Open Data Albania is carrying out research concerning foreign nationals supplied with residence permits and that live and work in the Republic of Albania for 2011-2014 period. According to 2014 reports, 2054 foreign citizens have received permits from the National Employment Service i.e. 135 less than a year ago. In compliance with the national legislation, any foreigner provided with employment permit is liable to have preliminary a residence permit in the territory of the Republic of Albania.

According to the article of the Open Data Albania about 2011-2014 situation, in 2012 only 2,499 employment permits were issued to foreigners out of which 2,199 were issued to employees, 275 to self-employed and 25 to investors. This figure is the highest compared with figures of the other years under consideration. In the next two years, this number has been decreasing.


Source: National Service of Employment
Comments and analyses: ODA


Source: National Service of Employment
Comments and analyses: ODA

Those foreign nationals who have chosen to live and work in the Republic of Albania are equipped with employment permits in order to work in different economic sectors. The majority of employment permits were provided to foreigners exercising their economic activity in the construction sector. Totally, 29 % of permits, or 596 permits out of a total of 2054 permits were issued to foreigners working in the above mentioned sector.

According to ODA, other sectors where a high number of permits are issued are: Trade and Services with 288 permits each of it, Processing Industry with 246 permits, Mines and Quarries with 226 permits etc.


Source: National Service of Employment
Comments and analyses: ODA

Foreign citizens equipped with employment permits by economic activity of the enterprise 2014



Source: National Service of Employment
Comments and analyses: ODA

Turkish citizens who have chosen to live and work in the Republic of Albania comprise the greatest number of foreign workers working in Albania. So, 52% of the total number of foreign nationals who are supplied with work permits in Albania are Turkish.

They are followed by Chinese nationals comprising 12% out of the total, 8% Canadian nationals, 4% Kosovars etc.  According to ODA assessments, 1,068 Turkish, 246 Chinese and 164 Canadian citizens have received employment permits from the National Employment Service.


Source: National Service of Employment
Comments and analyses: ODA

Source: National Service of Employment
Comments and analyses: ODA