Albania permits dual citizenship, and since Law 113/2020 the framework for acquiring it by descent has been set out in one modern statute. The practical point for anyone in the diaspora is the order of operations: you document the citizenship first, and apply for the passport afterwards.
Quick facts
What the process produces is a citizenship decree, and that decree is what the mission asks for when someone who has recently acquired citizenship applies for a first passport. Without it, there is nothing to attach a passport application to.
The sequence
| Step | What it produces | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Gather the family record | Evidence of descent | Albanian civil registry |
| Citizenship file under Law 113/2020 | Citizenship decree | Albanian authorities |
| First passport | Travel document | Embassy or consulate general |
| Identity card | National identification | Also issued at missions |
| Citizenship by marriage | Citizenship decree | Same route to the passport |
A first passport after a recent grant of citizenship follows exactly the same steps as a renewal, with one addition: bring the citizenship decree alongside everything else.
How to apply
- Obtain the Albanian family certificate showing the relationship you are relying on.
- Gather your own civil documents, apostilled and translated by an authorised translator.
- File the citizenship application under the current statute.
- Obtain the citizenship decree.
- Book the passport appointment at the embassy or consulate general.
- Attend with the decree and the standard documents, and give biometrics.
Required documents
- Citizenship decree, for recent acquisitions.
- Albanian family or civil status certificate.
- Your birth certificate, apostilled and translated.
- Marriage certificate where citizenship is by marriage.
- Valid foreign passport and proof of U.S. residence.
- Photographs to Albanian specification.
Where to apply
Citizenship files go to the Albanian authorities; the passport and identity card are handled at the embassy in Washington or the consulate general in New York.
Additional notes
Citizenship first, documents second
Turning up at a mission expecting a passport on the strength of an Albanian grandparent will not work. The decree comes first.
Both parents for a child
A minor’s file needs both parents’ consent, the child’s Albanian birth or civil status certificate, and the child present for biometrics from age 12.
What the passport is worth
Beyond Albania itself, it carries visa-free access to the Schengen area, which for many families is the practical value of completing the file.
Keep the decree safe
It will be asked for again. Store the original and a scan separately.