As part of the digitalization and providing of a faster service, since 2017 all consular services are offered online through the SHKO (Online Consular Service) platform.
Please, remember to apply online for consular services through the following link:http://punetejashtme.gov.al/en/sherbimet-konsullore-online/ or using the Online Consular Service on the Embassy website.
Please contact embassy.sofia@mfa.gov.al for further information upon to your request and any uncertainties.
The Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Sofia offers the following consular services:
1. Application for assistance
a) General assistance – is aimed at safeguarding the interests of Albanian citizens, individuals and companies, minors, disabled people, especially when custody is required. It also provides assistance in clarifying Albanian citizens to solve their problems as well as providing lawyers and interpreters in cases that is need it.
b) Assistance for missing Albanian citizens – assistance is provided to Albanian citizens who have lost contact with their family members and relatives and are in a difficult situation. We emphasize that the Embassy interrupts communication with family members and relatives, if this is the wish of the Albanian citizen.
c) Assistance to Albanian citizens, who are detained or arrested – assistance is provided to Albanian citizens, who are detained or arrested. Also, mediation with the competent authorities in Bulgaria is provided. We emphasize that the Embassy cannot provide help if the detained or arrested citizen does not want it. The Embassy also interrupts communication with family members when a detained or arrested citizen requests it.
2. Application for acquiring and renunciation of Albanian citizenship
a) Citizenship by grant – means the acquisition of Albanian citizenship for persons with Albanian origin. The application is individual, except in the case of minors, the application is made by their parents. The documentation should be original, without errors and corrections;
b) Citizenship with recognition – means the acquisition of Albanian citizenship for persons with Albanian origin. The application is individual, except in the case of minors, the application is made by their parents. The documentation should be original, without errors and corrections;
c) Citizenship regaining – means the acquisition of Albanian citizenship by a citizen, who has previously renounced this citizenship because of the promise of another citizenship. Citizen regains Albanian citizenship even if he / she has not obtained the promised citizenship. The documentation should be original, without errors and corrections;
d) Renunciation of citizenship – means the renunciation of Albanian citizenship due to the promise of another nationality. The documentation should be original, without errors and corrections.
3. Application for laissez passer
a) Laissez passer – this travel document is issued to minors and adults, who do not have a valid travel document for return to Albania. For minors, the application is made by the parents or one parent with the consent of the other parent provided by a notarial statement. In the case of a juvenile in custody, the submission of documentation proving custody is required. It is not necessary to be present for persons detained, arrested or imprisoned. In this case, the competent Bulgarian authorities may apply for the Laissez passer. Exemption from physical appearance is also for health issues;
b) Laissez passer for a corpse – means the provision of a permit to transport to Albania an Albanian citizen, who has died in Bulgaria. Family members must obtain the deed of death and legalize it in order to deregister the deceased.
4. Application for Civil Status Acts
a) Child registration – means the registration of children born in Bulgaria. We emphasize that the registration of the child is done at the Civil Status Offices in Albania and that the Embassy forwards the necessary documentation for registration. The act/certificate of birth must be translated and legalized or have apostolic stamp;
b) Marriage registration – means registration of marriage done in Bulgaria. We emphasize that the marriage registration is done at the Civil Status Offices in Albania and that the Embassy forwards the necessary documentation for registration. The act/certificate of marriage must be translated and legalized or have apostolic stamp;
c) Death registration – means the registration of death occurred in Bulgaria. We emphasize that the death registration is done at the Civil Status Offices in Albania and that the Delegation transmits the necessary documentation for registration. The act/certificate of death must be translated and legalized or have apostolic stamp;
5. Application for Notarial Acts
a) Special power of attorney – for Albanian citizens residing in Bulgaria. Simple proxies can be drafted, which are not essentially aimed at creating, changing or terminating the rights and obligations of the representative. The Embassy can draft: power of attorney for the withdrawal of documentation from civil status offices such as: personal certificates, family certificates, residence certificates, etc., for registration in these offices such as: child registration, marriage, death; special power of attorney to denounce loss of documentation, to follow procedures for legalizing housing, to withdraw damages for the persecuted etc; proxy for retirement, temporary use of the vehicle, for performing the formalities of renting apartments, representation in court for divorce cases and recognition of foreign courts decisions in Albania.
