
At the end of 2023, the number of foreigners with a residence permit in Albania was 21,460 inhabitants, marking an increase of 18.2%, compared to the previous year. In recent years, Albania is undoubtedly experiencing important developments in terms of tourism, but foreigners do not visit Albania only in seasonal periods, as some of them seek to live in our country. According to INSTAT data, the year 2023 marked a record number of foreigners with residence permits.
On the other hand, the number of residence permit applications in Albania in 2023 alone was 12,430 applications, marking an increase of 22.7%, compared to 2022. But from which countries were the highest number of permit requests submitted in the year that left behind? According to the data, applications by country of origin from Kosovo and Italy make up 28.5% of the total applications in 2023. After Kosovo and Italy, Turkey, Bangladesh and Egypt follow.
In total, foreigners originating from Kosovo, Italy and Turkey constitute the largest number of resident foreigners in Albania in 2023, with 3,712, 3,375 and 1,693 inhabitants, respectively.
Among other things, "Scan Inel" has also analyzed the distribution of residence permit applications according to purpose. In 2023, foreigners with a residence permit for employment reasons account for 48.3% of the total foreigners, followed by reasons for family reunification with 22.2%, other reasons with 13.3%, reasons for humanitarian purposes with 12.4% and reasons for studies with 3.7% .
Foreigners with a residence permit in Albania originating from Italy, in addition to the reason for employment with a weight of 49%, there is also a dominance of the reason for study with 17.7%. Foreigners originating from Kosovo are led by reasons for family reunification with 43.5%. Foreigners originating from Turkey are led by reasons for employment with 71.1% and reasons for family reunification with 25.8%.
But what has been the trend of irregular foreigners in our country? Irregular foreigners registered in the territory of Albania or at the border, without the necessary documentation, result in 6,630 people in 2023, marking a decrease compared to the previous year. The year 2020 records the highest number of irregular persons in the last eight years.