Investors who want to start a business in Albania will oftentimes need to hold a business license or a permit for their economic activities. The process of obtaining business licenses in Albania is regulated under the local law, which stipulates the types of licenses available here and the types of activities that must hold proper licensing. Our consultants provide in-depth advice and assistance.
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When is it required to obtain business licenses in Albania?
Businessowners who plan to invest in Albania must apply and obtain business licenses during the process of company formation in Albania (not having suitable documentation, permits or licenses can result in the refusal of initiating a business activity here).
The obligation to apply for and obtain business licenses in Albania is imposed to specific economic operators, some of which will be presented below by our team of consultants in company incorporation in Albania.
Economic activities that must be licensed in Albania
A variety of economic activities need to hold proper certifications (licenses/permits), which attest that the authorities responsible for those specific industries have given their approval because the applicant companies abide by the minimum standards imposed by the law.
The minimum requirements can vary from one license to another and this why we recommend you to address our specialists, who can provide a detailed list of all the basic conditions applicable for a certain industry. In the list below, we invite those who want to open a company in Albania to observe some of the sectors in which businesses must be licensed:
- national security, civil protection and public order;
- food and health;
- raising and/or trading live animals;
- medical industry;
- the pharmaceutical industry (including veterinary pharmacies);
- education;
- transportation;
- mining, etc.
Please mind that some of the licenses available in this country are issued by the National Business Center, while others are granted by the authorities supervising the industry in which a legal entity will operate.
Required documentation
The documentation necessary for the issuance of a license is established under the provisions of the law – Law No. 10 081, dated 23.2.2009 On Licenses, Authorizations and Permits in the Republic of Albania, Article 17. The Article refers to the registration requirements available when the applicant wants to obtain a license from the National Business Center (NBC). In this sense, the following apply:
- the application for a license, which contains the standard form and the mandatory accompanying documents (Article 17.1);
- the standard form must provide information on the licensing category/sub-category (there are 3 main categories, stipulated by Article 16 of the law), the activity carried out by the company, the identification details of the applicant, the location where the activities will be carried out, etc.;
- it is also necessary to submit a declaration signed by the applicant, in which it is stated that the applicant is aware of the licensing conditions and that the documentation submitted proves that those requirements are met (Article 17.3d);
- a declaration of authenticity of all the accompanying documents (Article 17.3e).
Investors who obtain business licenses in Albania will then have the right to develop their commercial activities.
Provided that after the legal entity has started its operations and if any modifications concerning the initial licensing registration are brought (such as the change of activities, of introducing new activities, of location, etc.), it is mandatory to report to the NBC the respective change, in period of maximum 30 days.
We invite you to contact our team if you want to learn more on the process of obtaining business licenses in Albania. Our consultants offer full supportto those who set up a company in Albania.