“We are working to lower ID card fees for those most in need of support,” stated Minister Demo, describing this as a concrete commitment aimed at serving the public.

On the other hand, the Ministry of the Interior and IdentiTek are working to ensure a faster, simpler and more accessible service. The standard procedure for obtaining an identity document is completed within 10 working days, while the expedited process takes 3 working days.

There are also efforts made on expanding online services—such as online voucher purchases and document tracking—as well as providing home or hospital-based services for citizens with limited mobility, both domestically and abroad. The provision of services for Albanians abroad is also being expanded through special missions in areas with significant Albanian communities that lack consular services; meanwhile, work continues on extending services to other locations in Asia and Australia.

There are also efforts made on technological upgrades and stricter security standards. Alongside National Agency for Information Society and National Cyber Security Authority, the Ministry of Interior is rolling out the Digital ID and designing the passport of the future to meet the upcoming 2030 benchmarks.

“Every improvement we make here must render into something tangible for the citizen: less time, lower costs and better service,” stated Minister Demo. /m.q/r.e/a.f/p.s./

In a video message on his “Sy m’sy” social media show, the government head Rama responded to a commenter, who wrote that “Albania doesn’t need the European Union.”

“I think that an Albanian should never speak disparagingly of anyone else because we have gone through the injustice of contempt and disrespect. We have experienced it for centuries and our grandparents showed the whole world the nobility of the Albanian, although mostly Muslims, by risking their own lives to protect the Jews, when the whole world abandoned them,” Rama responded.

The government head underlined that being right at the heart of Europe is a blessing for Albanians, stating that joining the EU is now a real and tangible opportunity.

“Only by being EU members our individual freedom will be finally guaranteed, our equality before the law will be finally inviolable, and the standards of democratic coexistence will be ultimately irreversible and embodied in institutions,” the Premier added.

PM Rama vowed EU membership by 2030 if his Socialist Party wins a fourth term in the May 11 elections.

He urged the commenter to back his Socialist Party in the upcoming elections, promising that an EU passport for every Albanian would liberate Albanian citizens once and for all from discrimination as second-hand citizens at the heart of Europe.

According to him, an EU passport for Albanian citizens will grant them equal rights to study, work, health care and free movement in every member state.

The government head noted that Albania has received over one billion euros in EU funds during the last ten years. According to him, with EU accession, the country will receive over one billion euros each year.

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Addressing an annual meeting of the Diaspora Coordinating Council, the government head focused on the concept of dual nationality, citing the example of Germany that had previously banned holding dual citizenship.

“I would like to draw attention to a major change that has happened in the Federal Republic of Germany that has ended a ban on dual nationality, clearing the way to everyone to hold dual citizenship, which was banned until lately and which forced Albanian citizens to give up Albanian nationality in exchange of German citizenship,” Rama said.

With the ban already lifted, PM Rama said that many Albanians living in Germany are seeking to obtain Albanian citizenship too.

“To this end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior should make sure that passport issuing service is delivered quickly,” PM Rama said.

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Minister of the Interior Ervin Hoxha said that Halilaj will advance the projects that are underway.

“The most major project among them, which is not only an objective of the Ministry of the Interior, but of the Government, is the Digital Identity for Albanian Citizens”, underlined Minister Hoxha in a post in the social media.

Hoxha thanked the outgoing head of this institution Loina Prifti for the work done in the chair of the “IdentiTek”.

“Thanks to her dedication and the company’s staff, we have achieved the high international standards of data storage and production of biometric documents,” he said.

Hoxha emphasized that the history of the production of biometric documents in Albania dates back to May 2009.

The concessionaire company operated until mid-2023, when the contract ended and the government decided to establish the state-owned company. After August 2023, “IdentiTek”, a company with state capital, took over the baton.

The company produces identity cards and biometric passports for Albanian citizens, but also diplomatic and service passports.

It also produced travel documents, residence permits and electronic identity cards for foreign citizens with permanent or temporary residence within the territory of the Republic of Albania, or who have acquired refugee status and received asylum in Albania. /p.s./

Bislimi said in a statement via the social media that Kosovo citizens can freely travel to the country without a visa, although Spain is one of the five EU member states that do not recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

“DG Home has already announced that Spain recognizes passports issued by the Republic of Kosovo and therefore, Kosovo citizens can travel without a visa to this country. With the free-visa regime in force since January 1, Spain is the latest destination adding to the Schengen area, where Kosovo citizens can travel freely,” Deputy PM Bislimi said.

DG HOME is a Directorate of the European Commission for Migration and Home Affairs.

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Present at the “Great Evening of Football Stars 2023”, Rama gave the passports to the captain of the National Team Elseid Hysaj.

