visa is issued and the applicant is notified to collect it from the Albanian embassy/consulate, or receives it electronically.


6. Entry and permit: Upon entering Albania, the unique permit is generated with an electronic seal.

Timeline: If all documentation is correct, the process takes approximately 8 days from submission. If documents need correction, the timeline can extend to a maximum of 12 weeks, with each reviewing institution given up to 2 weeks.

Note: These timelines are from official e-Albania sources and may vary in practice. We cannot guarantee specific processing times.

The costs for a Type D visa application include:

Official State Fees

The visa application fee depends on the visa sub-type and is published on the e-Albania portal. Payment is made via a mandate downloaded from e-Albania and paid at a second-tier bank.

Our Professional Fee

Our fee covers visa requirement verification, employer/business setup, document preparation, e-Albania submission support and post-arrival compliance setup.

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Additional costs may include:

• Certified translations (varies by document volume)


• Apostille or consular legalisation fees


• Company formation fees (if a new entity is required)

The most frequent issues that delay Type D visa applications:

• Applying at the wrong embassy: The application must be submitted to the Albanian embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of citizenship or legal residence. Submitting to the wrong consular post delays the process.


• Incomplete document legalisation: Documents without proper Apostille or consular legalisation are rejected. Each country has different legalisation requirements.


• Wrong visa category: Applying for a Type C (short-stay) visa when a Type D is needed, or selecting the wrong sub-category, requires resubmission.


• Employer not registered: For employment categories, the Albanian employer must be a legally registered entity with no tax arrears. An unregistered or non-compliant employer blocks the application.


• Missing AKPA step: Employment-category applications that skip the work authorisation review at AKPA are returned.


• Expired documents: Criminal record certificates, medical certificates and bank statements must be recent. Expired documents trigger a resubmission request.

We are an Albanian accounting and business advisory firm based in Tirana. We are not an embassy, consulate or government agency and cannot guarantee visa approval — that decision rests with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

What we provide:

• End-to-end employer support: From company registration to tax setup to visa documentation — one firm handles the Albanian side


• Integrated unique permit application: The Type D visa for employment is part of the unique permit application. We prepare both simultaneously, avoiding duplicate work


• Albanian-language processing: All e-Albania forms and authority correspondence are in Albanian — we handle the language barrier


• Post-arrival continuity: After you arrive, we continue as your outsourced accountant, handling bookkeeping, tax filings and payroll

Ready to start? Contact us for a free initial consultation to discuss your Type D visa application.