Albania Visa Information
No visa is required for citizens of the United States, member countries of the European Union, New Zealand and Australia and EFTA member countries. Citizens of other countries must obtain a visa at the nearest Albanian embassy before departing for the country.
How long can you stay in Albania?
The foreigners that enter without a visa have the right to stay in Albania only 30 days for an entry and they may stay up to 90 days within the calendar year.
What documents will be required?
Business and Tourist Travel Requirements:
• Passport Requirements: Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay, and with at least one blank visa page available for visa stamp(s).
• Proof Of Departure: Confirmed round-trip or onward airline ticket.
Transit Travel Requirements:
• Passport Requirements: Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay, and with at least one blank visa page available for stamp(s).
• Proof Of Departure: Confirmed onward airline ticket.
• Other Requirements: Valid onward destination visas (if applicable).
Diplomat/Official Travel Requirements:
• Passport Requirements: Original, signed passport valid for 6 months beyond stay, and with at least one blank visa page available for visa stamp(s).
• Other Forms: Official Letter of Support from the US Department of State.
• Proof Of Departure: Confirmed round-trip airline ticket.
• Special Instructions: If the diplomat is staying over 30 days, they must register at the local police department for an extension of 60 days or less.
What is the cost of a visa?
The citizens of the following countries may obtain a visa at any entry point by payment:
FYR Macedonia (10 Euro; at the Embassy 5 Euro), Montenegro (free of charge), Israel (30 Euro).
The citizens of other countries are required to obtain visas at the missions of the Republic of Albania that cover the country of residence.
An entry tax must be payed upon entry to the country, by air, sea or land. The amount varies for different nationalities. The amount for North American and EU citizens is US$5. An exit tax is required at Rinas Airport, which is US$10.
Can I work in Albania?
In Albania, the first step to obtaining a work permit for a foreign employee is the issuing of a visa. Once a visa is issued, a temporary residence permit is required in order to apply for a residence permit.
The application for a working permit is submitted along with the following documentation:
• A decision for the registration of the legal entity of the employer where foreigner is to be employed
• The original copy of the individual employment contract (to be translated into Albanian, and certified by a public notary)
• Passport copy, certified by public notary
• Special power of attorney for the company engaged in providing such service
• Five photos
• The foreign individual requesting a work permit for the first time is obliged to pay the fee of 6000 All or approx 45 Euro
The work permit application is submitted at the diplomatic representative office of the Albanian Republic in the foreigner’s country of residence. The procedure last approximately 30 days and the foreigner can perform work during the procedure is in progress with the proof of having applied for a permit.
Residence permits can be issued for a period of 3, 6 or 12 months, with the possibility to renew in no more than 5 consequent times; or with validity of 2 years, renewed not more than once. A permanent residence permit can be issued if the foreigner has lived in Albania for 5 years and is deemed to have substantial ties and activities in the country.
A request for renewal of a work permit is submitted 15 days prior to the day of expiry of the initial working permit and the procedure lasts 30 days. The work permit is renewed if a valid employment agreement is presented and the foreigner is a legal resident on the territory of Albanian Republic. A request for issuance/renewal of residence permit is submitted 30 days prior to expiry. The procedure requires 30 days to be completed.
All personal items, new or old may be taken into Albania without incurring custom duties. A reasonable amount of tobacco, beverages and perfumes for personal use is allowed.
Prohibited items include firearms, ammunition, narcotics, drugs and goods jeopardizing the observance of public order and social security. Special export permits are required for precious metals, ancient coins and scroll, antiques, books and works of art, which are considered to be part of national culture and heritage.
Embassy contact information:
Please contact the nearest Albanian embassy for information on what documentation you may require to enter Albania. Albanian Embassies Worldwide.
Afghanistan Visa Information
Who requires a visa?
A citizen of a foreign country, wishing to enter Afghanistan, generally must first obtain a visa. The type of visa you must have is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.
Types of Visas and the validity period:
Tourist Visa
Tourist visa is issued for foreign nationals who are interested to travel to Afghanistan individually or with a group for the purpose of visiting Afghanistan or their relatives. This type of visa is issued by the Afghan Missions aboard. The validity of this type of visa is for one month, which can be extended only once by the Ministry of Interior with the agreement of the Afghan Tourism Organization.
