TIRANA, June 24 /ATA/ Interior Minister Bledi Çuçi stated today that the approval of the draft law on foreigners will be a qualitative step forward in terms of managing irregular migration, being in line with the new migration and asylum pact of the EU.
Speaking at the plenary session of the Assembly where the draft law “On foreigners” was being reviewed, Çuçi said that, this draft addresses one of the shortcomings of the previous legislation by integrating the provision of work permits and stay in a single document, i.e. in what will be called a unique permit. Thus, we guarantee a single application procedure for foreigners who intend to work and stay in the territory of the Republic of Albania”.
“Foreign nationals seeking residence for employment reasons under this law will only go to a migration counter and must submit only a dossier of documents.”
“Another novelty is that for US and EU citizens and for Kosovo citizens, when applying for the first time we envisage the issuance of a unique 5-year residence permit immediately, with the right to renew later with a permanent residence permit, something that did not exist before “, said Çuçi.
Çuçi underlined that this legislation has its challenges and among them he listed, “improving the field of rights of foreigners in terms of protection of immigrants and their family members, refugees, asylum seekers and the provision of the integration program for Foreigners. There will also be facilitated procedures for obtaining a residence permit as well as the institutional strengthening of the provision of services for emigrants “.
“Another category is the category of foreign pensioners, who will certainly express the desire to live in Albania, providing the opportunity to apply for a residence permit for pensioners at the state authorities for migration, if they certainly prefer our country as a destination to live “, said Çuçi.
“The other category is the category of foreigners who own real estate in the Republic of Albania. This is a growing category of foreigners, which so far has not been regulated by law, but which is a serious investment in the real estate market, “said Çuçi. /j.p/r.e/p.s./
