Visa-free entry for holders of valid multiple Schengen visas of category "C", multiple national "D" visas or residence permits issued by one of the Schengen countries can enter Albania for transit purposes or be on its territory as tourists. In other cases it is necessary to issue a visa to Albania.

To apply for a visa to Albania, the following documents must be submitted to the consular department of the embassy:

• a passport whose validity is not less than 6 months at the time of the expected entry into the country,
• profile,
• 1 color photo 3x4 cm, ±​​$ 1
• confirmation of the hotel (original or fax with hotel stamp and signature of the manager) or an invitation from the Albanian travel company with the seal and signature of the manager, or a notarized invitation from a private person (passport data, date of birth and citizenship of the invited person, as well as the purpose of the visit ),
• certificate from the place of work with indication of the position and salary on the letterhead of the company with the stamp and signature of the head.

In recent years, five for the entire summer season - from May 25 to September 25 - Albania opens visa-free entry for Russian citizens. According to forecasts, in 2014 the authorities should not break this tradition. After all, thanks to this measure in the summer of 2013, Albania was visited by about 10 thousand Russian tourists. Moreover, according to statistics, the tourist flow has increased not only from Russia - since 2005 the number of tourists from all over the world has increased 10 times in this region.

To date, the main obstacle to an even greater increase in the flow of visitors from Russia is the lack of direct flights to Albania. Russian tourists arrive via Montenegro or connecting flights through the cities of Western Europe.