CONSULAR HOURS:
Monday – Friday, 09:00 – 16:00
Notarial services (powers of attorney, authorizations, etc.) are provided on Tuesdays and Fridays, or between 14:00 – 16:00 on other working days.
The Consulate is closed on official public holidays in Albania.
Official Bank of Albania holidays for 2026:
https://www.bankofalbania.org/Shtypi/Kalendari_i_festave_zyrtare_2026/
GENERAL INFORMATION
What are the main official links and resources for consular services? Consular applications: https://ambasadaime.gov.al/shko/
Informative page of the embassy in Albanian: https://ambasadat.gov.al/united-kingdom/sherbimet-konsullore/
Embassy page in English:https://ambasadat.gov.al/united-kingdom/en/sherbimet-konsullore/
Citizenship application: https://e-albania.al/eAlbaniaServices/UseService.aspx?service_code=9627
e-Albania for passports, travel documents, body transport permits: https://e-albania.al/eAlbaniaServices/Packages.aspx?lvl=3&path_code=29-1082&cat_id=29
FAQ
- How do I apply for an Albanian passport?
- What happens on the passport appointment day and how are collection notifications sent?
- How do I apply for an Emergency Travel Document (Leje Kalimi / Laissez-Passer)?
- How do I apply for a power of attorney (prokurë)?
- How do I get birth certificates, family certificates, or other civil status documents?
- How do I register or access e-Albania if I’ve never registered before or have login problems?
- How do I apply for Albanian citizenship?
- How do I handle repatriation of a body to Albania?
- How do I get a criminal record certificate (for employment in education, etc.)?
- Does the Embassy verify or legalise visas?
- How do I find a prisoner in the UK or get information about a detained Albanian citizen?
- What should I do if searching for a missing person (e.g., family member in the UK)?
- Can the Embassy issue a certificate stating that no passport can be issued (e.g., for unregistered births abroad)?
- How do I get an apostille stamp?
- What about driving licences (patenta)?
- Can I travel to Albania with medical cannabis?
- Why are responses sometimes delayed, and what about high-volume or complex enquiries?
ANSWERS
Q1: How do I apply for an Albanian passport?
A: Passport applications are made only through e-Albania, where you select the appointment date and time. Processing takes 3–4 weeks from the day fingerprints are taken. On the appointment day, pay (only by bank card, no cash) and bring your old passport/ID card—if you don’t have them, declare the loss there (or do it beforehand via e-Albania). There is no expedited procedure. More details in section 5.1 on the consular page: https://ambasadat.gov.al/united-kingdom/en/sherbimet-konsullore/
Q2: What happens on the passport appointment day and how are collection notifications sent?
A: On the date and time you selected during the application, attend the Consulate to pay and provide fingerprints. Payments are only by bank card; cash is not accepted. Bring your old passport and ID card; if missing, declare the loss via e-Albania or pay an extra €30 fee. Processing takes up to 4 weeks. The confirmation email (for your information, not required for attendance) is sent by the e-Albania system and may end up in Junk/Spam. Passports are usually ready within one month from application. Notifications for ready passports are sent generally via: the email address provided in the electronic form during application, and posts on the official Facebook and Instagram pages. No individual notifications are sent for each applicant. If more than one month has passed since your application, you can collect the passport at the embassy during official hours.
Q3: How do I apply for an Emergency Travel Document (Leje Kalimi / Laissez-Passer)?
A: Follow the instructions in section 5.2 on our page. No e-Albania access is required. The document is issued within 1 day and no appointment time is needed. On the appointment day, pay (only by bank card, no cash). Bring your old passport/ID card; if missing, declare the loss there (or beforehand via e-Albania). More: https://ambasadat.gov.al/united-kingdom/sample-page/sherbimet-konsullore
Q4: How do I apply for a power of attorney (prokurë)?
