Moving To Albania

Customs Regulations for Albania

Citizens of the United States do not need visas to enter Albania, but you must possess a valid passport. With a valid U.S. passport, you may stay in the country for up to one year without applying for a Residency Permit. For anyone looking to apply for a Residency Permit, you must contact the Regional Directorate of Border and Migration Police in Albania. More information can be found on the Embassy of Albania website. Here are some other documents you may need:

Detailed inventory list in Albanian, including value and date-signed by shipper
Original Bill of Lading/Air Waybill
Confirmation for accommodation
Work permit
Return ticket (depending on duration of stay)

In Albania, the customs rules are subject to change at any time and without prior notice. The shipper must be present at the time of your shipment’s arrival at customs, otherwise the shipment will not be cleared. You are free to import the following items, provided you are at least 18 years of age:

200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars (250g of tobacco)
1L of spirits over 22% ABV
2L of distilled wines and beverages
2L of still wine
50g of perfume

Like any other country, Albania limits the import of certain items. Here is a list of restrictions:

Local currency
Police permit required for import of guns, ammunition and explosives
Prescription medications require health certificate
New items (less than 6 months old) require invoices/receipts

Though the import of firearms, ammunition and explosives is permitted with the proper documentation, it is prohibited otherwise. Here are some other items that will not be allowed into the country:

Illegal drugs
Radioactive items
Meat products
Knives and other deadly weapons
Plants and plant material
Counterfeit money/products
Pornographic materials
Subversive materials

The following documents are required for the import of a motor vehicle into Albania:

Valid driver’s license
Original vehicle documents
Title
Invoice(s)
Registration

In addition, the vehicle you plan to import must meet the European Technical Standard Requirements.

The import of pets into Albania requires specific permission from the national authorities. For more information, feel free to contact your destination agent. Here are the documents you would need if Albanian authorities permit you to bring a pet into the country:

Health certificate from licensed veterinarian in origin country
Rabies Vaccination Certificate

In Albania, imported goods are subject to a duty of anywhere from 0-15%. Some items may be subject to a value-added tax (VAT) as well, reaching as high as 20%. This VAT also applies to domestically produced goods, and excise taxes apply to coffee, fruit juices and non-alcoholic beverages. As long as you are over the age of eighteen, you will be able to import the items listed in the Shipping Regulations section-alcohol and tobacco, perfume, etc.-free of duties.

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International sea & air shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 788-1090

How International Sea & Air can help for moving to Albania

First, one of our trained moving specialists will provide a personal consultation, thoroughly outlining your moving options based on specific criteria, such as:

Your moving timeline. When do you need to be in Albania?
Your real estate plans. Will you be renting or buying?
Your family/household size. Will you be moving alone or with your family? For business or personal reasons?
Cubic feet estimate. How large is your shipment?

What Will Moving to Albania Cost?

For an accurate estimate of your shipment size, you should scheduling a home survey as early as possible for your move to Albania. Our moving specialists will assess your belongings to give you the best potential estimate to expedite your relocation. The cost of moving to Albania will vary considerably based on the cubic footage of your belongings and your proposed destination arrival time.
Don’t forget to ask about our overseas packing and custom crating services, too!

About Albania

Located to the north of Greece, Albania shares borders with Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia. It also has coasts along the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. The nation’s capital and largest city is Tirana, which is located near the center point of the country. The country’s official name is the Republic of Albania.

Albania’s population is steadily rising, slowly approaching 3 million people. After all, it is a relatively small country in land area. Roughly 70-percent of the land is covered in mountains, which contributes to Albania’s low population. The country’s lowlands experience mild winters and summers, while inland temperatures depend more on the altitude and elevation more so than latitude. Albania gets a heavy amount of precipitation, due to the airflow from the Mediterranean Sea.

A large part of the country’s national income stems from the tourism industry. In fact, the New York Times named Albania number 4 on its list of global tourist destinations in 2014. The hot spots tend to be the beautiful beaches along the Adriatic and Ionian coastlines, as well as the Albanian Alps.