At the end of 2021, there were almost 15,000 foreign citizens with residence permits in Albania, an increase of almost 10% when compared to 2020, with most living in the country for work reasons.
According to data from INSTAT, a total of 14,921 foreigners were living in Albania, with 63% men and 37% women.
There were 9106 applications for residence permits during the same year, an increase of over 18% from the year before. It is likely, however, that the actual number of foreigners living in Albania is much higher as US citizens get 12 month’s stay without having to apply for any permit.
The most popular nationalities amongst immigrants and ex-pats were Iran, Italy and Kosovo, with 2,586, 2,324, and 1,869, respectively. Some 8,812 Europeans called Albania home, increasing from just. under 57% in 2020 to 59.1% in 2021.
Most foreigners were in the country for employment reasons, closely followed by family reunification. Meanwhile, a growing number of people are coming as digital nomads hoping to avail themselves of the government’s new residence regime however this comes with its own problems.
Albania Runs Before it Walks in Bid to Attract Digital Nomads
