Interest in the Albanian passport declines, while asylum applications increase

During 2025, the number of foreign nationals seeking to obtain an Albanian passport declined. According to INSTAT data, Albanian citizenship was granted to 495 people, representing a 46% drop compared with 2024, when 919 people obtained this right.

Among the 495 beneficiaries, 306 regained Albanian citizenship, while 189 acquired it for the first time. More than half of them, or 56.1%, come from Kosovo. They are followed by Turkish nationals with 20.1%, while North Macedonia and Italy come next.

Meanwhile, 173 people renounced Albanian citizenship. Statistics show that the 30–39 age group accounts for the largest share both among those who obtained citizenship and among those who decided to give it up.

The situation is different when it comes to asylum, where an upward trend has been observed. In 2025, 144 applications for international protection were registered, 40 more than a year earlier. The largest share of applications was submitted by Egyptian nationals, with 39.6% of the total, followed by Afghanistan with 11.8% and Palestine with 9.7%.

These figures show that although Albania remains a destination where some foreigners seek international protection, interest in obtaining Albanian citizenship is declining. This reflects changes in migration trends and in the motives that drive foreigners to choose or not choose Albania to live and build their lives.