Open a Company in Albania as a Pakistani Citizen

Introduction

If you are a Pakistani entrepreneur researching Albania, you will quickly find that much of the advice online contradicts itself. The main reason is simple: one of the most important rules for Pakistani documents changed recently. Since 9 March 2023 Pakistan is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, and many guides were written before that date.

This article puts the current picture in one place. It is written for Pakistani citizens who want to set up a company in Albania — whether you are a freelancer looking for a European company, an exporter who wants a foothold near the EU, or the owner of a Pakistani business planning a branch or subsidiary.

You will find:

• the entry rules for Pakistani passport holders and the visa exemption that many travellers overlook
• how the new apostille route works and what it means for documents you already have
• the company forms available and how to choose between them
• the registration process step by step
• residence permits under Law no. 79/2021
• practical points about banking, accounting and tax
• mistakes to avoid and a detailed FAQ

There are no prices or processing times on this page — both depend on your documents. We give you a written quote once we know your case.

Why Pakistani Entrepreneurs Consider Albania

Albania is a small market, so the attraction is rarely the local customer base alone. What founders from Pakistan usually look for is a well-defined legal framework close to the European Union.

Full ownership of your company

A foreign citizen can own and manage an Albanian company without an Albanian partner. Whether you found it alone or with partners from Pakistan or elsewhere, ownership and control stay with you.

A clear registration system

Registration happens at the National Business Center (QKB). One application creates the company, gives it a tax number (NIPT) and informs the tax administration and social insurance. There is a clear sequence, which makes the process predictable once your documents are ready.

Close to Europe

Albania is an EU candidate country on the Adriatic, next to Italy and Greece. For trading companies and service exporters, an Albanian company can be a practical base for European business.

Work in English

Our team works with foreign founders in English. Albanian-language filings, notary documents and translations are handled locally, so you can follow every step without speaking Albanian.

Entry and Visa for Pakistani Citizens

Pakistani citizens need a visa for Albania. You apply online on the official portal e-visa.al.

The exemption to check first

You may not need an Albanian visa at all. Albania admits without a visa travellers who hold:

• a valid multiple-entry Schengen, US or UK visa that has already been used at least once to enter the country that issued it, or
• a valid residence permit from a Schengen country, the United States or the United Kingdom.

Under this exemption you can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period. A Pakistani founder who studies or works in the UK, or who regularly travels to the Schengen area, should check this before applying for anything.

Long-stay visas

For a longer stay linked to your business, the legal basis is Law no. 79/2021 “On Foreigners” together with Council of Ministers Decision no. 858 of 29.12.2021. The Type D (long-stay) visas include one for self-employed persons (D/VP) and one for investors (D/I). Which is right for you depends on your plans.

→ Read our complete guide to Albanian visas

Documents: the Apostille Route Since 2023

Before 2023, Pakistani documents for use abroad went through a longer chain of legalisation. Since Pakistan joined the Apostille Convention on 9 March 2023, public documents issued in Pakistan are certified with an apostille by the competent Pakistani authority, and that apostille replaces the old legalisation for use in Albania.

What if my documents were legalised the old way?

Many founders already hold documents prepared before 2023, for example for an earlier visa. Whether they can still be used depends on the document and on the Albanian institution that receives it. Ask us before you start: we check each document and tell you whether to re-issue it with an apostille.

Documents you will typically need

• a notarised copy of your passport
• a power of attorney if a representative signs for you in Albania
• for a Pakistani parent company: its incorporation certificate, constitutional documents and a board resolution approving the Albanian company or branch
• for residence: documents about your personal situation, depending on the permit

Most of these also need a certified Albanian translation. We tell you exactly which ones.

Which Company Form Fits You?

Pakistani founders generally choose between three forms:

For most founders the Sh.p.k. is the right answer. It is flexible, it protects your personal assets and it is what Albanian banks, landlords and clients expect. If your Pakistani company is the investor, compare a branch with a subsidiary — an Albanian Sh.p.k. owned by your Pakistani company — before you decide; the subsidiary keeps liability separate from the parent.

→ Read about company setup for foreign companies

Opening the Company Step by Step

Here is the sequence we follow for Pakistani founders:

1. First call. We clarify the activity, the shareholders, the founder (you or your company) and whether you plan to live in Albania.
2. Document check. You send scans of what you already have; we tell you what can be used and what needs an apostille or re-issue.
3. Apostille in Pakistan. You obtain apostilles from the competent Pakistani authority.
4. Translation and notary. Documents are translated into Albanian and the founding act is signed before an Albanian notary — by you or by your representative with a power of attorney.
5. QKB registration. We file the application. Once registered, the company has its NIPT and is known to the tax administration and social insurance.
6. Getting operational. Bank account, tax portal, VAT where applicable, licences for regulated activities and the start of accounting.

We do not give durations in advance; they depend on complete documents and on how quickly your apostilles are issued in Pakistan.

→ Our Sh.p.k. and NIPT registration service

Residence Permit Through Your Company

A company registered in your name does not automatically allow you to live in Albania. The right to stay is a separate procedure under Law no. 79/2021 “On Foreigners”. The permit you can obtain depends on your purpose of stay — work, self-employment, investment or family — and on your role in the company.

For Pakistani citizens the usual sequence is a long-stay visa (such as the D/VP visa for self-employed persons or the D/I visa for investors) followed by a residence permit in Albania. We confirm the right permit for your case before you apply, and we set up the company so that it supports that permit.

→ Read our residence and work permit service

Opening a Bank Account

Banking is often the step that takes the most preparation for foreign-owned companies. Albanian banks make their own decisions about each client, and nobody can guarantee an account in advance.

Points to prepare for as a Pakistani founder:

• Enhanced checks on owners and funds. Expect detailed questions about who owns the company, where the capital comes from and what the business will do.
• Documents in the right form. Banks apply the apostille and translation rules — post-2023 apostilles avoid discussions about older legalisations.
• Your presence. Many banks want to meet the administrator; plan the visit around your visa or your Schengen, US or UK visa.
• A coherent file. Company documents, business description and personal documents should tell the same story.

We prepare the file in the format banks expect and advise you on where to apply.

→ Read our guide to banking for foreigners

Accounting and Tax After Registration

Your Albanian company has accounting and tax obligations from its first day, including periods without activity. Declarations are filed electronically through the Albanian tax portal.

If you manage the company from Pakistan, a reliable local accountant is not optional. We take over:

• bookkeeping and periodic tax declarations
• VAT registration and returns where applicable
• payroll and social contributions if you employ staff
• the annual financial statements
• reports in English, and coordination with your accountant in Pakistan

→ Our accounting and tax service

→ Read our guide to taxes for foreigners in Albania

Practical Examples

These scenarios are illustrations of typical situations, not client cases.

Mistakes to Avoid

Professional Advice

A few habits save Pakistani founders time and repeated trips:

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

For Pakistani founders the path to an Albanian company is clearer than it used to be. The apostille has simplified the paperwork, the visa exemption helps many frequent travellers, and Albanian company law treats you like any other owner.

The details still matter: up-to-date documents, consistent names, a residence plan that matches the company and reliable accounting from day one. We are glad to go through your case with you.