Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Albania, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. For instance, it is illegal to take pictures of certain physical structures in Albania. Be alert for signage and guidance by security personnel.

Persons violating Albanian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Albania are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. You may be taken in for questioning if you take pictures of certain buildings. Under Albanian law, police can detain any individual for up to 10 hours without filing formal charges. Although this is not a common occurrence reported by U.S. citizens, the possibility remains. We encourage U.S. citizens to carry a copy of their U.S. passport at all times to show proof of identity and U.S. citizenship to local officials. Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. If you break local laws in Albania, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

There are also some things that might be legal in Albania but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Engaging in sexual conduct with children is also a crime in Albania, as is the production and distribution of child pornography. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. In Albania, police in small or remote cities that do not often interact with foreigners, may not know to contact the embassy if you are arrested. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Albania's customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Albania of particular items. We suggest that you contact the Embassy of Albania in Washington, D.C. or one of Albania's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.

The Albanian Government considers any person with at least one Albanian parent to be an Albanian citizen. In addition to being subject to all Albanian laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may be subject to laws that impose special obligations on Albanian citizens. Please contact the Embassy of Albania in Washington, D.C. or one of Albania's consulates in the United States for further information. Also see additional information pertaining to dual nationality.

Albania is a cash economy. Credit cards are generally accepted only at major hotels in Tirana, large department/grocery stores, upscale restaurants, and some international airline offices. Travelers' checks are not widely used but can be changed at banks in larger towns or cities. ATMs are widely available in Tirana and in larger towns.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Generally, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are not discriminated against while living, traveling, or working in Albania. Albanian law does not permit same-sex marriage and does not recognize a marriage certificate for same-sex couples from other countries, but it does not otherwise prosecute or discriminate against same-sex relationships. Same-sex married couples are not allowed to apply for Residency Permits as a family, but each partner may register individually. Despite the law and the government’s formal support for LGBT rights, homophobic attitudes remain.

For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Albania, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. For further information on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Albania, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from the United States. In December 2009, Albania signed the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention was ratified by Parliament in December 2012; however, very few of the convention’s terms have been implemented. The national strategy on persons with disabilities adopted for the period 2004-2014 is aimed at improving living conditions through accessibility, support services, employment, and education. At present, it is only partly implemented.

Only limited measures exist to support disabled persons. Most public buildings remain inaccessible. Inconsistencies with inspection has resulted in construction of new facilities that are not always accessible for persons with disabilities. Public transportation for persons with disabilities is very limited.