ALBANIA is in one of the poorest countries in Europe.
But since the fall of communism in 1991, the country has been on a slow road to recovery which has seen big improvements nationwide, making it a top tourist destination.
Is Albania in the EU?
Albania is part of Europe, sitting between Montenegro and Greece on the Adriatic coast.
It has made an incredible recovery from its darker days under communism to become a thriving country with beautiful locations that make it well worth a visit.
As part of the country's transformation from one of the region's poorest, it has held on to the hope of joining the European Union.
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Albania first applied for membership in 2009 but the road to acceptance has not been easy.
Albania had to wait five years until its request to join was officially recognised and it was awarded EU candidate status in 2014.
This means that it must negotiate the terms of joining with the current members, and ensure its domestic legislation is aligned with EU law before joining.
As of February 2023, Albania is still not a member of the EU.
What are the entry requirements for Albania?
Like many other countries, access was ravaged by the global pandemic of Covid-19.
Coronavirus restrictions have been lifted but you should always check on the status in case anything changes before you travel.
British citizens can enter and remain in Albania for a maximum of 90 days in every 6-month period without a visa.
Do I need a visa to go to Albania?
Anyone planning to travel to Albania needs to ensure that their passport has a minimum of three months of validity remaining from their date of entry.
Providing you have this, there is no need to obtain a visa and visitors are able to stay for a 90 day period.
Anyone wishing to stay longer than 90 days can apply at a local police station for a residence permit.
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Since September 9, 2021, British citizens who have a valid residence permit can apply for a Biometric Card for foreign citizens.
This is very similar to the national ID card issued to Albanian residents and will then grant you access to many of the services on offer within the country.