Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• We advise against all travel to the north east border areas (the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje) between Albania and Kosovo because of the risk of unexploded ordnance placed during the 1999 Kosovo crisis and the poor condition of the roads.
  
  
• We advise against all but essential travel to Ajasëm, Bahçallëk and Tophane neighbourhoods in Shkodra City, Dajç and Ana e Malit communes in Shkodra district and Shengjin in Lezha district, due to severe flooding. See the Local Travel section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• Although public security is generally good, particularly in Tirana, crime and violence still represent a serious problem in some areas.  Gun ownership is widespread.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from international terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Albanian Border and Migration Police figures showed that 59,659 British Citizens visited Albania between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009. Most visits are trouble-free. Four British nationals required consular assistance in Albania in the period 1 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident: deaths (0 cases); hospitalisations (0 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (2 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (12 cases).
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Albania.  See the General (Insurance) section of this Trave Advice.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from international terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  

For more general information see our terrorism abroad page.

Crime

Public security is generally good, particularly in Tirana, and Albanians are very hospitable to visitors. Crime and violence still represent a serious problem in some areas. However, reports of crime specifically targeting members of the resident or visiting expatriate community remain rare. Criminal elements have in the past used small explosive devices, including in central Tirana, to intimidate and threaten. These do not usually result in injury, and appear to be specifically targeted against specific criminal, business or political interests.  The last such incidents were in July 2009 when a car exploded in front of the National Assembly in Tirana (no injuries), and another in June 2009 when a local politician was killed when his car exploded close to Shkodër.

There have also been incidences of luggage being reportedly stolen from hotel rooms and public transport, particularly in the coastal resorts of Vlore and Saranda. You are urged to remain alert, be aware of your surroundings and to carry only the essentials - with valuables being hidden or better still left at home/in your hotel.

 For more general information see our victims of crime abroad page.

Political Situation

Albania Country Profile

Local Travel

We advise against all travel to the north east border areas (the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje) between Albania and Kosovo because of the risk of unexploded ordnance placed near the border during the 1999 Kosovo crisis and the poor condition of the roads (as is the condition of many rural roads around Albania).  The area around Tirana, and most of the larger cities, are relatively trouble-free, but you should avoid travelling in the night.

We advise against all but essential travel to Ajasëm, Bahçallëk and Tophane neighbourhoods in Shkodra City, Dajç and Ana e Malit communes in Shkodra district and Shengjin in Lezha district, due to severe flooding.  The Government of Albania has announced a state of emergency in these northern Albanian districts.  Although flood waters in Shkodra and Lezhe Districts are receding, the situation remains serious and we continue to advise against all but essential travel to both Districts until the State of Emergency has been lifted by the Albanian authoritiesBoth the cities of Lezha and Shkodra are still accessible and the major highway between the two cities remains open.

On 15 March 2008, there was a major explosion at an ammunition depot in Gerdec, near Tirana and close to the main Tirana-Durres motorway (a section of which was temporarily closed). It is estimated that up to 100,000 tonnes of munitions remain stockpiled at depots throughout Albania. Until surplus, old and degraded munitions are dismantled, they will continue to present a safety risk in areas near such depots.

Road Travel

Driving can be very hazardous. Roads are poor, especially (but not only) in rural areas. In winter, mountain roads are snowy and icy. During hot spells, the tarmac can melt and become slippery. Flash flooding is possible throughout the year. You should stay alert for large, unmarked potholes. Street lighting in urban areas is subject to power cuts. Elsewhere, except on the major inter-urban arterial routes, there is no street lighting, so night travel is best avoided. We suggest using four-wheel drive vehicles in Albania. There is no national recovery system, so cars should be self-sufficient, carrying minor repair equipment including jack, spare wheel, fan belts, wiper blades, local phrase book, first aid kit, water and overnight food when in remote areas.

Drivers with foreign plated vehicles draw particular scrutiny from the Road Traffic Police.  You should adhere to road traffic law at all times as committing even minor offences may result in you being fined.

Albanian driving can often be aggressive and erratic. Fatality rates from road traffic accidents are amongst the highest in Europe. Minor traffic disputes can quickly escalate, especially as some motorists could be armed. If you intend to drive you are advised to avoid reacting to provocative behaviour by other road users. If you are involved in a traffic accident, even a minor one, you are required to wait until the police arrive. This will usually happen quickly in built-up areas.

You should expect queues at all border crossings, especially at weekends and during the summer months.
Visitors intending to import vehicles into Albania should ensure they have all the necessary documentation on arrival at the border. Yould consult the Albanian Embassy in London before departure regarding documentary requirements. The British Embassy is unable to offer any assistance to individuals attempting to bring vehicles into Albania who do not have the correct documentation on arrival at the border.
For more general information see our driving abroad page. 

Air Travel

Security arrangements at Tirana’s Mother Teresa airport meet the required UK standards.  Direct flights now operate between the UK and Albania. 

Sea travel

There have been a number of instances of passenger boat sinkings, usually due to a lack of safety precautions and equipment.  In March 2008 a boat capsized on Farka Lake (south of Tirana) killing a number of passengers.

Swimming

 Albania does not have a blue flag operator, and there is no recognised similar system of assessment of beaches. However, several beaches along the Albanian coast are reported by the Albanian press to be polluted as a result of inadequate sewage disposal and treatment. For more general information see our river and sea safety page.

Local laws and customs

Homosexuality is not illegal but is not  widely accepted.  We recommend discretion in relation to public displays of affection.   Penalties for drug-related crimes are severe.   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 a British Consular Officer. To see what we can do see our When Things Go Wrong page.
 Fore more general information for different types of travellers see your trip.

Entry requirements

Visas 

British citizens are permitted to enter and remain in Albania for a maximum total of 90 days in every six-month period without a visa.  The Albanian authorities require anyone staying longer than 90 days to apply for a Residence Permit at the police station with jurisdiction over the place of residence.  
 

Passport validity 

All travellers entering Albania must have at least six months' validity remaining on their passport.  

Residence 

A family seeking to take up residence must additionally provide notarised birth and marriage certificates to the local police authorities.  British nationals working in Albania for charities, philanthropic and humanitarian organisations may be exempt from the residence permit fee.  

Entry tax 

Since 25 November 2008 foreign nationals have not been required to pay an entry tax.
 

Travelling with children 

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Albanian Embassy in London.

Health

Medical facilities (including those for accident and emergency use) are very poor, particularly outside Tirana. We do not recommend using the dental facilities. There are high levels of Hepatitis in Albania. Rabies is also a matter of concern as there are large numbers of stray dogs, although the last reported case of the disease in Tirana was in 1978.   Cases of tick borne encephalitis have been reported in the north of the country.  Vaccination is available you should keep all areas of your body covered when close to shrubs or bushes, and to inspect yourself regularly for ticks.   The tap water in Albania may cause illness - you should drink only bottled water. If you drink milk you should ensure that it is UHT.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.  You should seek medical advice before travelling to Albania and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general diseases protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct (0845 46 47.  For more general information see our travel health page.  

Natural disasters

Albania lies in a seismically active zone, and earth tremors are common.  Serious earthquakes are less frequent but do occur.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Albania, which includes evacuation by air ambulance.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see our travel insurance page. If things do go wrong when you are oversees then see our When Things Go Wrong page. 

Consular registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. 

Issue of passports

The British Embassy in Tirana does not have the facility to issue full passports.  You are advised to check the validity of your passport and, if necessary, to renew it before travelling to Albania. You should ensure that you enter next of kin details in the back page of your passport. The Embassy can accept applications for new passports, which will be forwarded to the British Embassy in Paris for processing. You should allow 4 to 6 weeks for receipt of the new passport. If you lose a passport while in Albania, you must report this immediately to the police and obtain a police report. The British Embassy does have the facility to issue you with an emergency travel document.  

Money 

Major credit/debit cards are accepted in most banks and international hotels.  You may prefer to use cash, as in the past foreigners have been victims of credit card fraud. There are numerous ATM machines in Tirana and main towns, as well as bureaux de change where Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are widely accepted for exchange. Although street money-changers operate openly, they do so illegally. We therefore advise you to only use banks or established bureaux de change.