Albania Ends Visa-Free Entry for Belarusians Starting April 2025

In April 2025, it became known about an important change in the entry regulations for citizens of Belarus planning to visit Albania. The Council of Ministers of the Balkan country decided to cancel the visa-free regime that had been in effect since 2019. Let’s take a closer look at what happened, why this decision was made, and how it will affect the travel opportunities of Belarusians.

What exactly has changed in the entry rules

As of 24 April 2025, citizens of the Republic of Belarus must obtain a visa to visit Albania. The previous agreement allowed Belarusians to stay in the territory of this Balkan country without a visa for up to 30 days per single visit, with the total duration of stay not exceeding 90 days within a calendar year. It is important to note that the process of restricting the visa-free regime began as early as May 2024, when the Albanian authorities canceled the visa-free entry for holders of Belarusian diplomatic and service passports. The current decision extends visa requirements to all citizens of the country.

Official reasons for the cancellation of the visa-free regime

According to official reports of Albanian state information agencies, the decision was made as part of amendments to the law “On International Treaties in the Republic of Albania.” The initiator was the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, and the Council of Ministers supported this proposal. Notably, some sources point to possible influence from the European Union on this decision. This may be related to Albania’s ambition to integrate into European structures and synchronize its foreign policy course with the broader European agenda.

Parallel with the cancellation of the visa-free regime for Russians

The situation regarding the cancellation of the visa-free regime for Belarusians has an interesting parallel. In April 2023, Albania made a similar decision concerning Russian citizens, canceling the previously in effect seasonal visa-free regime (from 1 May to 30 September). This suggests that the decision regarding Belarus may be part of a broader foreign policy strategy of Albania.

Exceptions to the new rules

For Belarusian travelers, there is an important clarification: according to available information, holders of valid Schengen visas, as well as US or UK visas, can still enter Albania without the need to obtain a separate Albanian visa. This significantly mitigates the consequences of the visa-free regime cancellation for a certain category of Belarusian citizens.

Consequences for the tourism industry and Belarusian travelers

The cancellation of the visa-free regime will inevitably affect the tourist flow from Belarus to Albania. Prior to this decision, Albania was among the popular tourist destinations for Belarusians due to a combination of several attractive factors:

• Beautiful beaches of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas
• Relatively affordable prices for vacations
• Rich cultural and historical heritage
• No need to obtain a visa

Now Belarusian citizens will have to plan their trip in advance, taking into account the time required to process a visa, which adds both financial costs and bureaucratic complexities to the travel planning process.

Historical background on visa-free cooperation

The agreement on mutual visa exemption between the governments of Belarus and Albania was signed in December 2019. However, even before that, Albania took steps toward Belarusian tourists: for three years prior to the signing of the agreement, the country introduced a seasonal visa-free regime during the summer tourist season.

Trend of reducing visa-free destinations

The decision of the Albanian authorities can be viewed in the context of the general trend of gradually reducing visa-free opportunities for Belarusian citizens observed in recent years. For travelers from Belarus, this means the need to plan foreign trips more thoroughly and to study the current visa requirements of the chosen countries.

Recommendations for those planning a trip to Albania

1. Verify the up-to-date requirements for obtaining an Albanian visa in advance
2. Take into account the time needed to prepare the necessary documents and their review by consular services
3. Consider the alternative possibility of using an existing Schengen visa, US visa, or UK visa to visit Albania
4. If necessary, contact travel agencies specializing in this destination for current information and assistance with visa processing

The change in the visa regime is an important factor to consider when planning trips; however, Albania remains an attractive tourist destination with a rich culture, history, and natural beauty worthy of travelers’ attention.