Over the last couple of years, Albania has appeared on the radar of digital nomads and retirees who are looking for somewhere beautiful to base themselves.
Not only that, but a low cost of living, great weather, and hospitable hosts mean that it has a number of benefits over other European neighbours. There are now around 15,000 foreigners living in the country, an increasing number of which are pensioners or those that work remotely.
The problem is that if you fall into one of these two categories, getting a residence permit can be tricky. Americans get a year here automatically, after which they must apply for a permit. Others must start the application within three months of arriving, or face fines.
To apply for a permit in Albania, you need either a local job with a contract, a volunteer contract (whereby you pay social security contributions) or a marriage certificate/civil partnership with an Albanian citizen. You can buy property as well but for most that is not an option. For remote workers or pensioners, none of these options apply. Remote workers or digital nomads can get around it by setting up an Albanian company and paying themselves their salary, this gives them the right to apply, but again this is an annoyingly complex process.
But now that is set to change. Albanian parliament are discussing a new draft law that will allow pensioners and remote workers to apply for a permit to reside. Upon proving their income, depositing it into an Albanian bank account, getting health insurance and providing a notarized rental contract (amongst other things) they will be entitled to remain for the period of one year, after which they must renew with the same conditions.
The minimum income that needs to be declared is around EUR 9700 per year.
But not just that, the draft law will seek to streamline the current application process. As it is now, following the issuance of the residence permit from the Border Police, applicants have to present another set of (the same) documents at the Municipality. This is a wholly unnecessary and convoluted process and costs foreigners up to EUR 500 in apostille stamps, postage, translations, and certifications.
The government said that they aim to introduce a single permission system which would hopefully avoid this dual application process.
So far it’s not known if and when this law will be approved, or finer points of the new framework. Likewise matters such as tax and social security are yet to be clarified.
But it is a step in the right direction. Foreigners, be they remote workers or pensioners bring valuable liquidity to the Albanian economy and businesses. Making it easier for them to apply to live here is a much needed step in the right direction!
You can read more here.
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