Open Balkan Initiative – Current Status
In March 2024, the Open Balkan initiative was officially launched. This initiative allows nationals of Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia to live and work in any of other 2 countries for the duration of the permit, without requiring additional residence or work permits.
To apply, individuals must first obtain an Open Balkan identification number through their home country’s online government portal.
Once they have this number, they can apply for the Open Balkan permit via the government portal of the country where they intend to work. The permit, valid for two years, grants multiple entries and work rights across participating countries but does not extend residency or work privileges to family members.
Currently, the Serbian and North Macedonian portals are fully functional and allow applications for the Open Balkan permit in these two countries. However, there is still no dedicated application for the Open Balkan initiative on the e-Albania portal. As a result, citizens of North Macedonia and Serbia who wish to work in Albania cannot obtain an Open Balkan permit and are instead required to apply for work permits through the standard process, like other foreign nationals.
We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as new information becomes available.