Entry Visa for Work Permit
Entry visa for work permit is issued for business, economic, commercial, cultural, industrial purposes and working for the governmental or non governmental organizations. This type of visa can be obtained from the Consulate Section of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Your employer or sponsor should contact the concerned department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly. However, this type of visa can be extended through the Ministry of Interior.
Resident Visa
This type of visa is issued by the Ministry of Interior to the foreign nationals holding ordinary passport, who have already entered Afghanistan with a proper visa. The validity of this type of visa is from one month to six months and can be extended.
Transit Visa
This type of visa is issued by the Afghan Missions aboard to those foreign nationals who pass through Afghanistan to a third country. The validity of this type of visa is for 72 hours for air passengers and six days for those who travel by land.
Double Entry Visa
This type of visa is issued to the foreign nationals who have a stay visa and the validity of the visa can be extended.
Diplomatic Visa
This visa is issued for holders of diplomatic passports who intend to travel to Afghanistan. Diplomatic passport holders can obtain this type of visa from the Afghan Missions aboard. However, they must contact the Section of Diplomatic passport and Diplomatic Visa of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly through their mission in Kabul.
Service Visa
This type of visa is issued by the Afghan Missions abroad to the foreign nationals who hold service or special passports.
Student Visa
This type of visa is issued by the Afghan Missions aboard to the foreign students who intend to study in Afghanistan. The relevant university/academic institution must contact the Cultural Relations Department of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly.
Exit Visa
This type of visa is issued to the foreign nationals who have entered the country with entry work permit visa. The validity of this type of visa is one to six days; in some circumstances this can be extended.
What documents will be required?
Visitors must hold:
1. One completed visa application form
2. Two recent passport size photos (size 3/4 cm)
3. Valid Passport, for at least 6 months
4. A letter of introduction from your employer/sponsor stating the purpose and duration of your trip
5. Visa processing fee (usually payable in local currency)
6. Possibly a short interview
Time required to issue a visa:
As a general rule, applicants should allow a four to six week timeframe for processing of applications. Factors that may delay this processing time include:
– Medical referral to Australia and the need for any subsequent medical tests;
– Document verification including educational documents, employment references and bank statements; and
– Applications which are incomplete and require the visa office to make contact with the applicant or the applicant’s agent.
It is compulsory for all international students to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for themselves and their dependents, where applicable, for the duration of the visa. The premium for OSHC is only to be paid once the PVA requirements have been met.
What is the cost of a visa?
Single-entry: GBP50. Double-entry: GBP100. Multiple-entry: GBP150 (up to three months); GBP260 (up to six months). Inquiries should be made at the embassy for details about visiting Afghanistan.
Other information:
– We strongly recommend all visitors to extend their visa prior to expiry, if they wish to stay longer than the permitted duration. If the visa is not extended on the due date, the holder of the passport will be fined US$2 for each day during the first month of the delay, US$5 for each day during the second month of the delay (fines can be paid at ports). If the delay is more than two months, in addition to the fine, the visa holder will be deported.
– We strongly recommend foreign visitors to register with their embassy in Kabul, the local Afghan Police Department and the Afghan Tourist Organization (if the visit is for tourism purposes only) on arrival.
– During your stay in Afghanistan, we respectfully request you to respect local culture and sensitivities.
– Photos and Cinematographic films can be taken after obtaining previous permission in writing from the Tourist Bureau, Press Department, located on the first floor of the Ministry of Information and Culture Building.
– Transportation of some rare birds out of the country is illegal. Therefore, visitors must contact the Afghan Tourist Bureau to obtain more information and relevant export certificate.
– Tourists may export duty free 30 sqm carpets, 10 skins excluding Karakul, cut and polished precious stones including Lapis Lazuli, handicrafts and a limited variety of antiques.
– Upon arrival, visitors are required to declare all foreign currency (if the amount exceeds 1million AFS or its equivalent value) that they carry. Please ask for Ansari Application Form at the airport.
Embassy contact information:
Please contact the nearest Afghani embassy for information on what documentation you may require to enter Afghanistan. Afghan Embassies Worldwide.
A citizen of a foreign country, wishing to enter Afghanistan, generally must first obtain a visa. The type of visa you must have is defined by immigration law, and relates to the purpose of your travel.
