Health insurance & care

Insurance is required for your permit — and private care is where most newcomers end up.

📋 For your permit

Insurance valid in Albania is required

💶 Local cover

Permit-grade policies from about €150–€500 a year

🏥 Private care

A GP visit typically costs €30–€60

Albania's public healthcare is free for citizens and insured residents, but as a newcomer you can't rely on it — and every residence permit application requires health insurance valid in Albania for the whole permit period. Most expats use private clinics and carry private cover.

Step by step

Understand the two systemsPublic care is free for contributors but stretched, with queues and little English. Private clinics are fast and modern — and inexpensive by Western standards.
Buy cover before your permit applicationThe policy must be valid in Albania and cover the entire permit period — the permit office checks, and a policy that doesn't name Albania won't be accepted.
Choose local or internationalLocal insurers (Sigal, Albsig, Eurosig, Intersig) sell permit-grade policies from about €150–€500 a year. International plans cost more but add care abroad and evacuation.
Register once you're a residentWith a permit and a job or business, you pay health contributions and join the public system. Many residents keep private cover on top for speed and choice.
Keep your documents handyPrivate clinics often ask you to pay first and claim back — keep every invoice and your policy number saved in your phone.

Documents you'll need

Passport
Residence permit, once you have it
A policy certificate valid in Albania
Albanian address and phone number

Good to know

Tirana's private hospitals — American Hospital, Hygeia and Salus — handle most expat care; Vlora's private clinics cover everyday needs.

Dental and optical care are high quality and inexpensive — many residents simply pay cash and skip extra cover for them.

Travelling onward in Europe? Albania isn't in the EU or Schengen — check that your policy covers the countries you visit, not just Albania.

Verified help on AlbGate

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Sample — Tirana Dental Clinic (Concept)

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Tirana · €€

★★★★★4.8 (312 reviews)

Concept listing for a private dental clinic offering implants, crowns and full treatment plans in writing before work begins, with English-speaking dentists and airport pickup for treatment visitors. Placeholder text for layout purposes only.

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