Lower rents and the cost of living, as well as the opportunity to stay for up to a year without a residence permit, are making Albania a favorite destination for American retirees. According to real estate agents, Vlora and Saranda are among the main cities where they rent for between $400 and $500 per month.
Since October, Lisa Spence, 62, from the state of Alabama in the USA, has been living in Vlora.
Ms. Spence tells "Monitor" that she chose to live in Albania for a year because of the low cost of living and economic viability, given her monthly pension income of $2,200.
Lisa, now retired, says she worked for 18 years as an administrator in an accounting office of a large construction company. She claims that life in the US is many times more expensive compared to Albania. According to her, this is one of the main reasons why she decided to stay for a year in Vlora.
She lives in a rented apartment in the Lungomare area of Vlora. For a two-room apartment with a balcony with a panoramic view, she pays 400–500 USD per month, while in the US, a similar property, according to her, would cost a minimum of 1,400 USD.
"With the income I have from my pension, I would not survive in the US. The quality of life here is very good considering the monthly income from my pension. Also, the people are very hospitable."
"In Albania you can enjoy the small moments of life, like drinking a coffee, walking or taking a stroll. The quality of the food is also very good. The climate, the clean air, the sea, Vlora is an ideal place to live a good life. There, everyone is in a hurry. Here life is calmer," she says.
This is her first experience living in a country outside the U.S. Ms. Spence became acquainted with Albania after some research she did on the list of friendly countries published by the U.S. Department of State, which includes Albania.
"It was very important that, before deciding where I would live, I did some research on the countries on the list of friendly countries published by the State Department, as for a retired lady living alone, safety remains paramount," concludes Ms. Spence.
She further emphasizes that until now it has been very easy to get outpatient medical services, also due to a flu-like condition that she passed, as well as dental care. She adds that until now she has not had to use hospital services.
Ms. Spence also recommends the city of Vlora to other American citizens looking to live abroad after retirement.
Real estate agents claim that in coastal cities, such as Vlora and Saranda, there is a trend of increasing demand from retired foreign citizens, including American citizens, to live in rental housing.
According to real estate agent Viola Shehaj-Malaj, the demand of American retirees to live in the city of Vlora in rental apartments has increased significantly in 2025, a trend that has continued in the first month of 2026.
Overall, according to her, the terms of stay for foreign citizens who have chosen Vlora to stay last from 1 to 2 years. Meanwhile, American retirees are testing this type of experience, to further decide on the terms of stay, taking advantage of the opportunity to stay up to one year in Albania without a visa or residence permit.
Ms. Shehaj-Malaj emphasizes that one of the main factors that attracts them is the low cost of living in Albania compared to the United States of America and especially the low rent prices, climate and tranquility they find in coastal cities.
"Most American citizens who are choosing to stay in Vlora claim that the main reason remains the low cost of living, especially rents that are many times cheaper. If in Vlora you find a 1+1 apartment for 400 USD/month, in the US the minimum price is about three times higher.
But it should be noted that many American retirees are in the testing phase. Many of them prefer to stay for a few weeks or a few months, taking advantage of the one-year visa-free stay and residence permit in Albania to test this experience. Some others choose to stay for a full year, to leave and return again. This period helps them decide whether to stay long-term," she underlines.
In addition to American citizens, the city of Vlora continues to be highly sought after for long-term residence by Italian retirees, according to the real estate agent. According to data published by Italian media, by March 2025, the number of Italian retirees living in Albania reached 3,000 from 300 Italian retirees in 2021.
The increase in their number has been influenced by Albania's fiscal policies for not taxing the pensions of Italian citizens.
"In practice, if in Italy 1,500 euros gross are converted into 1,150 euros net, here 1,500 euros remain clean. And it's not just those with low incomes who come, but there are also many wealthy pensioners with more than 50 thousand euros per year," an Italian pensioner living in Albania previously claimed for "Corriere Della Sera".
From residency facilities to fiscal benefits, the main reasons for choosing Albania
Besides the most important factor being the low cost of living, another strong reason that is attracting Americans is the opportunity to live in Albania for up to a year without needing a visa or long-term residence permit.
