Visa Requirements for Albanian Citizens

Albanian citizens can visit 88+ countries visa-free in 2025. This includes all 29 Schengen Area countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and more) for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Other visa-free destinations include Turkey (90 days), Serbia (90 days), Montenegro (90 days), North Macedonia (90 days), Kosovo (ID card only), Brazil (90 days), Singapore (30 days), Malaysia (90 days), and Thailand (60 days). Additionally, Albanians can obtain eVisas for 46+ countries.

The US B1/B2 tourist and business visa costs $185 (approximately 17,575 ALL) for Albanian applicants. This is a non-refundable application fee paid before scheduling your visa interview at the US Embassy in Tirana. Additional fees may apply for visa issuance depending on reciprocity arrangements.

The UK Standard Visitor Visa costs £127 (approximately 15,240 ALL) for Albanian citizens applying for stays up to 6 months. TLS Contact in Tirana charges an additional service fee of around £55. Priority processing is available for £500 extra (5 working days) or £1,000 for Super Priority (next working day).

No, Albanian citizens do not need a visa for Schengen countries. Since December 15, 2010, Albanian passport holders have enjoyed visa-free access to all 29 Schengen Area countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Greece, and Portugal. Albanians can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period for tourism, business, or family visits.

Standard visa requirements for Albanian citizens include: valid biometric passport with 6+ months validity and 2 blank pages, recent passport-size photographs (specifications vary by country), bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months showing sufficient funds, employment letter or business registration, confirmed flight itinerary and hotel bookings, travel insurance (where required), and cover letter explaining travel purpose. For US and UK visas, evidence of strong ties to Albania is particularly important.

The US B1/B2 visa approval rate for Albanian applicants is approximately 70% to 78% based on recent fiscal year data. Approval rates are higher for applicants with previous international travel history (especially to Schengen countries), stable employment in Albania, property ownership, and clear documentation of funds and purpose of travel.

Yes, Albanian citizens can obtain a visa on arrival in the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai) for stays up to 90 days. This visa-on-arrival is free of charge and is stamped directly upon arrival at UAE airports. This makes Dubai a popular destination for Albanian travelers seeking warm weather destinations.

Albanian applicants face higher rejection rates for the United States (approximately 22% to 30%), United Kingdom (around 18% to 22%), and Canada (approximately 25% to 30%). Common rejection reasons include insufficient financial documentation, unclear travel purpose, lack of previous travel history to visa-required countries, and weak ties to Albania such as unstable employment or no property ownership.

To maximize visa approval chances: apply at least 4 to 8 weeks before travel, provide 6 months of bank statements showing consistent income and savings, include proof of employment with salary details, show property ownership or rental agreements in Albania, document previous international travel stamps (especially to Schengen countries), provide a detailed day-by-day travel itinerary with hotel bookings, and ensure all documents are properly translated into English where required.