Albania

According to the MFA online consular services (punetejashtme.gov.al), applications for a biometric passport and ID card are handled through e-Albania, and the service page states that passport/ID applications are taken only at the diplomatic and consular missions in the following countries: Greece, Italy, Brussels, United Kingdom, Germany, USA, Turkey, Austria, Sweden, France and Canada. Australia is NOT on that published list, so an Albanian-Australian should contact the Canberra embassy first to confirm how to be issued a passport or ID from Australia. As officially described: appointments are booked online, the applicant must appear in person (biometric data is captured on-site), and passports/ID cards are produced in Albania and can take up to 6 weeks from the date of application. To renew, apply when the passport has expired or within 6 months of expiry (some destination countries require 6 months' validity). If a passport or ID is lost, stolen or damaged, you can self-declare the loss through your e-Albania account or apply for a consular self-declaration certificate at the embassy/consulate. Fees vary by country and were listed on the official page (e.g. biometric passport 130-240 EUR/USD and ID card 12-18 EUR/USD depending on the mission); Australia was not in the fee list, so confirm the current fee with the embassy.

Civil records: the MFA online consular platform lets you apply from abroad for registration of a child, marriage or death, and for birth, marriage, death and family certificates, with applications submitted online through e-Albania. Note that some certificates flagged on the official list are issued only at Albanian missions accredited in Italy, so from Australia confirm with the Canberra embassy which certificates it can process; many post-2010 certificates are generated directly from e-Albania. Citizenship: the MFA page states citizenship matters are handled by the Ministry of Interior (Directorate of Asylum, Foreigners and Citizenship). Requests to reacquire Albanian citizenship (rifitim) or to renounce it (heqje dorë) may be submitted through Albanian diplomatic/consular missions or online via e-Albania; the mission forwards them via the MFA to the Ministry of Interior, and the final decision is made by Decree of the President of the Republic. Under Law no. 113/2020 'On citizenship', Albania allows holding other citizenships in addition to Albanian (dual citizenship), and renunciation is not permitted if it would leave the person stateless. The citizenship application is individual and is addressed to the President, setting out the applicant's identity details and reasons.

Voting from abroad: in a notice dated 17 January 2025 the Albanian Embassy in Australia informed citizens living abroad about the electoral process and diaspora registration, explaining that voters register through the Central Election Commission (KQZ) electronic platform for out-of-country voters at diaspora.kqz.gov.al (and via the KQZ website www.kqz.gov.al), using a mobile app, laptop or desktop. For that cycle the registration period was open until 4 March 2025. IMPORTANT: diaspora voting rules, platforms and deadlines change with every election cycle - the details above are as of the 17 January 2025 embassy notice for that election and MUST be re-checked with the embassy and KQZ before any future vote. Notarial / homeland legal matters: the MFA consular page states that Albanian diplomatic and consular missions act as a notary, but only for Albanian citizens resident within the mission's jurisdiction. Consuls can issue a special power of attorney (prokurë e posaçme) for purposes such as withdrawing a pension in Albania, withdrawing civil-status or school documents, registering a child/marriage/death, and representation in court cases (e.g. divorce or recognition of a foreign judgment). Consuls do NOT issue general powers of attorney or powers of attorney for transferring ownership of property (e.g. sale of an apartment, land or a vehicle) - for those you must use a local (Australian) notary and have the document apostilled/legalised and translated to be recognised in Albania. Applications are made via e-Albania.