Albania
Warnings and insurance
Summary
Before
Opposition youparty travel
Nodemonstrations travelhave canbeen beheld guaranteedin safe.central ReadTirana allin therecent advicemonths, with some reported incidents of violence, and more protests are planned in thisearly guide2023. Demonstrations can cause traffic diversions and anyother specificdisruption. travelDemonstrations advicecould thatoccur applieselsewhere, toand you:may take place outside the capital city. You should check local media for the latest information, remain vigilant and avoid any demonstrations or large-scale gatherings.
- women
Before travellers
- disabled
you travellers
- LGBT+
travel, travellerscheck the ‘Entry requirements’ section
- solo
for Albania’s current entry restrictions and independentrequirements. Due travel
- volunteering
to COVID-19, these may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and adventurestay in contact with your travel
Travel insurance
provider.
If you chooseplan to travel,pass researchthrough another country on your destinationsjourney, andcheck the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides appropriate cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
The InsuranceBritish shouldEmbassy covercontinue yourto itinerary,carry plannedout activitiesessential work including providing 24/7 consular assistance and expensessupport to British nationals in anAlbania. emergency.However, there is no access to the Embassy building for visitors at this time.
About
Over FCDO120,000 travelBritish advicenationals visit Albania every year. Most visits are trouble-free.
TheYou Foreign,should Commonwealthavoid &any Developmentpolitical Officerallies (FCDO)or providesdemonstrations adviceand aboutfollow risksthe advice of travelthe local authorities as there is always a possibility they could turn violent.
From December to helpFebruary Britishsevere nationalsweather makemay informedcause decisions.flooding, Findparticularly outin morenorthern aboutAlbania. FCDOSee travelNatural advicedisasters.
FollowPublic security is generally good, particularly in Tirana. Crime and contactviolence FCDOdoes traveloccur onin Twitter,some Facebookareas, but is not typically targeted at foreigners. Gun ownership is widespread. See Crime
When visiting hill towns on the northern border with Kosovo, you should exercise caution and Instagramheed warning signs about unexploded landmines and other unexploded ordnance. See Landmines.
Terrorist Youattacks canin alsoAlbania signcan’t upbe toruled getout. emailSee notificationsTerrorism
High whenlevels thisof adviceair ispollution updated.can occur in Albania. See Health
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.
Before
Opposition youparty travel
Nodemonstrations travelhave canbeen beheld guaranteedin safe.central ReadTirana allin therecent advicemonths, with some reported incidents of violence, and more protests are planned in thisearly guide2023. Demonstrations can cause traffic diversions and anyother specificdisruption. travelDemonstrations advicecould thatoccur applieselsewhere, toand you:may take place outside the capital city. You should check local media for the latest information, remain vigilant and avoid any demonstrations or large-scale gatherings.
- women
Beforetravellers- disabled
youtravellers- LGBT+
travel,travellerscheckthe‘Entryrequirements’section- solo
forAlbania’scurrententryrestrictionsrequirements.Duetravel- volunteering
toCOVID-19,thesemaychangewithlittlewarning.MonitorthisadviceforthelatestupdatesstayincontactwithyourTravel insurance
provider.If you choose
planto travel,passresearchthroughanothercountryonjourney,andcheckthetraveladviceforthecountryyou’retransiting.Itismoreimportantthanevertotravelinsuranceandcheckitprovidescover.SeetheFCDO’sguidanceonforeignTheInsuranceBritishshouldEmbassycovercontinueyourtoitinerary,carryplannedoutactivitiesessentialworkincludingproviding24/7consularassistancesupporttoBritishnationalsAlbania.emergency.However,thereisnoaccesstotheEmbassybuildingforvisitorsatthistime.About
OverFCDO120,000travelBritishadvicenationalsvisitAlbaniaeveryyear.Mostvisitsaretrouble-free.The
YouForeign,shouldCommonwealthavoid&anyDevelopmentpoliticalOfficerallies(FCDO)orprovidesdemonstrationsadviceandaboutfollowriskstheadvicethelocalauthoritiesasthereisalwaysapossibilitytheycouldturnviolent.FromDecemberFebruaryBritishseverenationalsweathermakemayinformedcausedecisions.flooding,FindparticularlyoutinmorenorthernaboutAlbania.FCDOSeetravelNaturaladvicedisasters.Follow
Publicsecurityisgenerallygood,particularlyinTirana.CrimeviolenceFCDOdoestraveloccuroninTwitter,someFacebookareas,butisnottypicallytargetedatforeigners.Gunownershipiswidespread.SeeCrimeWhenvisitinghilltownsonthenorthernborderwithKosovo,youshouldexercisecautionheedwarningsignsaboutunexplodedlandminesandotherunexplodedordnance.SeeLandmines.TerroristYouattackscaninalsoAlbaniasigncan’tupbetoruledgetout.emailSeenotificationsTerrorismHighwhenlevelsthisofadviceairispollutionupdated.canoccurinAlbania.SeeHealthIfyou’reabroadandyouneedemergencyhelpfromtheUKgovernment,contactthenearestBritishembassy,consulateorhighcommission. - disabled
Update history
2025-08-14 15:32
Addition of information about wildfires (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-06-04 16:58
Updated information on the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. This includes risk of arrest if you are found carrying drugs when transiting through the airport (‘Safety and security’ page).
2025-06-04 15:00
Updated information on the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. This includes risk of arrest if you are found carrying drugs when transiting through the airport (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-08-13 14:25
Information on wildfires (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-05-16 14:24
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.
2023-06-22 10:20
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-02-11 10:30
Factual update about planned demonstrations in early 2023. (See ‘Summary’)
2022-11-11 17:39
Factual update about planned opposition demonstration on 12 November.
2022-07-25 11:11
Removal of information on the Free Iran Summit (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-07-22 14:23
New information added on a warning from the US embassy in Albania to US Citizens to avoid the Free Iran Summit being held near Durres, Albania on 23 and 24 July. (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages)
2022-05-31 12:28
Removal of old information on the UEFA Europa Conference League Final match on 25 May (‘Summary’ page).
2022-05-25 15:44
Updated information on the UEFA Europe Conference League Final match between Roma (Italy) and Feyenoord (the Netherlands) in Tirana on 25 May at 9pm local time (‘Summary’ page).
2022-05-06 11:24
Updated information on the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, including curfew and the mask mandate (‘Coronavirus’ page). Update on the lifting of COVID-19 related entry requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).