Kosovars and Italians Top Foreign Resident List in Albania, Indian Workers on the Rise

 Significant Increase in Foreign Residents in Albania, Led by Citizens of Kosovo and Italy, with an Influx of Indians

 Tirana center

Albania is increasingly becoming a favored destination for foreigners to live and work. According to data from INSTAT, the number of foreign nationals who obtained residence permits in Albania saw a significant rise in 2023, with citizens of Kosovo, Italy, and Turkey leading the way.

While Italians primarily come to work or study and Turks mainly for employment, Kosovars are mostly arriving for family reunification purposes. Additionally, there has been an influx of Indian nationals, all of whom are coming to work.

By the end of 2023, the number of foreigners with residence permits in Albania reached 21,460, marking an 18.2% increase compared to 2022. Nearly half of these residents are in Albania for employment reasons.

The foreign resident population in Albania is predominantly male, comprising 63.8%, while females make up 36.2%. The number of applications for residence permits in 2023 was 12,430, showing a 22.7% increase compared to the previous year.

The largest groups of foreign residents in Albania in 2023 were from Kosovo, Italy, and Turkey, with 3,712, 3,375, and 1,693 residents, respectively.

European nationals made up 15,223 of the foreign residents in 2023, accounting for 70.9% of the total, although this is a slight decrease from the 73.3% reported in 2022.

Employment was the primary reason for residence permits in 2023, accounting for 48.3% of the total. There were 6,630 undocumented foreigners identified in Albania during the year, with the majority, around 44.0%, coming from Afghanistan and Syria.

Foreigners in Albania

In 2023, the foreign resident population consisted of 13,691 males and 7,769 females. The dominant age group among foreign residents was 30-39 years old, representing 22.5% of the total foreign population with residence permits.

The number of residence permit applications in Albania in 2023 reached 12,430, a 22.7% increase from 2022. Applications from Kosovo and Italy made up 28.5% of the total in 2023.

Foreigners in Albania by Continent

In 2023, the majority of foreign residents in Albania came from European countries, making up 70.9% of the total. The number of Europeans in Albania was 15,223, a 14.5% increase compared to 2022. The number of Asians was 3,784, marking a significant 43.3% increase from 2022. Foreigners from the Americas, Africa, and Oceania totaled 2,453, an increase of 10.8% compared to the previous year.

Foreigners in Albania by Country of Origin

In 2023, 3,712 residents were from Kosovo, a 31.2% increase from 2022, while 3,375 residents were from Italy, a 14.5% increase from the previous year.

Half Come for Work; Italians Also Study

In 2023, 48.3% of foreign residents in Albania were there for employment, followed by 22.2% for family reunification, 13.3% for other reasons, 12.4% for humanitarian purposes, and 3.7% for studies.

Among Italians residing in Albania, employment was the primary reason (49.0%), followed by studies (17.7%). Kosovars mainly came for family reunification (43.5%) and other reasons (32.4%). Turks primarily came for employment (71.1%) and family reunification (25.8%). Foreigners from the United States and India were predominantly in Albania for employment, with 62.6% and 95.7%, respectively.

Undocumented Foreigners

In 2023, 6,630 undocumented foreigners were identified in Albania or at its borders, down from 8,335 in 2022. The majority of these individuals came from Afghanistan (1,610), Syria (1,305), Pakistan (969), Bangladesh (792), Somalia (475), and Morocco (156).