We emphasize that the Embassy cannot draft: general proxies; power of attorney relating to ownership of movable property; power of attorney, dealing with immovable property, power of attorney for usufruct, living wages and servitude; a power of attorney for the performance of contracts of guarantee arising out of legal action as well as any other power of attorney not provided for in cases of authorization to issue a power of attorney;
b) Signature authentication – means the authentication of the signature of a document issued by Albanian officials and authorities;
c) Document extract (duplicate) – means the issuance of a duplicate for an original document of the same value as the original;
d) Notarial statement – means the drafting of statements on the basis of the applicant’s requests. The following notarial statements can be provided: child recognition statements, passport baby equipment, consent to follow the child registration procedure by the Embassy, consent to follow the procedure of issuing a passport from another parent, consent for child travel with one parent, for retirement etc;
e) Records – means the documentation of various events or processes;
f) Other notarial statements – means the drafting of statements based on the requirements of the applicant. The following notarial statements can be provided: child recognition statements, passport baby equipment, consent to follow the child registration procedure by the Embassy, consent to follow the procedure for issuing a passport from another parent, consent for child travel with one parent, for retirement, etc.
6. Certificate
a) Consular Certificate of Accurate Data – issued in cases that two different documents present different data;
b) Consular Identification Document record – issued when the person does not yet have an identification document. This certificate is issued with the applicant’s personal photo;
c) Different Consular Certificates records- issued based on the different requirements of applicants. The following certificates can be drafted: proof of pension, surname before marriage, fact that he/she is not married, date of divorce, fact that they are siblings etc;
d) Consular Certificate of Personal Data records – means the certification of generalities such as: name, surname, paternity, motherhood, civil status etc;
e) Certificate of birth records – means the certification of civil status data;
f) Family Certificate records – means the verification of family tree data;
g) Copy of the original – means the copying of documents issued by the Albanian or Bulgarian authorities with the original;
gj) Certificate of driving license verification – means the provision of this document in cases where its use is necessary for the applicant;
j) Certificate of verification of judicial status – means the provision of this document in cases where its use by the applicant is necessary.
7) Application for legalization
a) Legalization of documents issued by foreign authorities – http://punetejashtme.gov.al/aplikim-per-legalizimin-e-dokumenteve-te-leshuara-nga-institucione-te-huaja/
Legalization of the documents issued by foreign authorities means the legalization of documents produced by foreign authorities. The documentation should be original, without errors and corrections.
8. Visa application – http://punetejashtme.gov.al/en/aplikim-per-vize/.
Visa type “C” – short stay visa is issued to foreign nationals that wish to enter the Republic of Albania, are entitled to stay for a maximum period of 90 days out of a 180 day period, from their date of first entry. This visa type is issued with one, two or multiple entries.
Visa type “D” – long stay visa is issued to foreign nationals who wish to stay in the Republic of Albania for more than 90 days within a 180 day period and also issued to foreign nationals that might want to obtain a residence permit after entering the Republic of Albania. This visa type is issued with one, two or multiple entries.
Consular service fees:
- Citizenship by grant – 30 euros;
- Citizenship with recognition – 30 euros;
- Citizenship regain – 30 euros;
- Citizenship renunciation – 30 euros;
- Laissez passer – 30 euros;
- Marriage with Albanian citizens – 30 euros;
- Marriage with foreign nationals – 30 euros;
- Special power of attorney – 20 euros per page;
- Signature authentication – 20 euros;
- Document extract (duplicate) – 20 euros;
- Notarial Statement – 20 euros;
- Records – 20 euros;
- Various Notarial Statements – 20 euros;
- Consular confirmation on accurate data – 30 euros;
- Consular Certificate of Identity – 30 euros;
- Various consular certificates – 30 euros;
- Consular Certificate of Personal Data – 30 euros;
- Birth certificate – 30 euros;
- Certificate for family certificates – 30 euros;
- Legalization of documents issued by foreign authorities – 15 euro for Albanian citizens, for foreign citizens on the basis of reciprocity
- Visa application – on the basis of reciprocity.
