Albania

Dual Citizenship Albania

Allowed

Albanian citizenship can be acquired in several ways. Citizenship by birth is granted when at least one of the parents is an Albanian national, or when the parents are foreigners legally residing in Albania.

According to Albanian law, citizenship can also be acquired by naturalisation. In order to apply, the prospective applicant must meet a number of requirements including being at least 18 years of age and having resided in the Republic of Albania for at least 5 years. If a foreigner can prove that he is of Albanian origin from at least one parent up to the second generation, the residence requirement is reduced from five to three years.  

Foreigners married to an Albanian citizen for at least three years may apply for Albanian citizenship by naturalisation without the need to fulfil language requirements. However, the spouse must have resided in the country for at least one year.

Citizenship can be granted also to a minor whose parents are naturalised as Albanian citizens. If one parent of a minor child is naturalised as an Albanian citizen, and the child resides in the Republic of Albania, the child may become an Albanian citizen upon the request of both parents.

Citizenship can be also obtained = by adoption. If both parents of Albanian nationality adopt a stateless child or one who has another citizenship, the child is granted Albanian citizenship.

Albanian citizens can freely apply for the acquisition of another citizenship without losing the Albanian one. Foreigners are also free to apply for the Albanian citizenship without renouncing that of the country from which they originate.