Foreigners can freely buy apartments and buildings, but generally cannot own land directly — land is acquired through a locally registered company. Owning a home of at least 20 m² can support a residence-permit application.
Before you buy in Albania, always:
General guidance only — rules change; confirm the current position with a qualified local lawyer.
Our free ownership checker and the Overseas Property Playbook walk through how foreign ownership works step by step — the questions to ask and the traps to sidestep.
Budget roughly 3-7% of the price in one-off costs, including a 2% transfer tax on residential property, notary fees around 0.5-1%, small registration charges and legal costs; a straightforward purchase can complete within weeks.
Tirana for amenities and the best healthcare, Saranda and the Riviera (Himara, Vlora) for warm coastal living, and Durres for a handy beach city close to the capital.
Private clinics in Tirana such as the American Hospital, Hygeia and Salus are modern and affordable, with English-speaking, often Western-trained doctors; coastal towns like Saranda and Vlora handle routine care but send serious cases to Tirana. Private health insurance runs roughly EUR 30-150+ a month depending on age and level of cover. Very safe and welcoming, with younger Albanians keen to speak English and Italian widely understood; driving is on the right and daily life is easy and inexpensive for British retirees.
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