Albania Restores Visa-Free Entry for Belarusians Until September 2025

Albania made an unexpected turn in its visa policy: just one week after announcing the suspension of the visa-free regime with Belarus, the country’s authorities decided to reinstate it. However, the updated “visa-free” applies under certain conditions and only until the end of the tourist season. Here’s what this means for Belarusian travelers and the features of the new decision.

Background: from signing to suspension

The agreement on mutual visa exemption between Albania and Belarus was signed back in 2019, allowing citizens of both countries to travel without visa formalities. But on April 24, 2025, the Albanian Council of Ministers announced the termination of this agreement. The decision raised questions, especially in light of last year’s suspension in May 2024, which affected only holders of Belarusian diplomatic and service passports. However, just a week later, as reported by the Republican Union of Tourist Organizations, Albanian officials reconsidered their position and restored the visa-free regime for Belarusians—albeit with new restrictions.

Conditions of the updated visa-free regime

The new visa-free regime for Belarusian citizens operates within clear limits:

• Validity period: until September 30, 2025.
• Maximum duration of a single stay: no more than 30 days.
• Total annual limit: up to 90 days in total.

After September 30, 2025, as stated on the website of the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreement will be “fully suspended until further notice.” This makes the current visa-free measure temporary, primarily aimed at the tourist season.

What this means for Belarusians

For Belarusian tourists, the return of visa-free travel is good news, but with caveats. Until the end of September 2025, you can plan trips to Albania without obtaining a visa, but it is important to observe the limits: no more than 30 days per entry and 90 days in total per year. This makes Albania an attractive destination for short vacations or summer holidays, but requires careful planning. After the visa-free period ends, Belarusians will likely have to apply for a visa to enter the country, unless there are further policy changes.

Context: Albania’s visa decisions

This is not the first time Albania has adjusted its visa rules. For example, in April 2023, the country canceled the seasonal visa-free regime for Russian citizens, which had previously been in effect from May to September. For Belarusians, visa-free travel remains, albeit in a truncated format. These steps reflect Albania’s desire to balance tourism openness with foreign policy priorities.

Conclusion

Albania has reinstated the visa-free regime for Belarusians but limited it to the tourist season—until September 30, 2025. This gives Belarusian travelers the opportunity to visit the country without extra formalities, but with strict limits: 30 days per trip and 90 days per year. Stay tuned to official websites for updates to avoid missing any changes after the visa-free period ends. Planning a trip to Albania? Make sure to enjoy visa-free travel while it’s still available!