Albania’s Parliamentary Commission for Economy and Finance has endorsed several amendments to the “Support and Development of Startups” Law No.25/2022, to further facilitate digital nomads in the country. As reported by VisaGuide.World, these updates provide a safe and legitimate framework for remote workers in Albania.
Albania Tech states that for the initial 12 months, digital nomads won’t be recognized as Albanian tax residents, provided they’re exempt from taxes for the first year. All digital nomads are also required to have a permit as per the “Foreigners” law and its related regulatory acts.
The state minister for Entrepreneurship Protection, Edona Bilali, acknowledged this stimulus package for digital nomad workers as an added benefit to the digital transformation initiatives in Albania, and a collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economy. She highlighted that these conducive conditions make Albania a desirable location for digital experts, whose population is booming post-pandemic.
Digital nomads’ average annual earnings differ, but around 35% earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually. Digital nomads employed overseas, self-employed remote workers, students, researchers, and others are entitled to apply for Albania’s Digital Nomad Visa.
The Digital Nomad Visa enables remote workers to legally reside in Albania while working for overseas employers or clients. One of the program’s main objectives is to aid the country’s economic growth, which has been significantly affected by COVID-19 and its new strains.
As per a Nomad Island report, currently, internationals wishing to reside in Albania must submit separate applications to the Labor Office and the Border and Migration Police. However, with the introduction of the Unique Permit, applications will need to be submitted to a single authority, making the process more convenient for digital nomads.
US passport holders can stay in Albania for more than a year without initially needing to apply for a visa. Similarly, digital nomads from Australia, Canada, Japan, Israel, New Zealand, the UK, and European countries can stay in Albania for over 90 days visa-free.