whereTOemigrate
Get your free results
AL country scene

International Protection

AlbaniaHumanitarian protection

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Explore pathways in Albania Read the five questions ↓

What exactly is this: asylum, temporary protection, humanitarian admission, resettlement or another protection mechanism?

This route is international protection, including subsidiary protection where the statutory circumstances for remaining in Albania are met.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The cited official article is not a complete operational checklist; current forms, implementing decisions, fees, processing practice and all supporting evidence require separate review.

Which population, circumstances or geographic group does the mechanism cover?

International protection in Albania covers two groups. Refugee status covers a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, is outside the country of nationality or of former habitual residence and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country or to return to it. Subsidiary protection covers a foreign national or stateless person who does not meet the refugee criteria but faces a real risk of serious harm, meaning the death penalty or execution; torture or inhuman or degrading treatment and forced disappearance in the country of origin; or a serious and personal threat to life by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.

See recorded sources
  • https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligji-per-Azilin-10.2021_-English.pdf
    “Refugee” means a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, is outside the country of nationality or outside of the country of former habitual residence and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country or to return to it as a result of such circumstances
  • https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligji-per-Azilin-10.2021_-English.pdf
    The subsidiary protection status shall be granted to a foreign national or stateless person who does not fulfil the eligibility criteria for the refugee status but is guaranteed the right of asylum in order to remain within the territory of the Republic of Albania, in circumstances where they face a real risk of serious harm
  • https://mb.gov.al/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ligji-per-Azilin-10.2021_-English.pdf
    For the purposes of granting the status of subsidiary protection, serious harm means: a) the death penalty or execution; b) torture or inhuman or degrading treatment and forced disappearance of the applicant in the country of origin; c) a serious and personal threat to a person’s life by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.

Where can protection be requested, and is this a direct application, border/in-country request, referral or other process?

Protection can be requested directly in Albania. A foreign national or stateless person may express intent to seek international protection orally or in writing at the moment of entry at a border crossing point, a State Police station, or before the authority in charge of border and migration matters. The case is then referred to the authority responsible for asylum and refugees within 72 hours.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The cited official article is not a complete operational checklist; current forms, implementing decisions, fees, processing practice and all supporting evidence require separate review.
  • Albania Asylum Law no. 10/2021, Article 26(1)
    1. A foreign national or stateless person may express his or her intent to seek international protection either orally or in writing, at the moment of entry into the territory of the Republic of Albania at a border crossing point, a State Police station, or before the authority in charge of border and migration matters.
  • Albania Asylum Law no. 10/2021, Article 26(2)
    2. The foreign national or stateless person who has expressed his or her intent to seek international protection shall be registered with the authority in charge of border and migration matters, which shall then refer the case within 72 hours to the authority responsible for asylum and refugees.

What happens after the request: registration, family handling, major support and rights where officially stated?

Applicants have the right to stay in Albania while the international-protection procedure is pending, to minimum living conditions, health care, social-care services, state-guaranteed legal aid, education for child applicants, employment and vocational training. They have the right to work no later than nine months after lodging the application if the asylum authority has not decided and the delay is not attributable to the applicant. The official source does not state how registration or family members are handled.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Family handling is outside this batch; the cited provisions do not establish the full operational accommodation process.
  • Albania Asylum Law no. 10/2021, Article 54
    Article 54 Rights of the Applicant The applicant shall, until such time as the procedures for determining the international protection status are concluded, have the right to: a) stay in the Republic of Albania; b) enjoy minimum living conditions; c) be provided with health care; ç) benefit from social care services; d) receive legal aid, guaranteed by the state; dh) receive education, in the case of child applicants; e) exercise the freedom of thought and religion; ë) employment and vocational training.
  • Albania Asylum Law no. 10/2021, Article 61(1)
    1. Applicants shall have the right to work no later than nine months from the date of lodging the application, if the authority responsible for asylum and refugees has not yet taken a decision and the delay cannot not be attributed to the applicant.

Which competent authority, UN body or official assistance channel should the person use?

The person should contact the authority in charge of border and migration matters (at border crossing points or police stations) to express intent, and then the authority responsible for asylum and refugees (structure at the ministry in charge of asylum and refugee matters) will examine the application. UNHCR cooperates with these authorities and may be contacted by the applicant.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No route-specific official fraud or scam warning was established in the captured primary law.
  • Albania Asylum Law no. 10/2021, Article 4(2)
    2. The relevant structure at the ministry in charge of asylum and refugee matters shall be responsible for dealing with, examining, and issuing the final decision on applications for international protection.
  • Albania Asylum Law no. 10/2021, Article 4(1)
    1. Pursuant to the Law on Foreigners, the structure responsible for borders and migration shall be the responsible authority for dealing with persons seeking international protection and providing them with a residence permit, at the border and inside the territory.
  • Albania Asylum Law no. 10/2021, Article 6(1)
    1. The authorities referred to Article 4(1) and (2) of this Law, shall cooperate with the UNHCR throughout the procedure for the examination of the application for international protection, until the issuance of the final decision by the authority responsible for asylum and refugees.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

Explore more pathways in Albania · All pathways

Your story.
Your next step.

Explore pathways in Albania →