Prikhodko&Partners
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International corporate law Company registration in Albania

Taras Miroshnychenko

Head of practice

E-mail

miroshnychenko@prikhodko.com.ua

Phone numbers

Head of Corporate Law and Fintech Practice. Expert in the creation and reorganization of companies, support of M&A transactions, as well as legal support for opening and running a business in the EU, Asia, and North America.

Company registration in Albania

You have been choosing a jurisdiction for several months. Cyprus is expensive and long. Bulgaria is too predictable. The UAE is a different level of checks. And here comes Albania. Unexpected? Only at first glance. A country that creates tax conditions that are better than most “popular” European countries, and where businesses are registered faster than in Poland or the Czech Republic.

The service of registering a company in Albania is not just about “submitting documents”. This is a calculated step for those who see this country as a gateway to EU markets, an economical operational base for IT products, e-commerce or even crypto projects (yes, they are quite decent about it there).

At Prikhodko and Partners, we do not sell abstract registration packages. We analyze the business model, check whether you will not become a victim of the local “simplified approach” to reporting, and help you obtain a VAT number.

What does “opening a company in Albania” really mean for a Ukrainian entrepreneur?

To begin with – forget about associations with the 90s. Albania has carried out a more than aggressive digital reform. Registration through the National Business Center (QKB) takes from 24 hours (yes, you are not mistaken). But the Italian brake is when the process is delayed due to an incorrectly filled out form in Albanian. Or due to the lack of a notarized power of attorney for a resident.

Who needs it first of all:

IT business owners who are looking for a low effective income tax rate (15%, but with nuances for small businesses – generally 0% for the first 2 years under certain conditions).
E-commerce projects that work with Europe, but do not want to register VAT in all countries separately.
Real estate investors – an Albanian company allows you to avoid restrictions for foreigners when buying land.
Crypto business owners (yes, there is a currency exchange licensing there, but it is adequate).

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What problems does registration solve (besides the obvious one)?

The main problem of a Ukrainian in Albania is not the language or customs. But the inability to open a normal business bank account without a local company. Non-resident individuals receive an account, but with such limits and commissions that a payment for 10k euros looks like a special operation. The company completely removes this issue.

Second: access to Albanian payment systems and merchant accounts for Stripe-like services. Third – the ability to hire staff legally without the status of a self-employed person.

The main forms of business that we choose for clients:

Shoqëri me Përgjegjësi të Kufizuar (Sh.p.k.) – an analogue of LLC. Minimum capital – 100 lek (less than 1 euro). Liability within the limits of the capital. The most popular form for foreigners.
Shoqëri Aksionare (Sh.a.) – an analogue of JSC. Required for large investments or if you plan to reach international investors.
Branch of a foreign company – if your Ukrainian legal entity is already operating, but a local presence is needed.

Risks without registration:

Working through a non-resident individual = any counterparty has the right to block payment on suspicion of illegal business activities (yes, it works).
The Albanian tax authority considers regular income to a non-resident’s card “hidden commercial activity”. Fines – from 500 euros.
You will not receive a VAT number. And without it, you can neither refund input VAT nor issue invoices to Albanian counterparties with VAT.

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What exactly is included in the registration service?

Most “consultants” limit themselves to submitting documents to QKB. We do this, but we start earlier – with an analysis of whether you should choose Sh.p.k. at all, and not, say, registration through the simplified regime for startups.

Practical nuances that break 80% of foreigners:

Requirement for a physical address. Not a “virtual office“, but a real premises where the tax office can come. We either help with renting a ready-made legal address, or show you how to use the address of your Albanian accountant.
Notarized certificate of the charter. Albanian notaries check the compliance of the charter with the law “On Companies” (No. 9901).
One incorrect phrase about the distribution of profits – and you will be refused.
Opening a temporary account for depositing capital. Yes, even 100 lek. But the bank requires that the founder physically arrive. We prepare a power of attorney for a local representative – you don’t fly twice.