A: Applications for a special power of attorney are made exclusively online through the e-Albania portal (“Prokurë e posaçme”). After submitting and paying online, our office reviews and approves it within a few days. You are automatically notified by e-Albania for the date and time to attend in person at the Consulate to sign and collect it. Important: A notarial power of attorney is a personal act and cannot be issued on behalf of another person for any reason—some representations cannot be delegated. Your physical presence at the Consulate is mandatory; no third-party representation is accepted. Service link: https://e-albania.al/eAlbaniaServices/UseService.aspx?service_code=9784
Q5: How do I get birth certificates, family certificates, or other civil status documents?
A: To obtain documents from the Republic of Albania (e.g., birth certificate, family certificate), you need access to e-Albania. If the certificate can be downloaded from the system, no attendance is required. For documents requiring your signature (e.g., power of attorney), you must attend the Consulate. Some documents can be posted; check section 5.5 here: https://ambasadat.gov.al/united-kingdom/sherbimet-konsullore/
and confirm with the consular office. Consult this information and the informative pages carefully before emailing again. For a consular-stamped birth certificate, apply via e-Albania (“Aplikim për Certifikatë Lindjeje”). Attend around 15:00 on working days to collect. Each certificate (personal or family) with consular stamp requires a €30 consular fee, paid only by card on collection day.
Q6: How do I register or access e-Albania if I’ve never registered before or have login problems?
A: If you’ve never registered on e-Albania and need your NID number and “Expiry Date”, we can provide them. Send a photo of an ID document (yours/applicant’s), date and place of birth, all names you’ve had (current and pre-marriage if different), mother’s and father’s names to consular.london@mfa.gov.al
- If previously registered but having access issues, contact the e-Albania Helpdesk, as they administer the system. Official instructions: https://e-albania.al/Pages/HelpAccess.aspx and https://e-albania.al/Pages/HelpInfo.aspx
- When contacting Helpdesk, send an ID document or basic personal data (name, surname, parents’ names, place of birth, date of birth). Make requests specific, e.g., “Please change my email address to this one. Attached is a copy of my ID; my details are: Place of birth…, Date of birth…, Mother’s name…, Father’s name…”.
- If you have the ID number and email, use “Forgot password” on the e-Albania page. Alternatively, attend the Consulate in person for identity verification and registration details.
Q7: How do I apply for Albanian citizenship?
A: Albanian citizenship is granted under Law 113/2020, primarily through:
- Origin (up to the third generation) – via application on e-Albania: https://e-albania.al/eAlbaniaServices/UseService.aspx?service_code=9627
- Marriage – after 3 years of marriage and 1 year of legal residence in Albania;
- Naturalisation – after 5 years of legal residence, with income, accommodation, and knowledge of the language.
The Embassy does not process citizenship applications. Applications are made only in Albania or through e-Albania. (Relevant official sources: Law No. 113/2020 “Për shtetësinë” https://qbz.gov.al/eli/ligj/2020/07/29/113
And the Ministry of Interior page https://mb.gov.al/sherbime/shtetesia
Q8: How do I handle repatriation of a body to Albania?
A: Repatriation of a body is organised by private specialised companies (funeral directors). To transport the body to Albania, a Body Transport Permit / Laissez-Passer is required. The first mandatory step is for family or the company to apostille the Death Certificate at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) before presenting it at the Consulate. (Many UK legal offices handle this quickly, within 2 days—search online for “apostille service”.) The Body Permit (Laissez-Passer) is issued immediately by the Consulate for the company or family once the apostilled certificate and the deceased’s passport or ID are submitted. These are presented in person at the consular office, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
Q9: How do I get a criminal record certificate (for employment in education, etc.)?
A: Apply on e-Albania for the service “Vërtetim mbi verifikimin e gjendjes gjyqësore”. The document can be collected at the embassy daily 15:00–16:00.
Q10: Does the Embassy verify or legalise visas or e-visas?
A: The Embassy does not verify or legalise visas or e-visas. Only visas issued through the official system are valid: https://e-visa.al
For independent verification: https://e-visa.al/verify
Documents obtained through unlicensed intermediaries are not recognised and have no legal validity.
Q11: How do I find a prisoner in the UK or get information about a detained Albanian citizen?
