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Worldwide Caution: The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution.
You can make an appointment by visiting our Online Consular Calendar. For more urgent issues that may not be accommodated through our normal scheduling process, please contact us directly at ACSTirana@state.gov.
In case of an emergency involving a U.S. citizen, please call the Embassy at +355-(0)-4224-7285 and ask to speak with the American Citizen Services Unit, or, after hours, with the duty officer. Emergency services include the loss of a U.S. passport and the arrest, life-threatening illness or death of a U.S. citizen. Please note that our American Citizen Services staff cannot answer visa questions.
To help serve you as efficiently as possible, the Embassy provides routine services, such as passport renewals, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and notaries by appointment only. Please click on the service you need by visiting the links below to access instructions on how to schedule an appointment.
If you are living or traveling in Albania, we urge you to sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive notifications from the Embassy and so that we can contact you in case of emergency. You can also find detailed information on country conditions and entry requirements on the State Department’s Country Specific Information page for Albania.
For the latest worldwide security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should monitor the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs webpage. You can also get up-to-date information on security by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except for U.S. Federal Holidays.)
Our website is the fastest way to get information on the services we provide, but if you have searched and can’t find the answer you are looking for, feel free to email us at ACSTirana@state.gov. You can also reach us during business hours by calling +355-(0)-4224-7285 and asking for American Citizen Services. Please understand that our Citizen Services staff cannot answer visa questions.
While in Albania, every U.S. citizen is subject to local laws and regulations. If you violate the law in Albania, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, fined, arrested, or imprisoned.
The judicial process can be lengthy. Living conditions in prisons are improving, but are still quite difficult. Prisoners live in close quarters and have limited access to telephones. Typically, family members will purchase toiletries, comfortable bedding and personal articles for the prisoner.
If you, a family member, or a friend is arrested in Albania, please notify the American Citizen Services Unit at +355-(0)-4224-7285 or by email at acstirana@state.gov.
The American Citizen Services Unit (ACS) at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana can assist family and friends in the event of the death of a U.S. citizen in Albania. The ACS unit can act as liaison in arranging the disposition of remains and help with forwarding personal effects. The family or legal representative must pay all funeral home charges, shipping costs for the remains and personal effects (if applicable). The ACS unit will work with the funeral home selected by the family to ensure proper documentation for shipment of remains to the United States.
Even if no assistance is needed in making funeral arrangements, the death of a U.S. citizen, whether resident or tourist in Albania, should be reported to the ACS unit so that we can issue a Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad. This document is necessary to settle legal and estate matters in the United States.
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
If you are the victim of a crime in Albania, contact local police to report the incident and obtain immediate assistance. The equivalent of the U.S. 911 in Albania is 112. Request a copy of the police report.
Contact our office at +355-(0)-4224-7285 and ask for the American Citizen Services Unit. In case of an after-hours emergency ask to speak with the duty officer.
The U.S. Embassy in Tirana may only offer emergency passport appointments under the following conditions:
While in Albania, every U.S. citizen is subject to local laws and regulations. If you violate the law in Albania, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, fined, arrested, or imprisoned.
The judicial process can be lengthy. Living conditions in prisons are improving, but are still quite difficult. Prisoners live in close quarters and have limited access to telephones. Typically, family members will purchase toiletries, comfortable bedding and personal articles for the prisoner.
If you, a family member, or a friend is arrested in Albania, please notify the American Citizen Services Unit at +355-(0)-4224-7285 or by email at acstirana@state.gov.
The American Citizen Services Unit (ACS) at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana can assist family and friends in the event of the death of a U.S. citizen in Albania. The ACS unit can act as liaison in arranging the disposition of remains and help with forwarding personal effects. The family or legal representative must pay all funeral home charges, shipping costs for the remains and personal effects (if applicable). The ACS unit will work with the funeral home selected by the family to ensure proper documentation for shipment of remains to the United States.
Even if no assistance is needed in making funeral arrangements, the death of a U.S. citizen, whether resident or tourist in Albania, should be reported to the ACS unit so that we can issue a Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad. This document is necessary to settle legal and estate matters in the United States.
International Parental Child Abduction
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
If you are the victim of a crime in Albania, contact local police to report the incident and obtain immediate assistance. The equivalent of the U.S. 911 in Albania is 112. Request a copy of the police report.
Contact our office at +355-(0)-4224-7285 and ask for the American Citizen Services Unit. In case of an after-hours emergency ask to speak with the duty officer.
The U.S. Embassy in Tirana may only offer emergency passport appointments under the following conditions:
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
To transfer funds commercially to Albania, the fastest way is through Western Union. Western Union in Albania is operated by Financial Union Tirana. In order to retrieve the money sent by family or friends through Western Union to Albania, all you need is a valid identity document and the Money Transfer Control Number provided to you by the money sender. You can use the Western Union website to track the money transfer online. For more information, contact Financial Union Tirana’s Client Services:
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
To transfer funds commercially to Albania, the fastest way is through Western Union. Western Union in Albania is operated by Financial Union Tirana. In order to retrieve the money sent by family or friends through Western Union to Albania, all you need is a valid identity document and the Money Transfer Control Number provided to you by the money sender. You can use the Western Union website to track the money transfer online. For more information, contact Financial Union Tirana’s Client Services:
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
