Relocate to Albania — residence, tax and your business, sorted
One team for the whole move: your Unique Permit (residence + work), tax residency without surprises, and a properly set-up business — in English and Albanian. The tax side is led by Valbona Xhanaj, Tax & Customs Consultant, certified by IKM (reg. #135).
What we handle for you
Unique Permit — residence + work
Albania issues a single "Leje Unike" that combines residence and the right to work, applied for online through e-Albania, with a legal maximum of 12 weeks. For remote workers it starts at one year and is renewable. We prepare the file and run the process end to end.
Company & registered agent →Tax residency, without surprises
Spend 183+ days here in a calendar year, or move your centre of vital interests to Albania, and you become an Albanian tax resident (Law 29/2023). Residents are taxed on worldwide income — so we plan it from day one, including whether a foreign company you run gets pulled in via its place of effective management (POEM).
Expat tax compliance →The self-employed 0% regime
As a registered self-employed individual (person fizik) with turnover up to 14,000,000 ALL, income tax is 0% through 31 December 2029. For nomads and freelancers billing foreign clients, this is often the single cheapest legal structure — and we set it up correctly.
Expat tax guide →Business setup & monthly compliance
Sole trader or a company (SHPK)? QKB registration is free of registration fee and usually done within a business day, online, issuing your NIPT. Then we keep you compliant every month — fiscalization, filings, payroll if you hire — from €100/month, one team, in English and Albanian.
Start a business in Albania →Three things to get right — from the start
Your residence path
We start with the basics: where your income comes from and how long you plan to stay. For remote work for foreign employers or clients, the Unique Permit has a remote-worker route — one year, renewable, with a path to permanent residence after five years. We assemble the file and apply on e-Albania.
Tax residency — mapped before you move
Relocation has tax consequences most people discover too late. We tell you exactly where you are tax resident (the 183-day / centre-of-vital-interests test under Law 29/2023), how your income is taxed, and how any foreign company you control is treated. Note there is no US–Albania tax treaty (the UK has one, in force since 2013), which changes the maths for US persons.
Structure and stay compliant
We set the lowest legal tax structure for your case — often self-employment at 0% under 14M ALL — and keep the business compliant every month. You get one team for the permit, the tax and the accounting, in English and Albanian.
Start with a consultation, no commitment
We map your residence and tax path with real numbers. The fee is credited toward your setup if you engage us.
- Unique Permit — file preparation and follow-through
- Tax residency plan + the right business structure
- Monthly accounting & compliance from €100/month
The tax side, in safe hands
- Valbona Xhanaj — Tax & Customs Consultant, certified by IKM (reg. #135, 2012)
- Tax residency, the person-fizik 0% regime and POEM — planned from day one
- One team for the permit, the business and the accounting — in English and Albanian
Relocation FAQ
- When do I become an Albanian tax resident?
- Under Law 29/2023 (in force since 1 January 2024) you are an Albanian tax resident if you spend 183 days or more in Albania in a calendar year (continuous or not), or if your centre of vital interests (family, main home, main economic activity) is in Albania. Residents are taxed on worldwide income, so planning before you move matters.
- Is the 0% tax really 0%?
- Yes, within a limit. Self-employed individuals and small businesses with annual turnover up to 14,000,000 ALL pay 0% income tax through 31 December 2029. Once you cross that threshold you lose the 0% band and profit is taxed at standard rates — 15% up to 14M of profit and 23% above. This applies to liberal professions too: the earlier carve-out excluding them was struck down by the Constitutional Court in June 2024.
- What is the Unique Permit and how long does it take?
- The "Leje Unike" is a single permit combining the right to reside and to work, applied for online via e-Albania. The law sets a maximum processing time of 12 weeks. For remote workers it is typically issued for one year and renewable, with a route to permanent residence after five years. The exact documents and fees depend on your case — we give you the precise checklist in the consultation.
- Do I have to form a company?
- No. A residence permit for economic activity does not require an SHPK — registering as self-employed (person fizik) also qualifies, and it is what usually unlocks the 0% regime. If a company is the better fit, we form it: QKB registration is free of registration fee and usually done within a business day (an SHPK still involves minimum capital and notary costs). We help you choose based on your situation.
- Is there a US or UK tax treaty with Albania?
- Albania has no double-tax treaty with the United States, so a US person taxed in Albania relies on a unilateral foreign tax credit rather than a treaty. Albania does have a treaty with the United Kingdom, in force since 2013. We factor your home country into the plan.
Ready to make the move?
Tell us where your income comes from and how long you want to stay — we build the path: permit, tax and business, step by step.
Read and learn more
Registered Agent & Remote Formation
Form and run an Albanian company without travelling — registered office, SHPK formation, VAT and monthly compliance.
Read more →Expat Tax Compliance
Albanian tax compliance handled for expats paid by foreign employers — declarations, deadlines and residency.
Read more →Start a Business in Albania
The full path to registering and running a business in Albania as a foreigner.
Read more →Expat Tax Guide (Albania)
How Albanian tax works for expats, nomads and freelancers — rates, residency and the 0% regime.
Read more →Foreign Company & CFC Rules
What happens to a foreign company you control once you become Albanian tax resident.
Read more →Albania VAT — Complete Guide
VAT registration thresholds, reverse charge and how VAT works for services billed abroad.
Read more →