This sufficient period gives them the opportunity to get to know the country, visit coastal cities, and decide whether they want to make long-term plans for their stay.
"In the range of tourists coming to Albania, a new trend is also being noticed that includes nomadic workers (those who can work from anywhere in the world) and retirees, especially from Western countries.
In addition to Italian retirees, who have become regular residents of Albania's coastal cities such as Durres, Vlora or Saranda, another group that is showing interest in the Albanian market are Americans.
International media and PR have played an important role in this regard, as Albania is increasingly listed as one of the best retirement destinations, joining the list alongside countries like Portugal, which have clear policies to attract this category of tourists who then become residents.
In the case of Albania, the cost of living is ranked as one of the main advantages, but above all, the freedom offered by the American passport is appreciated, which allows its holders to stay in our country for up to a year without the need for long-term residency documents," emphasizes Stela Dhami, from the international real estate agency "Colliers International Albania".
Residence permit facilities for American citizens
The State Police explained to "Monitor" that based on the decision of the Council of Ministers to determine the entry and stay period approved in March 2022, citizens of the United States of America have the right to enter and stay in the Republic of Albania without a residence permit for a period of up to one year.
According to the VKM, these citizens may re-enter and remain in the Republic of Albania without a residence permit if they have stayed outside the territory of Albania for more than 90 days. This decision was taken in support of the Law "On Foreigners" and aims to facilitate the entry and residence regime for American citizens.
In addition to American citizens, citizens from Ukraine can also stay in Albania without a residence permit. Through a decision adopted in May 2023, the Albanian government decided to extend the deadline for the entry and residence of Ukrainians in Albania. From one year, they now have the opportunity to stay without a permit for up to two years.
Also, according to the Law "On Foreigners", citizens of the United States of America, European Union member states and citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, when they apply for the first time and meet the general criteria set out in Article 36 of this law, benefit from a 5-year residence permit.
According to the Law "On Foreigners", specifically under Article 33 thereof, it is determined that the residence permit, unless otherwise specified in this law or in international agreements ratified by the Republic of Albania, is granted for a period of 3 months, 6 months or 1 year, where the 1-year permit can be renewed no more than 5 times in a row.
Gjithashtu, leja e qëndrimit mund të jepet për një periudhë 2-vjeçare, e cila mund të ripërtërihet vetëm një herë, ose për një afat 5-vjeçar, sipas përcaktimeve të këtij ligji. Leja e qëndrimit e përhershme jepet në rast se i huaji ka pasur qëndrim të ligjshëm për 5 vjet radhazi në Republikën e Shqipërisë dhe ka lidhje ose veprimtari të qëndrueshme në vend.
Shqipëria garanton leje qëndrimi për pensionistët e huaj me të ardhura vjetore mbi 1.2 milionë lekë
Sipas vendimit “Për përcaktimin e kritereve, të procedurave e të dokumentacionit për hyrjen, qëndrimin dhe trajtimin e të huajve në Republikën e Shqipërisë”, të përditësuar, Shqipëria gjithashtu ofron leje qëndrimi për pensionistët e huaj që përfitojnë pension nga vendi i origjinës, duke vendosur disa kritere kryesore: të ardhura vjetore nga pensioni mbi 1,2 milionë lekë.
Gjithashtu në e-Albania te rubrika për “Aplikim për leje qëndrimi për pensionist”, si dokumentacion i nevojshëm përcaktohet: kontratë qiraje ose dokument që vërteton akomodim të përshtatshëm, dëshmi e të ardhurave vjetore nga pensioni në vendin e origjinës në vlerën mbi 1,200,000 lekë, dëshmi nga një bankë e nivelit të dytë në Shqipëri për transferimin e pensionit, vërtetim të sigurimeve shëndetësore në Shqipëri, dokument identifikimi i vlefshëm dhe dëshmi penale të legalizuar (vetëm për aplikimin e parë).
