Albania’s Foreign Residents Surge to 32,163 in 2025, With 55% Coming for Work

 The number of foreign nationals holding residence permits in Albania reached 32,163 by the end of 2025, representing a 46.6% increase compared with the previous year, according to INSTAT data.

 Construction workers on a building site, representing the growing workforce of foreign nationals filling labor shortages in sectors like construction and hospitality across Albania.

Employment was by far the main reason for residence, accounting for 55.1% of all permits. Family reunification followed with 19.8%, while humanitarian reasons accounted for 7.9% and studies for 3.1%.

India and the Philippines Drive New Arrivals

European citizens remained the largest group, with 17,022 residents, or 52.9% of the total. However, the strongest growth came from Asia, where the number of residents increased by 117.6%, reaching 9,891.

Applications from India and the Philippines rose sharply in 2025, together accounting for 26.6% of new residence-permit applications. The increase reflects growing demand from Albanian businesses for workers in hospitality, accommodation, cleaning and domestic care.

Kosovo and Italy remained the two largest foreign communities, representing 19.5% and 12.6% of all foreign residents respectively, followed by India at 9% and the Philippines at 7.5%.

Foreign Residents Nearly Reach 39,000 in 2026

The increase continued into 2026. According to data from the State Police, the number of approved residence permits had reached 38,712 by June 2026.

Kosovo citizens accounted for 7,302 permits, followed by Italians with 4,332, Indians with 3,882, Filipinos with 3,638 and Egyptians with 3,441.

The figures point to a rapidly changing labor and migration landscape in Albania, with foreign workers increasingly filling positions in sectors facing labor shortages.