Albania visit visa for Pakistan passport holders

Albania has become one of the most talked-about value destinations in Europe, with the Riviera beaches around Ksamil, the Ottoman-era towns of Berat and Gjirokastër, and lively Tirana. Albania is not in the Schengen area, and it runs its own visa rules. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs lists Pakistan among the countries whose ordinary passport holders need a visa, so most Pakistani travellers must apply before they fly.

There is good news for frequent travellers. The Ministry's visa rules say you can enter Albania without an Albanian visa if you hold a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa you have already used in the Schengen area, or a valid multiple-entry visa or residence permit from an EU country, the United States or the United Kingdom that you have already used in that country. A Schengen residence permit also works, as does a 10-year UAE residence permit with at least one year of validity left. You must leave Albania no later than three days before that visa or permit expires.

Everyone else applies online at e-visa.al, the government's visa system. You pick an electronic visa, which is emailed to you, or a sticker visa that you collect at an Albanian mission. The short-stay type C visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period from your first entry. You must apply from outside Albania and no more than 90 days before your trip. After the consul checks your file, you receive a payment request in euros. The portal says assessment usually takes 15 working days after payment and can take up to 30 working days, and unpaid applications are refused automatically after 15 days.

Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the visa you are asking for and have at least two blank pages. Upload a photo that meets the 47 x 36 mm guideline, a return flight booking, proof of accommodation, an invitation if you have a host, and proof of funds such as bank statements. The Ministry gives an indicative amount of ALL 5,000 per day for adults and ALL 2,500 per day for children. Documents must be translated into Albanian or English and uploaded as PDFs.

Albania does not publish an official approval or refusal rate for Pakistani applicants. The visa fee is not refunded if your application is refused, and a visa does not guarantee entry at the border. If you are refused, you can appeal within five working days by emailing visa@mfa.gov.al, or reapply after three months, and you must declare the refusal in future applications. While your application is under review, do not contact the institutions yourself unless they contact you first.