Eksperti fiskal Julian Saraçi thekson se shumë nga pensionistët e huaj supozojnë se pensionet nuk tatohen automatikisht në Shqipëri. Në fakt, tatimi në burim prej 15% aplikohet mbi pensionet e huaja, përveç rasteve kur ekzistojnë marrëveshje dypalëshe për shmangien e tatimit të dyfishtë (DTT) me vendin e origjinës.
Marrëveshjet me vende si Italia, Gjermania apo Kosova mund të parashikojnë që pensioni të tatohet vetëm në shtetin burim ose vetëm në vendin e rezidencës, duke krijuar përfitime fiskale reale për pensionistët e huaj që zgjedhin Shqipërinë.
“Interesi në rritje i pensionistëve të huaj për të jetuar në Shqipëri lidhet shpesh me perceptimin se pensionet nuk tatohen. Ky perceptim, megjithatë, ka nevojë për një sqarim të rëndësishëm ligjor.
Sipas Ligjit nr. 29/2023 “Për tatimin mbi të ardhurat”, përjashtimi nga tatimi mbi të ardhurat personale zbatohet vetëm për pensionet që burojnë nga skema e detyrueshme e sigurimeve shoqërore dhe shëndetësore në Shqipëri, siç përcaktohet shprehimisht në nenin 11, pika “a”, ku përjashtohen “të ardhurat e përfituara si rezultat i sigurimit në skemën e detyrueshme të sigurimeve shoqërore dhe shëndetësore”.
Në të gjitha rastet e tjera, pra kur pensioni përfitohet nga një shtet i huaj dhe përfituesi konsiderohet jo-rezident fiskal, ligji shqiptar parashikon tatim në burim prej 15% mbi të ardhurat, në përputhje me ligjin.
Nga ky këndvështrim, legjislacioni i brendshëm nuk ofron një përjashtim automatik për pensionet e huaja.
Megjithatë, këtu hyn në lojë një normë më e lartë e së drejtës siç janë marrëveshjet dypalëshe për shmangien e tatimit të dyfishtë (DTT). Shqipëria ka nënshkruar një numër të konsiderueshëm të këtyre marrëveshjeve me vende të ndryshme, përfshirë Italinë, Gjermaninë, Kosovën dhe shtete të tjera europiane.
Sipas parimit të hierarkisë normative, dispozitat e këtyre marrëveshjeve kanë përparësi ndaj legjislacionit të brendshëm shqiptar.
Në praktikë, shumë nga këto marrëveshje parashikojnë që pensionet të tatohen vetëm në shtetin e burimit ose vetëm në shtetin e rezidencës, në varësi të llojit të pensionit (publik apo privat) dhe formulimit konkret të marrëveshjes.
Kjo krijon, në raste të caktuara, një lehtësim real fiskal për pensionistët e huaj që zgjedhin Shqipërinë si vendbanim.
Megjithatë, është thelbësore të theksohet se nuk ekziston një zgjidhje standarde që vlen për të gjithë pensionistët. Çdo rast duhet të analizohet individualisht, duke marrë në konsideratë shtetin nga buron pensioni, llojin e pensionit, statusin e rezidencës fiskale dhe dispozitat konkrete të marrëveshjes për shmangien e tatimit të dyfishtë që aplikohet.
Në këtë kuptim, Shqipëria nuk ofron një “përjashtim të përgjithshëm” për pensionistët e huaj, por një kornizë ligjore fleksibël, ku lehtësitë fiskale burojnë kryesisht nga marrëveshjet ndërkombëtare dhe jo nga ligji i brendshëm në vetvete.
Kjo është arsyeja pse çdo pensionist duhet të vlerësojë rrethanat e tij specifike dhe, idealisht, të marrë këshillim profesional përpara se të marrë vendime afatgjata fiskale dhe rezidenciale”, shpjegon eksperti Julian Saraçi.
Stela Dhami, nga “Colliers International Albania” parashikon se në të ardhmen, numri i pensionistëve të huaj amerikanë që do të kërkojnë të jetojnë në Shqipëri do të rritet, nëse shteti harton politikat e duhura për tërheqjen e tyre.