A typical package of documents from Prikhodko & Partners:

Document / Diya	Who prepares	Important nuance
Completed registration form (QKB Form 1)	Lawyer Prikhodko & Partners	In Albanian. An error in the activity code (NACE) changes the taxation system
Statutes (Statuti)	Lawyer + notary	Must have two languages: Albanian and English
Proof of payment of authorized capital	Bank	Minimum 100 lek. Bank certificate is actually required
Power of attorney for a representative in Albania	Notary (Ukraine) + apostille	Without it, you cannot sign documents remotely
Application for appointment of a director	Director + notary	The director can be a non-resident, but an Albanian tax number (NIPT) is required

How does Prikhodko & Partners register a company in Albania (step by step. Without water)?

We do not transfer the client to a “local agent”. All support is provided by your personal lawyer who knows Albanian legislation (yes, we have a local partner with a license, but the control is ours).

Stage 1. Diagnostics and choice of form

We analyze your real income, the country of counterparties, plans for withdrawing profits. Perhaps a simplified system for freelancers (0% up to 10 million lek turnover) suits you. Or vice versa – it is better to immediately register Sh.a. under an investment agreement.

Stage 2. Collection and legalization of documents

We give an exact list for your case. We take away the bureaucracy with an apostille, translation into Albanian (this is done by a certified translator, not Google Translate) and notarization.

Stage 3. Submission to QKB and receipt of NIPT

We submit documents online or through our representative in Tirana. You receive NIPT (the Albanian equivalent of EDRPOU) in 1-2 days.

Stage 4. Opening a bank account and VAT registration

After one and a half years of working with Albanian banks (Intesa Sanpaolo, Credins, OTP), we know what questions they ask and what certificates they want to see. We open an account remotely in 90% of cases. We register VAT immediately, even if you plan zero transactions – otherwise you will not be able to refund input VAT.

Stage 5. Post-registration support (optional)

We connect to an Albanian accountant (cost – from 80 euros/month), help with the first reporting and set up the taxpayer’s electronic account.

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Specific advantages of working with us (without “exclusivity” and “reliability”)

We do not sell registration that you do not need. If you prefer to remain an individual entrepreneur in Ukraine with royalties from an Albanian partner – we will say this at the first consultation.
You will have a live contact of a lawyer. Not a “transmitter manager”, but a person who sits in correspondence with QKB.
We will reimburse the state duty if the registration is blocked through our fault (it has never happened, but there is a condition).
Fixed price. There will be no sudden “payment for urgency from the notary”.

Taxes are changing, banks are tightening compliance, but Albania remains one of the few jurisdictions where business registration is painless. Prikhodko & Partners supports 15+ companies already operating through Tirana. We don’t promise miracles, but we promise that you will be aware of every risk before it materializes.

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1 question

Are you planning a monthly turnover of more than 20,000 euros through your company?

Yes

2 question

Do you have counterparties in Europe who refuse to work with Ukrainian sole proprietors?

Yes

3 question

Are you prepared to physically come to Albania at least once to sign banking documents?

Yes

4 question

Do you plan to hire more than 3 Albanian workers?

Yes

Questions - Answers

Is it possible to manage a company in Albania completely remotely without a residence permit?

Yes. A non-resident director is legal. You don’t need a temporary or permanent permit. A foreign passport is sufficient. But be prepared: Albanian banks may require your personal presence when signing the card agreement. We resolve this by providing a notarized power of attorney for our representative.

I have a crypto business. Will my account be frozen immediately after the first transfer from the exchange?

Albania is one of the few European countries that doesn’t ban cryptocurrency transactions. However, there is a requirement: if you plan to exchange crypto for fiat through a local bank, you need a virtual currency license. Without a license, the bank has the right to request proof of sources. We’ve learned how to prepare such proof in a way that banks won’t bother you.

What happens if I don't file any reports in Albania and just leave the company "on the shelf"?

The Law on Companies requires the filing of annual financial statements even if there is no activity. The fine for failure to file is up to €1,000. After two years without reporting, QKB initiates forced liquidation. Albania does not automatically remove a company from the register; you will have to go through a court procedure or pay taxes for all years.

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