PM Rama said that, “When our team qualified for the European Championship 8 years ago, we gave to all the players and coaches the diplomatic passports. But, they did not qualify after 4 years and the diplomatic passports’ validity expired. Now, it is the time to put new deadline on your passport. Thanks to this, there will benefit the players who receive the diplomatic passport for the first time as ambassadors of the Albanian state, worthy ambassadors of whom we are very proud”.

“I called the captain because he was in doubt whether he would receive the passport today. He thinks I am like the others; when I give the word, I may not keep it. Now, Hysaj will also get to know that I keep what I say,” said Rama.

On his part, Captain Hysaj said: “Thank you very much! I want to thank the President for the invitation this evening, the Prime Minister for delivering to his promise. For me, it is a second emotion after qualifying for Euro 2024. It is an even more pleasant with this “easy” group we are in at the championship this time”.

“I believe in the team that we will succeed and maybe we can make another dream come true in Germany”, said Hysaj./k.s/r.e/p.s./

Therefore, the Ministry of the Interior reported that from August 1, 2023 onwards, the service will be offered without interruption to citizens by the state company “IdentiTek”.

“The Ministry of the Interior and “ALEAT” inform citizens that the deadline for applications for biometric ID cards or passports, through the “Aleat” coupons, is July 26, 2023. From August 1, applications will continue with the new coupons of the state company “IdentiTek”, which you can find in all offices of the Albanian Post,” the ministry press release reads.

The Ministry of the Interior and “IdentiTek” also expressed their commitment to guarantee the standard of documents produced and the continuity of the process of providing the citizens with ID cards and biometric passports without interruption, in the same offices both in the country and abroad. /p.s./

During today’s meeting, the government decided to set up a joint-stock company, with 100 (one hundred) % state capital, for the production and distribution of biometric documents of Albanian citizens and/or foreign citizens with temporary or permanent residence in the Republic of Albania if in accordance with the requirements of the relevant legislation in force.

The initial capital for the creation of the joint stock company shall be 20,000,000 (twenty million) ALL. The public authority, which represents the state as the owner of 100 (one hundred) % of the shares of the joint stock company, is the Ministry of the Interior.

The joint-stock company offers in exchange for payment the production and distribution service of: electronic identity card and biometric passport; other biometric document (like residence permit for foreigners); electronic identity card for persons who have benefited from refugee status and supplementary protection; travel document for persons who have received refugee status and supplementary protection; any other biometric document issued by the Ministry of the Interior and its dependent institutions within the scope of state responsibility as well as any other service in accordance with the purpose of its creation and its statute.

The joint-stock company can provide other additional services to public and private entities, in accordance with the purpose of creation, the field of activity and its charter.

Service fees are determined by joint instruction of the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Finance and Economy.

The joint-stock company is financed by its own revenues from the provision of services and other legal sources. The revenue of the joint stock company is used for the exercise of its activity.

The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance and Economy are charged with the implementation of this decision./gj.m/r.e/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama posted today on social media moments from work at Rinas airport.

“This is how you enter Albania today from Rinas”, said Rama, while sharing images of Rinas terminal.

Yesterday, there was put in operation the new technological system for reading passports at the entrance to Rinas, thanks to commitment of Minister of the Interior, the State Police and the Kastrati Company.

Passing through the digital barrier with the digital reading of the passport is a process that takes less than half a minute and greatly facilitates the entire flow of entries.

In addition to Albanian citizens, citizens of the EU, USA and Great Britain are also included in the new technology for reading passports.

At the “Mother Teresa” International Airport, yesterday was also was inaugurated the new terminal of 5,000 square meters, part of a general investment of about 38 million Euros carried out in 1 and a half years, with the objective of transforming the Rinas airport into the gateway for the whole region.

With this investment, the processing capacities increase significantly, adding 8 new gates with passport reading technology./m.m/r.e/p.s./

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka, through a post on social networks said that, “From Heraklion, Crete, we started the long-awaited project, for realization of applications for biometric documents on the islands of Crete and Rhodes where Albanian citizens live and work.”

The team for implementation of applications for the renewal of biometric documents will be located on these two islands, in their two main centers, according to the dates: the city of Heraklion, the island of Crete on June 29 and 30, 2021. The city of Rhodes, the island of Rhodes, in dates 1 and 2 July 2021 “, Xhaçka emphasized.

Xhaçka also disclosed the documents needed to apply.

All interested persons should send by e-mail. @ .. their application with the subject “Applications on the island” as well as the following data in the text: Name Surname of the applicant; Personal Number (NID); Passport and ID card application code (03AT ……); The address of residence – the Island “, Xhaçka emphasized.

“Applications are made free of charge and all information about the procedure can be found at: http://puneteresme.gov.al/…/aplikim-per-pasaporte…/”, Xhaçka concluded./p.s./