“Sipas të dhënave ‘The Great American Exodus 2025’ nga GetGoldenVisa 450,000–760,000 amerikanë kanë dalë në pension në vende si Meksika dhe Kanadaja, dhe 28% e tyre orientohen drejt Europës. Aktualisht një numër i lartë pensionistësh amerikanë jetojnë në Shqipëri, por ky numër mund të rritet ndjeshëm nëse hartohen politika të duhura për të tërhequr më shumë pensionistë”.
Ekspertët rekomandojnë se politikat e mundshme për tërheqjen e pensionistëve mund të përfshijnë promovim ndërkombëtar, përmirësim të infrastrukturës shëndetësore, apo edhe lehtësime fiskale.
Sa të huaj të moshës mbi 60 vjeç janë të pajisur me leje qëndrimi
Për vitin 2024, sipas të dhënave të INSTAT, numri i shtetasve të huaj mbi 60 vjeç arriti në 3,007 persona apo 16% më shumë sesa në 2023.
Të huajt për grupin e moshës mbi 60 vjeç përbën rreth 17% të totalit të të huajve me leje qëndrimi, duke reflektuar rritjen e interesit të pensionistëve për vendbanime afatgjata në Shqipëri.
The main weight of foreigners with residence permits was held by the age group from 30 to 39 years old, constituting about 27% of the total, followed by the age group from 20 to 29 years old, which accounted for 19.8% of the total, followed by the age group from 40 to 49 years old, accounting for 19.5% of the total.
Of the total number of foreigners with residence permits in Albania for 2024, Europeans hold about 65.5% of the weight, followed by citizens from Asia who make up 21% of the total, while Americans, about 7%.
Trends of foreign citizens with residence permits in Albania
According to data from the Electronic Registry of Foreigners (FER) provided to "Monitor" by the State Police, for the year 2025 the number of foreign citizens with residence permits in Albania reached 27,514 active residence permits. Compared to 2024, the number of foreigners with residence permits has increased by 25.4%.
Among these, for 2025, American citizens account for 1,128 people, marking a decrease of 22.3% from the previous year. For 2025, American citizens with a residence permit in Albania accounted for 4% of the total number of foreigners with a residence permit in the country, compared to 7% in 2024.
Of the total of 27,514 active residence permits by the end of 2025, the majority of foreigners are from Kosovo, with 6,076 people, which accounts for about 22% of the total. After Kosovo, it is Italy with 3,776 people (13.7%) and India with 2,399 people (8.7%). The Philippines has 2,213 people (8%), while Egypt, 2,007 people (7.2%) and Turkey 1,862 people (6.7%).
On the other hand, Myanmar has 445 people (1.6%), China 362 people (1.3%) and Nigeria, 184 people (0.6%).
However, the main motive for obtaining a residence permit in Albania continues to be for employment and family reunification.
For 2025, of the total new applications, 65% of them were for unique employment permits, followed by applications for family reunification which constituted 13% or for study purposes, around 5%. Meanwhile, the number of foreign citizens who applied for permanent residence permits was 40, constituting 0.2% of the total number of applications for 2025.
Of the total applications, for 2025, according to the data, 7,049 or 36.4% of them are applications from women and 12,272 or 63.6% from men.
New applications for 2025
During 2025, according to the Electronic Register of Foreigners (FER), a total of 19,321 applications for residence permits were processed, which shows a significant increase compared to 13,176 applications that were processed during 2024. Compared to 2024, their number has increased by 6,145 applications or 47% more.
During 2025, the main nationalities that applied for a residence permit for the first time were India with 2,691 applications, which accounts for 14% of the total, the Philippines with 2,415 applications (13%), Italy with 2,239 applications (12%), Egypt with 2,198 applications (11%), Kosovo with 1,813 applications (9%), Turkey with 1,441 applications (7%), the USA with 606 applications (3%), Myanmar with 506 applications (3%), Russia with 442 applications (2%) and Ukraine with 312 applications (2%).
Taken from Monitor
