Republic of Albania · residence general

Residence by Real-Estate Ownership

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If you own qualifying property in Albania, you can obtain residence on the basis of that ownership while you keep the property.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyRenewable while you own the qualifying property; not a direct settlement route on its own - confirm current rules on the official page.In flux
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 - qualifying property thresholds were revised by Law 43/2025 and are indexed; confirm current figures on the official page.
Typical duration
Renewable while you own the qualifying property; not a direct settlement route on its own - confirm current rules on the official page.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No

In short

As of 10 July 2026, the Residence by Real-Estate Ownership for Republic of Albania is an unsponsored Albania immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Albania government pages, reviewed 10 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/albania/real-estate-residence#answer

What is the Residence by Real-Estate Ownership in Republic of Albania?

Residence by Real-Estate Ownership is an unsponsored Albania route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - qualifying property thresholds were revised by Law 43/2025 and are indexed; confirm current figures on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - the Border and Migration Police examine complete requests within published timelines; confirm current processing on the official page; typical duration is Renewable while you own the qualifying property; not a direct settlement route on its own - confirm current rules on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 on 1 June 2026.

Overview

Albania grants residence on the basis of registered real-estate ownership under the Law on Foreigners (Law 79/2021), applied for through the e-Albania portal and issued by the Border and Migration Police. You must hold qualifying property that meets the conditions set in the implementing rules, and you keep the property throughout the residence period. Qualifying thresholds were revised by the 2025 amendments (Law 43/2025) effective in early 2026, so figures here are indicative only. It is renewable while you own the property; on its own it is not a direct settlement route, though lawful time can contribute toward permanent residence. Albania is an EU candidate, not an EU member.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm your Albanian property meets the qualifying conditions and threshold for the real-estate residence route.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather your title documents, a valuation where needed, and your passport.

  3. 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.

  4. After approval

    Renew while you keep the property and consider a settlement route if you intend to stay long term.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Residence by Real-Estate Ownership, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Residence by Real-Estate Ownership route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Residence by Real-Estate Ownership.

    Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021 · verified

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Frequently asked questions

What property value qualifies?+

Qualifying 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 owning property lead straight to permanent residence?+

Not on its own - it is renewable while you hold the property, though lawful time can contribute toward permanent residence. Confirm the rules on the official e-Albania page.

Do I keep my Albanian residence if I sell the property it is based on?+

No - the real-estate route requires you to keep the qualifying property throughout the residence period, and selling or losing it is a listed blocker. Confirm the current rules on the official e-Albania page.

What documents prove my property qualifies for real-estate residence?+

Typical evidence includes title documents showing registered ownership and a valuation or other proof that the property meets the qualifying conditions, alongside your passport, uploaded through e-Albania. Confirm the current requirements 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 in Albania

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Border and Migration Police, Ministry of Interior (Albania) - Law 79/2021

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology