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Click here for the latest alerts and messages for U.S. citizens in Albania.

Last updated on 12/11/2020.  Recent updates in bold below.

Country-Specific Information:
  • Albania has confirmed more than 46,500 cases of COVID-19 within its borders.
  • Commercial flights returned to Albania on June 15, 2020. As of November 13, British Air has cancelled their flights to London through early December, and Lufthansa and Austrian Air have reduced their number of weekly flights to/from Tirana until December 18. We recommend that you contact your airline regarding any boarding restrictions that may be in place, especially for any travelers transiting the Schengen area, as circumstances can change rapidly and air carriers have the final decision as to who they will and will not board.
  • The Albanian government announced (newest on top):
    • Starting November 17, 2020:
      The Ministry of Health announced restrictions for indoor and outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people until further notice. The measure includes a wide range of activities, such as: conferences/meetings, political gatherings, holiday parties, wedding ceremonies, or funerals.
    • Starting November 12, 2020:
      — Public movement is restricted during the hours between 10:00pm and 6:00am; except for work reasons, health care emergencies, or urgent needs. e-Albania portal must be used for special permission to move during this time.
      — Bars, Restaurants, Fast Food, and other similar activities are prohibited from operating between 10:00pm and 6:00am, except for delivery services.
      — Public administration will telework; except for those providing essential services under strict security protocols.
    • Starting October 15, 2020:
      — Wearing a mask in public areas, indoors and outdoors, for any individual 11 years old and above is mandatory.
      — Non-compliance with this rule may result in a fine up to 3,000 ALL.
    • Starting June 1, 2020:
      — Preschools and kindergartens reopened.
      — All cultural events and other large public gatherings in Albania are cancelled indefinitely.
      — Professional sporting events have resumed, with no spectators allowed to attend.
      — Malls and shops are open with strict social distancing guidelines in place.
      — Hairdressers and dentists are open with strict social distancing guidelines in place.
      — Restaurants and cafes are open.
      — All indoor activity centers reopened.
      — Beaches are open.
      — Outdoor exercise is permitted.
      — Libraries and museums are open.
      — Public transportation has resumed.
      — All maritime and air borders have reopened.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
  • Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes.
    • Commercial flights returned to Albania on June 15, 2020.  As of November 13, British Air has cancelled their flights to London through early December, and Lufthansa and Austrian Air have reduced their number of weekly flights to/from Tirana until December 18.  We recommend that you contact your airline regarding any boarding restrictions that may be in place, as air carriers have the final decision as to who they will and will not board.
  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No.
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.
    • Albania has increased the number of medical personnel at all ports of entries.
    • Enhanced screening and quarantine measures are being implemented. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. Visit the website of the Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Institute of Public Health for additional information on these new measures.
  • For information on entry/exit requirements, please visit our web page “Entering and Residing in Albania.”
  • Albania’s land borders are now open for travel, but some neighboring countries have travel restrictions in place impacting U.S. citizens. If you want to travel to a neighboring country, please visit the website of the U.S. embassy located in that country for more information on specific restrictions on U.S. citizens:
    — COVID-19 update web-page of U.S. Embassy in Kosovo.
    — COVID-19 update web-page of U.S. Embassy in Montenegro.
    — COVID-19 update web-page of U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia.
    — COVID-19 update web-page of U.S. Embassy in Greece.
Movement Restrictions:
  • Is a curfew in place? Yes.
    — Public movement is restricted during the hours between 10:00pm and 6:00am.
  • Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.
Quarantine Information:
  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No.
    • There is no general requirement for travelers returning to Albania to self-quarantine. Quarantine will only apply in specific cases when ordered by health authorities.
    • An official isolation and treatment site has been designated at the Infectious Disease Hospital at Mother Teresa University Hospital. The National Medical Emergency Center is responsible for the physical transfer of any patients suspected to be infected with the virus. No private hospitals are authorized to manage COVID-19 cases. There is no official information available about the length of time individuals will be held in these temporary quarantine spaces.
COVID-19 Testing:
  • Currently, in order to be tested for COVID-19 by the Albanian health authorities one must have symptoms.
  • According to the Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Protection’s official note (reference here in Albanian language), there are three private labs authorized to perform SARS–CoVid-2 testing for administrative issues:
    • American Hospital Laboratory
    • Intermedica
    • Genius Lab
  • Stay home and contact the Albanian National Medical Emergency line at 127 if you believe that you have contracted the COVID-19 virus. Wait for guidance before going to a medical facility.
  • More information can be obtained by calling the national green line at 0-800-4040 to find out. At this time there are no facilities that provide this service unless one has symptoms.
  • Visit the website of the Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Institute of Public Health for additional information.
Transportation Options:
  • Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
    • Commercial flights returned to Albania on June 15, 2020.  As of November 13, British Air has cancelled their flights to London through early December, and Lufthansa and Austrian Air have reduced their number of weekly flights to/from Tirana until December 18.  We recommend that you contact your airline regarding any boarding restrictions that may be in place, as air carriers have the final decision as to who they will and will not board.
    • U.S. citizens who are returning to the United States are currently only being allowed to transit one Schengen country on their journey home. We recommend that you contact your airline regarding any boarding restrictions that may be in place, as air carriers have the final decision as to who they will and will not board.
    • Visa holders wishing to travel to the United States should review travel restrictions here for the latest information.
  • Is public transportation operating? Yes.
    • Masks are mandatory for any individual 11 years old and above in all indoor and outdoor spaces to include, public transportation.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
  • Starting October 15, wearing a mask in public areas, indoors and outdoors, for any individual 11 years old and above is mandatory.
  • Non-compliance with this rule may result in a fine up to 3,000 ALL.
  • Guidelines (in Albanian language) are found at the Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Protection website here.
  • More information can be obtained by calling the national green line at 0-800-4040.
Consular Operations:
  • All routine U.S. Citizen services and visa operations are temporarily suspended through November 27, 2020.
  • We are currently processing emergency passport applications for urgent travel and notarial services only for Albanian Residence Permits.
  • For information on obtaining a passport for emergency travel, please visit our web-page.
  • If you require an emergency service, please write to ACSTirana@state.gov.
  • Currently post is only processing the following visa requests:
    • Medical emergency and humanitarian non-immigrant visa requests.
    • Medical emergency and humanitarian immigrant visa requests only for spouses and minor children of American citizens.
Local Resources:

(Note: The below links to local resources are in Albanian language only.)

By | 11 December, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Embassy, News

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