Procedures for the employment of foreign citizens are changing. The new joint instruction of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which repeals the rules adopted in 2023, shortens the deadlines for online approval of employment applications.
According to the new instruction published in the Official Gazette, applications for a unique permit will be made through the e-Albania platform, while the National Employment and Skills Agency (AKPA) will have only 1 working day to provide a response, compared to 2 weeks (10 working days) which was the previous deadline.
“The responsible central/regional authority of the AKPA shall express itself in the online electronic system, with prior approval/approval/request for completion of documentation or rejection of the application for employment approval, within 1 (one) working day after the assessment of the application in the employment services system, the employment contract/job offer (according to the standard format in Appendix 1 and/or other necessary documents)”, the new instruction states.
The new instruction also expands the categories of foreigners included in the employment approval procedure, aiming for a faster and simpler administrative process.
The 2023 guidance mainly included employees, seasonal workers, ICT, skilled workers, volunteers, athletes, and contractual services.
The new guidance also adds other categories, including the self-employed, cross-border workers, persons in vocational training and domestic workers./Monitor
