TIRANA, July 15 /ATA/ As of today, Albanian and foreign nationals living in the Republic of Albania must declare, modify, or update their residence or place of stay online via the government portal “e-Albania.”
The recently approved government decision, which comes into effect after its publication in the Official Gazette, establishes that the procedure will now be conducted exclusively online through the government portal “e-Albania.” Citizens will upload documents proving ownership, rental, or use of the residence, as well as any other legal documents verifying the declared place of residence.
The decision stipulates that if a person wishes to register in an existing household, their request must be confirmed by the head of the family through “e-Albania,” in accordance with legal residency standards. Any change in the head of the family is automatically reflected for all other family members.
Additionally, it is mandatory for all members of a family to have the same registered address of residence, which must include all the elements required by the current addressing system.
A key new aspect of this decision is the inclusion of individuals held in prisons, pre-trial detention centers, or long-term healthcare facilities. If their stay lasts longer than three months, the respective institutions are required to notify the civil registry office to update the registered place of residence. This notification must be submitted within 48 hours after the three-month mark, and the office must be informed within five days once the stay ends.
If the civil registry offices detect missing documents or inaccurate information regarding the address, citizens are notified through “e-Albania” and have three days to update their information. If the inaccuracy can be corrected without the citizen’s intervention, the relevant office staff will make the correction automatically.
The decision also regulates procedures for foreign nationals, refugees, and stateless persons. The relevant institutions are obliged to notify any act that establishes, terminates, or changes their residence rights, while the declaration of the address is made by the civil registry offices in accordance with the law on foreigners.
This decision repeals the one dated 11.12.2009 and aims to modernize, simplify, and clarify the address system and the registration of residences in Albania. /j.p/
