Gjirokastër

Passport validity requirements

Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave Albania.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual Citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can visit Albania without a visa for up to 90 days in a 180-day period, for tourism or business.  

If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you must apply in advance for a long-stay visa or apply for a residence permit from within Albania.  

Vaccine requirements

To enter Albania, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Albania guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Albania. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Albania. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Emergency services in Albania

Ambulance: 127

Fire: 128

Police: 112

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in Albania
• dealing with a death in Albania
• being arrested in Albania
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO 

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

Travel disruption

The European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now being implemented across the Schengen area. The EES may take each passenger extra time, so it is important to be prepared to wait longer than usual at EU country borders and allow more time for immigration controls if travelling to and from the Schengen area.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Illegal drugs

Penalties for drug-related crimes are severe.

You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.

Possession of illegal drugs could result in a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. The penalty for supplying drugs is up to 15 years in prison.     

Airports in Albania have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, including cannabis. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

Being arrested

The Albanian authorities do not always inform the British Embassy when British nationals have been arrested. If you are detained, you may insist on your right to contact the British Embassy in Tirana.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex relationships are legal in Albania. Anti-discrimination and anti-hate-crime legislation is in place. Tirana has several gay-friendly bars and a number of LGBT+ support groups.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.