Changes Impacting Construction in Albania

Some of the most important innovations of the latest decision of the Council of Ministers are as follows:

1. Improvement of the Licensing Commission structure
   1. New composition of the Commission:
      • 1 representative from the Prime Minister’s Office (chairman of the Commission);
      • 2 representatives from the ministry responsible for construction;
      • 1 representative from the ministry responsible for infrastructure;
      • 1 representative from the ministry responsible for energy.
   2. Appointment and functioning:
      • The composition of the Commission is approved by order of the minister responsible for construction.
      • The deputy chairman is elected in the first meeting of the Commission.
      • The technical secretariat is provided by the relevant structure of the ministry responsible for construction.

2. Procedure for reviewing applications
   • The Commission decides within 20 (twenty) calendar days from the submission of the application through the “e-Albania” portal.

3. Restrictions for the technical manager of the Implementation Company
   1. The technical manager of the Company may have another engagement only part-time in another Company, in a different position, if:
      • it does not create a conflict of interest;
      • it does not harm continuity in duty.
   2. It is not allowed for the technical manager to be simultaneously employed in more than one construction company with this function.
   3. The technical manager cannot simultaneously hold a license for supervision or approval of implementation works.
   4. If the person holds a license for supervision or approval:
      • they must declare this in the application documentation;
      • the license is automatically suspended once the company obtains the implementation license.
   5. The suspension of the license is removed immediately after termination of the duty as technical manager.
4. Licensing of Foreign Companies
   1. Foreign companies must be:
      • registered as branches in the National Business Center (QKB), according to Albanian law;
      • or registered in the country of origin, but must comply with Albanian legislation when carrying out activities in Albania.
   2. If they have not opened a branch in Albania, they must submit:
      • a document proving registration as a business for carrying out implementation works in construction in the country of origin (apostilled, translated, and notarized in Albanian).
   3. The company’s license and the technical managers’ licenses in the country of origin must:
      • be unified and translated into the Albanian language;
      • if the license does not specify the categories and classification, works of the last 4 years with supporting documentation of the parent company must be presented. 

This decision entered into force after publication in Official Gazette No. 118, dated 04.07.2025.

By Bora Bregu, Legal Associate, Lalaj & Partners