The company formation process in Albania is a standard and straightforward process. It involves gathering the necessary documents and submitting them to the National Business Center. This institution works as a ‘one-stop shop’, as this is where you check the company name and where you register for tax and social security. This makes the process easier and quicker.
Opening a company in Albania is a strategic move, as the country developed its infrastructure and features a strong investment climate. Albania’s strategic location, competitive tax rates, and potential for economic growth make it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs. This guide will walk you through the process of company registration in Albania. Foreign companies can open multiple types of companies and offices in Albania, like a Limited Partnership, a Branch office and a Representative office. You can see the types of companies and more details about them below.
The company formation steps in Albania
In the beginning of the process of company incorporation in Albania, the investors must check at the National Business Centre if the chosen name is singular. The drafting and notarizing the company’s documents of incorporation must be performed. The necessary documents are:
- The application form, the Articles of Association;
- The founders’ decision for establishment;
- Copies of passports and IDs for all shareholders and administrators;
- The bank certificate to prove the minimum share capital deposit;
- The power of attorney, in case the company is working with a lawyer to set up the company in Albania.
These are the steps our company formation specialists perform when helping businesses open their offices. Registering a company here takes around 1-2 working days, however opening a bank account for the company usually takes 4 weeks. The corporate tax rate is 15%, while the VAT rate is 20%.
Types of companies in Albania
The Albanian Limited liability company (SHPK) is very popular among the investors as it requires only a single shareholder and director. The minimum share capital for this business form is 100 LEK. At the Albanian National Business Center, the investors can make all the steps for company registration in Albania, including tax registration, registration for health insurance, social insurance and labor directorate registration.
Besides the LLC, investors can open a Joint Stock company, a Free Zone LLC, a Sole Proprietorship, a General Partnership, a Limited Partnership a Branch office and a Representative office. The branches and subsidiaries are allowed to perform various activities but only if the parent company is taking full responsibility and if the capital is provided by it while the representative offices can conduct mostly research activities.
A Joint Stock company, similar to an LLC, can be established by a single shareholder. It is mandatory to keep a registered office and deposit a minimum share capital of 2,000,000 LEK if it’s a closed joint stock company or 10.000.000 LEK if it’s an open joint stock company. The main difference between the two is that only the public joint stock company can subscribe its shares to the Stock Exchange Market.
Besides opening a company from scratch, there is also the option to buy a shelf company, which is an already registered company that is put up for sale. Our company formation agents can help you open or acquire any of these company types.
Why consider company formation in Albania?
Besides the strategic geographical position, Albania is a rich country in natural resources. The strongest sectors are energy, mining, metallurgy, agriculture, and tourism. Company registration in Albania in 2025 means benefiting from various investing incentives, such as the low corporate tax and the ‘Albania 1 Euro’ program. This is a government initiative providing lease or concession of public assets for a nominal fee of 1€. Here are a few statistics that showcase Albania is an attractive destination for investments:
- The inflation rate declined in 2024, from 4.76% in 2023 to 2.21%;
- The unemployment rate has been on a downward trend, reaching 10.25% in 2024;
- Albania signed 42 Double Tax Treaties;
- The country has seen some growth in tourism, as 11.7 million people visited the country in 2024.
The continuous economic growth of the country makes it a great place for investors seeking potential and a growing market. If you are interested in company incorporation in Albania, please reach out to us to explore your options.
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