A: Use the official “Find a Prisoner” service: https://www.gov.uk/find-prisoner
. The Embassy cannot request this information on behalf of others, as it is shared only with family or lawyers under privacy rules. Once you have the prison number, send it to us and we will contact the institution for the person’s general status.
Q12: What should I do if searching for a missing person (e.g., family member in the UK)?
A: To protect privacy and personal data—especially if UK authorities (e.g., Home Office) do not share details with us, particularly if the person has applied for asylum or has protected status—clear proof of family connection and your identity is required before proceeding. Confidentially send via email: 1. Copy of your ID document (passport, biometric ID card, or residence permit). 2. Original or notarised family certificate (from Albanian civil registry) proving direct relation (parent, sibling, spouse, child). After verification, provide only basic data about the person (avoid sensitive details if unsure): full name and surname, date and place of birth, parents’ names (mother’s and father’s), date of last contact, last known city or area in Great Britain (if known). Important note: If the person has sought asylum in the UK, British law prohibits sharing information without their express consent. In such cases, we can only forward a confidential message (e.g., “Your family is looking for you—do you want to be contacted?”) through the relevant authorities. Thank you for your understanding—this procedure is for the safety of both parties.
Q13: Can the Embassy issue a certificate stating that no passport can be issued (e.g., for unregistered births abroad)?
A: The Albanian Embassy in the UK does not issue certificates or written confirmations on individual request stating inability to issue Albanian passports or other documents. All official documentation from the Albanian government, including civil status registration (e.g., birth registration for children born abroad), citizenship confirmation, and passport/ID issuance, is processed through the centralised e-Albania portal (https://e-albania.al). For children born outside Albania to Albanian parents (where citizenship applies by descent), the first step is usually registering the birth in the Albanian civil registry (initiated online via e-Albania or with consular assistance to authorise family in Albania). Once registered and citizenship confirmed, passport applications can follow (including at the London consulate). Since unregistered children cannot have passports issued at this stage, we recommend exploring relevant services on e-Albania. The Embassy cannot provide personalised written statements outside official digital platform procedures.
Q14: How do I get an apostille stamp?
A: The apostille stamp is obtained from the relevant UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) office. This is usually arranged through notaries or legal firms (“notary public”) that offer application assistance and sometimes expedited service. Search online for “Apostille stamp services” or “Notary public apostille” to find a local office. The Albanian Embassy in London does not issue apostille stamps.
Q15: What about driving licences (patenta)?
A: After losing a licence and applying via e-Albania (where you obtain the relevant certificate), the physical new driving licence card is issued and collected exclusively in Albania at the Regional Directorates of Road Transport Services (DPSHTRR). Albanian embassies and consulates abroad do not offer issuance or delivery of the physical card, as this requires personal presence in Albania and is handled only by DPSHTRR. For details, consult DPSHTRR directly (official site: www.dpshtrr.al) or via e-Albania.
Q16: Can I travel to Albania with medical cannabis?
A: Albanian customs prohibit the importation, exportation, transit, and trade of narcotic or psychotropic substances (as defined under international conventions, including the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances). Violations are criminal offences punishable under penal law. We advise against travel if your medicine is classified as narcotic or psychotropic and is crucial to your health. Bringing such substances to Albania could result in confiscation, fines, or legal action.
Q17: Why are responses sometimes delayed, and what about high-volume or complex enquiries?
A: Responses are not immediate due to high workload. A consular staff member will contact you separately to clarify timings and documents. We will try to find a solution that suits you. The Embassy receives a very high volume of detailed enquiries daily. As a small mission with limited staff and resources, it is not possible to provide individualised responses to extensive or multi-part general questions. Consult official websites of the Albanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and this Embassy for up-to-date information on entry requirements, documentation, and consular matters. For specific procedures, official government portals often provide immediate clarification. The Embassy cannot provide tailored legal or travel advice or assess complex individual scenarios. Travellers are responsible for meeting entry/exit requirements. Use “Urgence/Emergency” in the subject line only for genuine emergencies (death, medical crises, stranded citizens). Standard consular responses take 2–5 working days.