Types of Visas and the validity period:
Tourist Visa
Tourist visa is issued for foreign nationals who are interested to travel to Afghanistan individually or with a group for the purpose of visiting Afghanistan or their relatives. This type of visa is issued by the Afghan Missions aboard. The validity of this type of visa is for one month, which can be extended only once by the Ministry of Interior with the agreement of the Afghan Tourism Organization.
Entry Visa for Work Permit
Entry visa for work permit is issued for business, economic, commercial, cultural, industrial purposes and working for the governmental or non governmental organizations. This type of visa can be obtained from the Consulate Section of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Your employer or sponsor should contact the concerned department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly. However, this type of visa can be extended through the Ministry of Interior.
Resident Visa
This type of visa is issued by the Ministry of Interior to the foreign nationals holding ordinary passport, who have already entered Afghanistan with a proper visa. The validity of this type of visa is from one month to six months and can be extended.
Transit Visa
This type of visa is issued by the Afghan Missions aboard to those foreign nationals who pass through Afghanistan to a third country. The validity of this type of visa is for 72 hours for air passengers and six days for those who travel by land.
Double Entry Visa
This type of visa is issued to the foreign nationals who have a stay visa and the validity of the visa can be extended.
Diplomatic Visa
This visa is issued for holders of diplomatic passports who intend to travel to Afghanistan. Diplomatic passport holders can obtain this type of visa from the Afghan Missions aboard. However, they must contact the Section of Diplomatic passport and Diplomatic Visa of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly through their mission in Kabul.
Service Visa
This type of visa is issued by the Afghan Missions abroad to the foreign nationals who hold service or special passports.
Student Visa
This type of visa is issued by the Afghan Missions aboard to the foreign students who intend to study in Afghanistan. The relevant university/academic institution must contact the Cultural Relations Department of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly.
Exit Visa
This type of visa is issued to the foreign nationals who have entered the country with entry work permit visa. The validity of this type of visa is one to six days; in some circumstances this can be extended.
What documents will be required?
Visitors must hold:
1. One completed visa application form
2. Two recent passport size photos (size 3/4 cm)
3. Valid Passport, for at least 6 months
4. A letter of introduction from your employer/sponsor stating the purpose and duration of your trip
5. Visa processing fee (usually payable in local currency)
6. Possibly a short interview
Time required to issue a visa:
As a general rule, applicants should allow a four to six week timeframe for processing of applications. Factors that may delay this processing time include:
– Medical referral to Australia and the need for any subsequent medical tests;
– Document verification including educational documents, employment references and bank statements; and
– Applications which are incomplete and require the visa office to make contact with the applicant or the applicant’s agent.
It is compulsory for all international students to have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for themselves and their dependents, where applicable, for the duration of the visa. The premium for OSHC is only to be paid once the PVA requirements have been met.
What is the cost of a visa?
Single-entry: GBP50. Double-entry: GBP100. Multiple-entry: GBP150 (up to three months); GBP260 (up to six months). Inquiries should be made at the embassy for details about visiting Afghanistan.
Other information:
– We strongly recommend all visitors to extend their visa prior to expiry, if they wish to stay longer than the permitted duration. If the visa is not extended on the due date, the holder of the passport will be fined US$2 for each day during the first month of the delay, US$5 for each day during the second month of the delay (fines can be paid at ports). If the delay is more than two months, in addition to the fine, the visa holder will be deported.
– We strongly recommend foreign visitors to register with their embassy in Kabul, the local Afghan Police Department and the Afghan Tourist Organization (if the visit is for tourism purposes only) on arrival.
– During your stay in Afghanistan, we respectfully request you to respect local culture and sensitivities.
– Photos and Cinematographic films can be taken after obtaining previous permission in writing from the Tourist Bureau, Press Department, located on the first floor of the Ministry of Information and Culture Building.
– Transportation of some rare birds out of the country is illegal. Therefore, visitors must contact the Afghan Tourist Bureau to obtain more information and relevant export certificate.
– Tourists may export duty free 30 sqm carpets, 10 skins excluding Karakul, cut and polished precious stones including Lapis Lazuli, handicrafts and a limited variety of antiques.
– Upon arrival, visitors are required to declare all foreign currency (if the amount exceeds 1million AFS or its equivalent value) that they carry. Please ask for Ansari Application Form at the airport.
Embassy contact information:
Please contact the nearest Afghani embassy for information on what documentation you may require to enter Afghanistan. Afghan Embassies Worldwide.
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