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CNN Travel: Albania among countries where Americans are choosing to live
2026-04-13 13:02:33 / EKONOMI&SOCIALE
Albania is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for foreign citizens, especially American citizens, who are choosing the country both for tourism and for living.
CNN Travel has recently published an article titled "More Americans Are Moving to Central and Eastern Europe," by author Blane Bachelor, who has paid special attention to Albania, breaking down the reasons for this growing phenomenon.
In her article, Bachelor emphasizes that for decades the European dream of American citizens was closely linked to metropolises like Paris, Rome, or Barcelona, but rising living costs and tightening visa policies are pushing them to discover a new alternative in the Balkan Peninsula.
“Another Eastern European country gaining ground from American citizens: Albania, located on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. According to data from the Albanian Institute of Statistics, the country had nearly 22,000 foreigners with residence permits at the end of 2024, more than 3,000 of whom were from “America, Africa or Oceania,” marking an increase of nearly 25% compared to 2023,” Bachelor writes.
According to her, while the "Big Four" countries of Europe (Italy, Spain, France and Portugal) are applying increasingly strict immigration policies, Albania offers one of the most generous visa regimes in the world for US citizens.
Jen Barnett, co-founder of the company Expatsi, which assists Americans in the process of moving abroad, ranks Albania high on her list of recommendations.
"Pack a bag and go," Barnett tells CNN. "You can live on $1,000 a month, so it's a great place to start a remote work business. If you decide to stay longer after that first year, you can easily apply for a digital nomad visa," Barnett points out.
In a post on social media, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Blendi Gonxhja, praised the international media's focus on Albania, citing the article published by CNN Travel.
"According to CNN, our country is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for American citizens, thanks to the low cost of living and residency policies. Thousands of foreigners choose to live and work in Albania and the country is gaining ground to attract digital nomads and global entrepreneurs. A more open Albania and increasingly present on the international map," Gonxha emphasized.
The interest of American citizens and not only in Albania is related to the untouched nature, beautiful coastline, relatively low cost of living and traditional Albanian hospitality.
Cities like Tirana, Saranda, and Vlora are among the most popular destinations, offering a combination of urban life, beaches, and cultural heritage.
In addition to tourism, more and more foreign citizens are showing interest in investing in real estate or developing business activities in the country, taking advantage of the favorable climate and growing opportunities of the Albanian market.
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