How to send money to Albania in 2026: euros under European rules, lek and paying for an apartment
Since October 2025 euros from Italy, Greece and Germany reach Tirana under the European standard in 1 business day, and dollars from the rest of the world travel through correspondent banks. The Albanian lek remains the national currency, deposits are insured up to $31,000, and in 2026 a gift to close family is tax-free, to others 15%.
In short
- Since 7 October 2025 euros from the European Union reach Albania under European rules in 1 business day.
- An Albanian account number has 28 characters, plus the bank code and the recipient's address.
- Gifts and inheritance are taxed at 15%, tax-free for first- and second-line heirs, brothers and sisters.
- Deposits are insured up to $31,000 (2,500,000 lek), and a euro deposit is paid out in lek.
In detail
Since 7 October 2025 Albania has received euros under the rules of the single European payments area: from Italy, Greece and Germany the sum reaches Tirana in 1 business day. Dollars and euros from the rest of the world go through correspondent banks in 1-3 business days, the recipient needs a 28-character number, and a home purchase is paid only by bank payment.
| Method | On 8 October 2026 | Currency | Time | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro transfer from the European Union and the euro payments area | works under European rules since 7 October 2025 | euros | 1 business day | 28-character account number, bank code, recipient's name and address |
| International transfer from other countries | works | dollars, euros, lek | 1-3 business days | account number and 8- or 11-character bank code |
| Money transfer service to an account | works | lek, euros | minutes to one day | recipient's name and account number |
| Paying for an apartment to the seller or developer | works | as per the sale contract | 1-3 business days | contract, buyer's tax number, source-of-funds documents |
Bank of Albania rate on 7 October 2026: 82.05 lek per dollar, dollar amounts rounded up; table checked on 8 October 2026.
Euros to Albania under European rules: what changed in October 2025
The European Payments Council approved Albania's entry into the single euro payments area on 21 November 2024, and since 7 October 2025 Albanian banks receive euro transfers under the same rules as EU banks. Money from Italy, Greece or Germany no longer travels along a chain of correspondent banks: the transfer arrives in 1 business day under a single European standard.
Such a transfer needs the 28-character account number and the recipient's name as held by the Albanian bank. Albania is not part of the European Economic Area, so even for a euro transfer from the EU the sender's bank asks for the recipient bank's 8- or 11-character code and address. For transfers from other countries it is best for the sender to cover the correspondent bank fees in full.
The sending terms are set by the law and bank of your country; the Albanian side only receives the payment. If your bank does not send payments to Tirana directly, a manager will find a legal route from your country: a route exists for harder directions too.
What to write in a payment to Albania
An Albanian bank checks the recipient's name, the account number and the payment reference. The name is written in Latin letters as held by the Albanian bank, the address as in the account agreement, and the reference short and specific: payment for an apartment under the contract of such-and-such date, a gift to my son, transfer of my own savings. If the money goes to a developer's account, the reference includes the contract number: this way the bank links the payment to the deal straight away.
We will review your situation for free
Describe your task in the chat and we will tell you where to start.
Lek or euros: which currency to send to Albania
Albania's official currency is the lek, but home prices are quoted in euros, and Albanian banks keep accounts in both lek and euros. If the money is for an apartment, send euros to a foreign-currency account: the sum arrives with no conversion and no loss on the rate. If the money is for living costs, convert it into lek in portions as you spend.
When choosing a bank, deposit insurance matters: Albanian insurance covers $31,000 (2,500,000 lek) per depositor at a bank, and a euro deposit is paid out in lek at the rate on the payout date. So before a deal a large sum is kept at several banks or sent closer to the payment date.
Gifts and inheritance in Albania: 15% tax and who is exempt
15% is the inheritance and gift tax rate in Albania from 1 January 2024 under Law 29/2023. First- and second-line heirs by law, as well as brothers and sisters between themselves, receive money and property tax-free: a transfer from parents to children and from children to parents is not taxed.
