In Albania, by June 2026, it turns out that there are almost 40 thousand registered foreign citizens, with more than half of them staying in the country to work. Specifically, according to data from the State Police for Monitor, by June 30, 2026, a total of 38,712 residence permits approved for foreign citizens have been registered.
By citizenship, the highest number of permits is held by citizens of Kosovo with 7,302 permits, accounting for about 19% of the total active residence permits. After them, the highest number is held by citizens from Italy with 4,332 residence permits or 11% of the total. The number of residence permits for citizens from India reached 3,882, accounting for 10% of the total, from the Philippines at 3,638 (9.3% of the total) and from Egypt with 3,441 or 8% of the active permits.
Employment remains the main reason for foreign citizens to stay in Albania. According to the data, the largest number of residence permits are occupied by unique permits for employees and unique permits for self-employment. For both of these categories, their number reached 22,693 employment permits by June 2026, constituting 59% of the total number of residence permits.
The number of foreigners with unique permits for employees was led by citizens from the Philippines, India and Egypt. These countries have together approved 10,258 unique permits for employees, accounting for about 50% of the total number of employees in the country.
Following them are permits for family reunification. By June 2026, their number reached 7,124 active permits, constituting 18% of the total active residence permits. The number of permits for family reunification is dominated by citizens from Kosovo with 2,978 permits or accounting for about 42% of the total permits for family reunification.
Italian citizens also have a significant number of family reunification permits. Their number has reached 783 permits or 11% of family reunification permits. Behind them are Turkish citizens with 518 residence permits (or 7% of the total permits for this category).
While the number of permits for study purposes reached 1,261, constituting 3% of the total active permits. For this category, the permits are headed by Italian citizens with 462 permits or about 37% of them. After them come Indian citizens. 426 Indian citizens or 34% of the total for this category of permits are equipped with study permits.
For humanitarian permits, the largest number was recorded for citizens of Iran, where their number reaches 2,440, while citizens of other countries present a significantly lower number in this category./ Monitor
