An Albanian pension application is made online, on the government portal e-Albania, and is decided by Albania's Social Insurance Institute (Instituti i Sigurimeve Shoqërore, ISSH). The online form itself is free. For people living abroad, the trouble is usually everything around it: an e-Albania account that won't open, missing proof of the years worked, or original documents that need to be posted to Albania.
That's where we come in. We're a private assistance office in Shkodër, operating since 2020, and we've helped over 3,500 people with e-Albania procedures.
Who this service is for
- You live in the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland or elsewhere and you worked in Albania.
- You're sorting out the pension for a parent or grandparent.
- You've started the application and got stuck.
What's included
- A check of your situation: which documents you have and what's missing.
- Help getting into e-Albania, if the account is the problem.
- Preparing the pension application and the supporting documents.
- Following the application and keeping you posted on WhatsApp all the way through.
How it works
- Choose the service on our website and pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- We message you on WhatsApp and tell you exactly what we need.
- We follow it through and keep you updated at every step.
What you'll usually need
- An Albanian identity document (ID card or passport).
- Your work booklet (librezë pune) or other proof of the years you worked, if you have it. e-Albania also lists a university diploma and court decisions recognising years of service, where they apply.
- After the online application, the original documents you attached are posted to the regional social insurance office (DRSSH), with the application number on the envelope. We tell you what to send and where.
The exact list depends on your case. Once you've paid, we tell you what's needed straight away.
Albanian pension if you live in the UK, the US or Canada
- The UK, the US and Ireland are not on ISSH's list of countries with a social security agreement with Albania. In practice, you claim your Albanian pension from the Albanian system (online, through e-Albania), under Albanian rules, separately from any UK or US pension.
- Canada does have an agreement with Albania, in force since 1 August 2022. If you live in Canada, the Government of Canada explains how to apply for the Albanian old-age pension from there (form CAN-AL 4).
Frequently asked questions
Why pay if applying on e-Albania is free?
The application is free and, if you have the time and feel confident, you can do it yourself. Start with our guides on registering on e-Albania and resetting a forgotten password. You pay us for our time, experience and follow-up, so you don't lose whole days to the procedure.
Do you ask for my e-Albania password?
No. We never ask for your password or your one-time codes.
What if I change my mind?
You can cancel free of charge within 24 hours, or at any time before work on your case has started.