LEGAL UPDATE ON ALBANIAN CITIZENSHIP FOR FOREIGN CONTRIBUTORS TO SCIENCE, ART, CULTURE, EDUCATION, AND SPORT

May 2022

If you are well known for your scientific, artistic, cultural, educational or sports activity and you want to obtain Albanian citizenship, the opportunities are already great, and can be realized.

UKRAINIAN CITIZENS CAN STAY IN ALBANIA WITHOUT A RESIDENT PERMIT FOR A PERIOD UP TO ONE YEAR

March 2022

The Council of Ministers with the decision 169 date 18.03.2022 decided on “Determining the term of entry and stay of citizens of Ukraine in the Republic of Albania”, according which Ukraine citizens have the right to enter and stay without a residence permit in the Republic of Albania for a term up to one year.

DETERMINATION OF TERMS FOR ENTRY AND STAY OF CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

March 2022

The Council of Ministers approved yesterday the decision on “Determining the term of entry and stay of citizens of the United States of America in the Republic of Albania”, according which American citizens have the right to enter and stay without a residence permit in the Republic of Albania for a term up to one year.

DEADLINE OF ANNUAL INDIVIDUAL INCOME DECLARATION IS POSTPONED

May 2021

Normative Act for an addition to law no. 8438, dated 28.12.1998 “On income tax”, amended.

The Council of Ministers has approved on 05.05.2021 the extension of the deadline for completing and submitting the individual annual income statement until 30 June 2021. The act enters into force immediately and is published in the Official Gazette.

ORGANIZATION AND PARTICIPATION IN ILLEGAL CROWDING AND MANIFESTATIONS. THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT PARTIALLY NULLIFIES ARTICLE 262 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE

May 2021

THE EXPRESSION “WITHOUT FIRST OBTANING PERMISSION FROM THE COMPETENT BODY ACCORDING TO SPECIAL PROVISIONS” IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

The Constitutional Court with the Decision dated 04.05.2021 has decided:

COURT’S FIRST JUDGMENT ON COMPULSORY CHILDHOOD VACCINATION. NO VIOLATION OF THE CONVENTION

April 2021

In 08.04.2021, Grand Chamber judgment, in the case of Vavřička and Others v. the Czech Republic, the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority (sixteen votes to one), that there had been: no violation of Article 8 (right to respect for private life) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

KUKËS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

March 2021

Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 181, dated 25.03.2021 “On the establishment, territorial extension and classification of the customs area, Kukës International Airport“.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALBANIA AND ITALY ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF DRIVING LICENSES FOR CONVERSION

March 2021

Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 209, dated 29.03.2021 “On the approval of the agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of Italy, on the mutual recognition of driving licenses for conversion”.

REGISTRATION OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS, DEADLINE JUNE 30 2021

March 2021

Law no. 112/2020, On the Register of Beneficial Owners” is published in the Official Gazette no. 149, dated 13.08.2020, and has entered into force on 28 August 2020, is in the phase of extending its effects, with the set-up of the Register of Beneficial Owners.

THE VALIDITY TERM OF THE ELECTRONIC IDENTITY CARD EXTENDS UNTIL APRIL 30, 2021

March 2021

Normative Act No. 11, dated 25.03.2021 “On an amendment to law no. 8952, dated 10.10.2002,” On the electronic identity card of Albanian citizens “, as amended“.

AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION BETWEEN ALBANIA AND KOSOVO

March 2021

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs with notification no. 3396, dated 19.03.2021 “On the entry into force of an amending protocol” has announced that:

APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ALBANIAN STATE AND THE AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE SUPPLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA WITH THE VACCINE AGAINST COVID-19 PRODUCED IN CHINA

March 2021

Normative Act No. 9, dated 22.03.2021 “On the approval of the agreement’s text  between the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Minister of State for Reconstruction and the Institute of Public Health and the authorized distributor” KEYMEN ILAÇ SANAYI VE TICARET “a.ş.

COMPLETION OF THE SUPREME COURT WITH 4 NEW JUDGES

March 2021

The President of the Republic with Decrees no. 12030, no. 12031, no. 12032 and no. 12033, dated 19.03.2021 “On the appointment of a Judge of the High Court” has decreed the appointment of 4 judges in the High Court, and specifically, Mr. Sokol Binaj, Mrs. Albana Boksi, z. Sander Simoni and Mr. Klodian Kurushi.

CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIAL HOUSING BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND PRIVATES

March 2021

Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 142, dated 10.03.2021 “On determining the criteria for the beneficiaries of the program for the development of the area, for the purpose of housing, the manner of providing their housing, the form of transfer of ownership for quotas set for social housing by builders or owners, for housing the beneficiaries who have been displaced by them ”.

PARTNERSHIP TRADE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PARTIES CONTINUE UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS EVEN AFTER THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION

March 2021

Law no. 31/2021 “On the ratification of the partnership, trade and cooperation agreement between the Republic of Albania, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland “.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SCHEME 2021

March 2021

Instruction no. 9, dated 26.02.2021 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance and Economy “On the criteria, procedures and manner of administration of the program fund for Agriculture and Rural Development”.

PROPERTY COMPENSATION PROCESS. THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HAS ABROGATED THE MANNER OF FINANCIAL EVALUATION MADE BY ATP AND HAS FORCED THE ASSEMBLY TO COMPLETE THE LAW BY JULY 12 2021 MAKING THE EVALUATION OF FINANCIAL COMPENSATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS DECISION

March 2021

The Constitutional Court with Decision no. 4, dated o8.03.2021 has decided:

Nullification as incompatible with the Constitution of Article 7, point 2, letters “a” and “b” of Law No. 133/2015, “On the treatment of property and the completion of the process of compensation of property“.

IDENTITY CARD VALIDITY PERIOD FOR PERSONS OVER 75 YEARS OLD

March 2021

Law no. 22/2021 “On the approval of the addendum to the Contract “On the production and distribution of identity cards and electronic passports” between the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Albania and the Morpho Group and the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund“.

THE DEADLINE FOR IMMOVABLE PROPERTY REVALUATION IS POSTPONED

January 2021

Law no. 164/2020, dated 16.12.2020 “On some changes and additions to law no. 90/2019 “On immovable property revaluation” as amended.

CHANGES TO ALBANIAN TAX LEGISLATION EFFECTIVE FROM 1 JANUARY 2021

January 2021

Starting from 1 January 2021 will be implemented the most important changes to the Albanian Legislation on Value Added Tax, Income Tax and Local Taxes approved during 2020.

MINIMUM WAGE CHANGES IN THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

December 2020

Decision of the Council of Ministers no. 1025, dated 16.12.2020 “On setting the minimum wage nationwide“.

SPECIAL CASES OF ACQUISITION OF ALBANIAN CITIZENSHIP BY FOREIGNERS

December 2020

Acquisition of citizenship from foreign citizens  when the Republic of Albania has a national interest, interest in a field of education, science, art, culture, sports economy.

OTHER CHANGES ON THE INSTRUCTION "ON TAX PROCEDURES"

December 2020

Blocking the Bank Accounts of Partners and Administrators of Companies in Albania; Other Changes on the Instruction “On Tax Procedures”.

THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION

December 2020

Joint Instruction No. 463, dated 10.12.2020 of the Minister of Interior and the Commissioner for the Right to Information and Personal Data Protection.