Republic of Albania · investor · Leads to settlement
Unique Permit for Investors
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
If you invest in an Albanian business, the investor route of the Unique Permit grants you residence tied to that investment.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - the Border and Migration Police examine complete requests within published timelines; confirm current processing on the official page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - investment thresholds were revised by Law 43/2025 and are indexed; confirm current figures on the official page.
- Typical duration
- Tied to the investment and renewable; permanent residence follows after five continuous years - confirm current validity on the official page.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
The investor route under the Law on Foreigners (Law 79/2021) grants a Unique Permit to non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment in an Albanian company, applied for through the e-Albania portal and issued by the Border and Migration Police. Conditions can include capital injected into a registered Albanian company and, for some investor categories, an employment ratio of Albanian to foreign staff. Thresholds were revised by the 2025 amendments (Law 43/2025) effective in early 2026, so figures here are indicative only. It is renewable and, after five continuous years, leads to permanent residence. Albania is an EU candidate, not an EU member.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓You make a qualifying investment in an Albanian company, such as capital injected into a registered business.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
- ✓You meet any employment-ratio condition that applies to your investor category.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
- ✓You can evidence the investment and the lawful source of funds.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
- ✓You hold a valid passport and attend the biometric appointment for the card.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
Common blockers
- !An investment below the threshold set by Law 43/2025 or in an ineligible form.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
- !Failing an employment-ratio condition that applies to the investor category.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
- !Inability to evidence the investment or the lawful source of funds.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Valid passport and recent photographs.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
- ·Company registration and documentation of the qualifying investment.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
- ·Proof of the lawful source and origin of the invested funds.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
- ·Documents uploaded through the e-Albania portal as required.Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm your planned investment meets the current threshold and any employment-ratio condition for your investor category.
Build the evidence pack
Document the investment, the lawful source of funds, and the company registration, with your passport.
Submit through the official channel
Apply through the e-Albania portal, attend the biometric appointment at the Border and Migration Police, and pay the fees.
After approval
Maintain the qualifying investment, renew on time, and track your time toward permanent residence after five years.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Unique Permit for Investors route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Unique Permit for Investors.
Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 · verified
Matches these professions
Also explored by
Compare Republic of Albania with
Related routes
Unique Permit (Leje Unike)
If you are a non-EU national working in Albania, the Unique Permit is the main route - one card combining work and residence, and it includes a remote-work sub-category.
Residence by Real-Estate Ownership
If you own qualifying property in Albania, you can obtain residence on the basis of that ownership while you keep the property.
Permanent Residence (Albania)
If you have lived in Albania continuously for five years, this is your settlement status - a long-validity permanent residence permit.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to invest?+
Investment thresholds were revised by the 2025 amendments (Law 43/2025) and are indexed, so we do not quote a figure here. Confirm the current amounts on the official e-Albania page.
Does investing get me a passport directly?+
No - the investor route grants residence, not citizenship; citizenship is a separate, later process. Confirm the current rules on the official e-Albania page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor →