RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR PENSIONERS
Law No. 79/2021 “On Foreigners” (Article 85):
The residence permit for pensioners is granted for a period of up to 1 year for the first time and can be renewed annually if the foreigner continues to meet the criteria of the legislation in force.
The holder of a residence permit granted on the basis of a pension abroad may request family reunification in the Republic of Albania for his/her non-retired spouse or partner, but may not carry out any type of economic or professional activity in the Republic of Albania.
General criteria and documentation (V KM no. 858/2021 and Law no. 79/2021):
- Photocopy of the valid travel document with which the foreigner entered the Republic of Albania, as well as photocopy of the pages with notes of interest for the trip, as well as the holder's general information, type "D" visa, entry-exit stamps.
- The application form is according to Annex No. 9 of the DCM.
- A photograph of the applicant, taken no more than 6 (six) months from the date of application, measuring 47 mm x 36 mm, taken in a plan view with a white background, clearly and distinctly focused. The photograph must show the person facing forward, with a neutral stance and eyes open and visible.
- Documents proving suitable accommodation in Albania, in accordance with Albanian housing standards.
- The service fee for a residence permit for a pensioner, when applied for the first time, is 4500 lek, while in the case of renewal it is 2250 lek. (Annex No. 6)
*For foreigners who require a visa (see Annex No. 3 of the VKM, for a list of countries), they must obtain a type "D" visa for pensioners (D/P).
*For foreigners, for whom a government agreement provides for reciprocity in simplifying the documentation for obtaining a residence permit, the provisions in the agreement apply.
*Citizens of the United States of America, European Union member states and citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, when applying for the first time, benefit from a 5-year residence permit, the service fee of which is 12,000 lek.
*Documentation from the country of origin and/or from the country where the foreigner has had legal residence must be translated into Albanian, issued within the last 6 months, certified and legalized based on obligations arising from international agreements.
Additional documentation for residence permits for pensioners:
- Pension certificate;
- Proof of annual income up to 1,200,000 lek from a pension in the country of origin, with a document issued by the country of origin and legalized by a notary public;
- Proof of sufficient financial resources for living during the stay in Albania to support oneself and dependents during the stay in the Republic of Albania, which consists of:
a) presentation of a bank deposit certificate in second-tier banks, personal or family, in Albania, of no less than 300,000 lek per person (for 1 (one) calendar year); or
b) proof of monthly income of not less than 32,000 lek per person.
4. Health insurance policy valid for at least 1 year;
5. Certificate/proof of criminal record from his/her country of origin, detailing whether or not he/she has a criminal record.
6. Certifies through documents issued by a bank in the Republic of Albania that he/she has a valid bank account, into which regular transfers of his/her pension will be made.
Application procedure ( VKM no. 858/2021):
Step 1
The foreigner, or the person authorized by the foreigner, applies online at the link: https://e-albania.al/eAlbaniaServices/UseService.aspx?service_code=9628 . Fills out the form with the data according to the relevant fields and uploads the required documentation.
Step 2
Make the payment of the fee for this residence permit reason and while filling out the form, the applicant uploads the payment mandate in the relevant section.
Step 3
After receiving the application, the foreigner is provided with a provisional permit by the border and migration authority within 5 (five) days, which is in electronic format.
*The application is reviewed in accordance with the legislation in force by all law enforcement structures and if there are no problems, the foreigner receives notification via email of the approval or rejection of the residence permit, the obligation to appear within 30 days at the civil registry office to register the residential address, the obligation to submit by mail the original documentation, photographs and a money order for payment of the value of the biometric card, at the regional migration office.
*If the regional border and migration authority determines that the information or documentation uploaded by the applicant is incomplete, the foreigner is notified via email of the deficiencies found and must complete them within 30 days.
Step 4
Once the residence permit has been approved, the foreigner, within 30 days:
- appears at the civil registry office to confirm the correct residential address;
- makes the payment of the value of the biometric card according to the data sent by email from the regional migration office, at a second-tier bank in Albania;
- submits to the regional migration office by post the original documentation and the application form generated by the e-Albania portal and signed by the applicant;
- Finally, the foreigner appears in person at the regional migration office to submit the biometric card payment mandate, to provide fingerprints, or any other procedure in accordance with the legislation in force for foreigners.
Step 5
Within two weeks, the foreigner (notified via email) appears at the regional migration office to collect the biometric residence permit card.
