In our series of the basics of Albania, we’ve already covered Albania’s location and whether it’s a member of the European Union. Today, we’ll cover whether Albania is a member of the Schengen Area.
As we’ve discussed, Albania is one of the candidates for accession to the European Union, meaning, formally, it’s not yet a part of the EU structures. As such, if you’re from an EU country and wish to visit Albania, be aware that you’re leaving the EU.
Schengen and Albania
Most European countries are part of the Schengen area, with a few, like Romania and Bulgaria, hoping to join very soon. What about Albania?
Albania is not a member of the Schengen area and is not even a candidate for the time being. All restrictions at airports and border controls apply to Albania. Albanian citizens can enter the Schengen Area without a visa. This situation may change sometime in the future given that Albania is a candidate for the accession to the European Union. The next natural step would be Schengen.
Mini-schengen Area
Albania is, however, a member of the ‘Open Balkan’, formerly known as the ‘Mini-Schengen Area’. The Open Balkan comprises Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. There’s also Kosovo, which agreed to join the Open Balkan in 2020, but has since rejected the initiative. The idea is for the member states to increase economic cooperation, student exchanges and general cooperation between the countries. Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina are potential candidates for the mini-Schengen agreement in the future.
See also:
