TIRANA, Sept. 16 – Foreign residents in Albania have 30 days to obtain a new biometric ID card that allows them to access more state services than the current paper residency permit, the Ministry of Interior said.
The new card will be similar to the main ID card Albanian citizens use and will provide foreign residents access to many government electronic services, including access to the e-Albania services portal. It will also assign a national each foreign resident an identification number, NID.
“Starting today, foreign citizens who have a valid residence permit in the Republic of Albania can apply to obtain a Biometric Card for foreign citizens,” MoI said in a notice on its website. “The Card’s NID enables registration in the e-Albania platform and getting the services that the platform offers for foreign citizens.”
The process of obtaining the card is the same as getting an Albanian national ID. A coupon is purchased at the nearest Albanian Post Office, but then the foreign resident must go in person to the ALEAT office located at the Border and Migration Directorate, where they received their residence permit.
“The 20,000 or so foreign citizens who have a residence permit in Albania, will now have a very good opportunity to have easier access to Albanian state services,” said Interior Minister Bledi Çuçi, “The card is … in terms of features and information the same as what Albanian citizens have.”
