Albania is a European country that offers expats a high quality of life at reasonable prices. The local labor market is actively developing and looking for foreign specialists. Find out where foreigners work in Albania, what conditions and what package of documents you need to have for moving

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Albania is a small country in Southeast Europe, located on the Balkan Peninsula, on the coast along the Adriatic and Ionian seas. For 10 years, the state has been striving to become a member of the European Union, but the high level of unemployment, corruption, crime, and not very developed infrastructure prevent this.

According to a recent study conducted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), there are dynamic trends in employment in Albania. In particular, there is a noticeable shortage of highly qualified specialists in the state, as well as specialists in the fields of production and retail trade.

Despite certain economic difficulties, Albania is popular among expats.

We talk about the peculiarities of employment in the state in 2024 in our guide.

Jobs in Albania for expats in 2024

The economic model of Albania is focused on the exploitation of natural resources, because Albania is primarily an agrarian state. However, the shortage of qualified personnel is also noticeable.

In 2024, Albania seeks:

- Software developers/engineers.

- IT specialists.

- Web developers.

- Data analysts.

- Marketing specialists.

- Trade representatives.

- Accountants.

- Financial analysts.

- HR department specialists.

- Construction engineers.

- Electrical engineers.

- Mechanical engineers.

- Nurse.

- Pharmacists.

- Doctors.

- Teachers/Educators.

- Translators

- Tourism and hospitality industry professional.

- Builders.

- Customer service specialists.

English-speaking expats often work as English teachers in both private language schools and international schools where native English speakers are in demand.

How can a foreigner move to work in Albania?

The basis for official employment in Albania is the presence of a certain package of permits, which depends on the expat's citizenship:

- Citizens of European Union (EU) and Schengen Agreement countries enjoy the same employment rights as Albanian citizens. Representatives of these countries do not need any permits to work in the state.

- US citizens can live in Albania without a permit for up to a year.

- Citizens of the rest of the world must have a work visa and a work permit to move.

To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.

Types of visas to Albania

Albania's visa system is designed to take into account different purposes and duration of stay.

- For short-term stays, most expats get a Type C visa, which is a short-term visa and allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. This is usually used for business meetings, attending conferences and meetings.

- For a longer stay, you will need to obtain a type D visa or residence permit. Type D visa is intended for stays longer than 90 days.

A package of documents for obtaining a work visa to Albania

An approximate package of documents for obtaining a work visa to Albania includes:

- A completed visa application of the prescribed format with a signature.

- Extract from the registration center about the employer's registration.

- The applicant's employment contract.

- Copies of the passport.

- Five photos.

In addition, a fee of 6,000 ALL, which is approximately equivalent to 45 EUR, must be paid.

Usually, the procedure for obtaining a visa begins with a job search. After that, the employer often helps with the application for a work permit. The permit is tied to a specific job and needs to be renewed when the employer changes.

To get a work permit, you need to provide documents similar to a D visa.

A work permit in Albania is issued for one year with the right of extension.

Is it necessary to know the Albanian language to move to the country?

As for the requirement to know the Albanian language, it largely depends on the job. For positions in international organizations or schools where English is the primary language, Albanian may not be necessary.

However, for positions that involve significant interaction with the local population or local business, knowledge of Albanian can be a great advantage and sometimes a requirement.

Useful recommendations

Most jobs for foreigners are concentrated in the capital of Albania - Tirana, and in the big cities - Durres, Vlore and Berat.

For an effective job search, it is recommended to:

- write a competent resume and cover letter;

- register in the professional social network Linkedin.com;

- contact international companies operating in Albania through official websites;

- monitor the search for vacancies on thematic forums and groups in social networks, as well as on specialized job search sites. Among those in this country, it should be noted: learn4good.com, careerjet.com, duapune.com. You can also use the services of an international recruitment agency.

Albania is a promising country for employment of expats. The state attracts foreigners with its favorable geographical location, development and career prospects.

We will remind you that we talked about the most interesting tourist places in Albania here. The ranking of the best cities in the world for employment of expats in this article.