A friend, distant relative or unmarried partner pays 15% of the value of the gift. So the payment reference states who is sending to whom and why: a gift to my son, help for my mother, transfer of my own savings. A large gift is backed by a gift agreement, which both the Albanian bank and the tax office need.
| Who receives the money | Tax in Albania |
|---|---|
| First- and second-line heirs | 0% |
| Brothers and sisters | 0% |
| Other recipients | 15% of the value of the gift or inheritance |
The 15% rate applies from 1 January 2024, checked on 8 October 2026.
We will help you send money to Albania
Mistakes cost more than fees: euros to a lek account with conversion at the bank's rate, a gift to a friend without allowing for the 15% tax, the whole apartment budget at one bank above the $31,000 insurance, paying for the deal with no statements along the money path. We will help you avoid them: we choose a legal transfer route from your country, prepare source-of-funds documents for the Albanian bank and notary and carry out the transfer through licensed partners until the money is credited.
Details and cost are with a manager in the chat: the calculation depends on the amount, the country the money comes from and the purpose of the transfer.
Paying for an apartment in Albania: through the bank only
A foreigner buys an apartment or house in Albania directly, with no citizenship conditions, and leases agricultural land for up to 99 years or buys it through an Albanian company. The buyer needs a passport, an Albanian tax number and an account at an Albanian bank, and the deal is paid through the bank with a source-of-funds check.
The deal takes 3-8 weeks from the cadastre check to registration. The seller pays 15% on the gain in value, the annual property tax is 0.05% of the building value, and rental income is taxed at 15%. Prices and cities are covered in property in Albania.
The seller's bank looks at where the money came from, so statements for the whole money path are gathered before the deposit. Buying an apartment in Tirana, Durrës or Vlorë? A manager will draw up a transfer schedule around the deposit and registration dates and prepare statements for the Albanian bank.
Documents for a transfer to Albania by amount
There is no upper cap on a transfer to Albania: the larger the payment, the more the Albanian bank asks. Data for 2026:
| Amount | The Albanian bank's question | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $10,000 | purpose of the payment and link to the recipient | details and a short explanation: gift, rent, study |
| $10,000-100,000 | source of funds and purpose, if the sum stands out from usual activity | 3-6 months of statements, income certificate, gift agreement |
| From $100,000 | the money path back to its source, especially for a home purchase | sale contract for an apartment or share, inheritance documents, tax return, statements for every account along the way |
How to prove where money comes from is covered in proof of source of funds, sending large sums abroad and moving home sale proceeds abroad.
Planning to send $100,000 or more to Albania for a seaside home or a business? A manager will prepare source-of-funds documents for the Albanian bank and carry out the transfer through licensed partners until the money is credited; moving capital as a whole is covered on the capital relocation page.
Where money goes next from Albania
From Tirana money most often goes to study, work and a second base for the family:
- Germany - instant euro transfer, the bank checks the recipient's name
- United Kingdom - pounds in 1-3 business days, deposits insured up to $160,000
- Turkey - a transfer to your own account in 1-5 business days, no tax on bringing money in
- UAE - the dirham is pegged to the dollar, transfer in 1-3 business days
Sending money to nearby countries
- Montenegro - euros outside the EU, transfers under European rules since October 2025
- Greece - tax number by video call, an apartment for the golden visa
- North Macedonia - the denar is pegged to the euro, first-line gifts tax-free
- Serbia - dinars and euros, an apartment is paid only through the bank
- Italy - euros in 10 seconds, a tax code for any deal
- Croatia - euros since 2023 and homes by the sea
Routes for moving capital to every country are on the capital relocation page.
FAQ
How many characters are in an Albanian account number?
Do euro transfers to Albania follow European rules?
Up to what amount is a deposit at an Albanian bank insured?
Is a gift from a father or mother taxed in Albania?
What tax does an apartment seller pay in Albania?
Do I need a bank code to send euros to Albania from the EU?
How long does buying an apartment in Albania take?
We will suggest the best way to send your money
We will choose a transfer method for your amount and country, prepare the documents on the origin of the money for the bank, make the transfer through licensed partners and follow it until the money is credited. Ask your question in the chat - the manager will suggest the best terms and the cost. The legal side with banks and government bodies is handled by Murblz specialists and locally licensed partners.
Details and cost are with the manager in the chat. Describe your situation and we will reply right away.
Check transfer termsHow we handle a transfer: 4 stages → · Country rules checked