Licensing Services in Albania
Crypto · Forex · Gambling · Transport · Taxi · Alcohol · Pharma
Some business activities in Albania need more than a standard Sh.p.k. registration to legally operate. Crypto and virtual asset services, forex and financial trading platforms, gambling operators, transport and taxi services, alcohol production and sale, and pharmaceutical activities each sit under a specific regulator, with their own application process, documentation, capital and fit-and-proper requirements — on top of, not instead of, standard company registration.
Albania For Business Sh.p.k. supports foreign entrepreneurs and companies through licensing across all seven of these sectors — from an initial eligibility assessment through application, regulatory liaison, and the compliance work that continues once the license is granted. Licensing timelines and requirements vary enormously by sector, so we start every engagement by giving you a realistic picture of what’s actually involved before you commit.
- Every sector sits under a different regulator, with its own application format, documentation standards, and review timeline — there’s no single generic “license application” template.
- Licensing frequently overlaps with AML and compliance obligations, particularly for crypto, forex and gambling — we coordinate this rather than treating licensing and compliance as separate, disconnected workstreams.
- Realistic timeline expectations matter — some licenses are granted in weeks, others realistically take months, and knowing which before you commit resources changes how you plan.
- Getting an application wrong or incomplete the first time doesn’t just delay you — with some regulators it restarts the review clock entirely.
- One point of contact who understands your licensing position alongside your corporate structure, tax setup and ongoing compliance obligations.
Choose the sector below that matches your activity, or read on for how we work, typical fees and frequently asked questions.
Crypto License
Registration and licensing for virtual asset service providers under Albania’s AML and crypto regulatory framework.
Forex License
Licensing for forex and financial trading platforms operating in or targeting the Albanian market.
Gambling License
Licensing for betting, casino and gaming operators under Albania’s gambling regulatory regime.
Transport License
Licensing for road transport and freight or passenger carriage operators.
Alcohol License
Licensing for producing, importing, distributing or selling alcoholic beverages.
Pharma License
Licensing for pharmaceutical import, distribution, wholesale or pharmacy retail activities.
Licensing Services — Key Facts
Crypto, forex, gambling, transport, taxi, alcohol, pharma
Application built for the actual regulator, not a generic template
Honest expectations set before you commit resources
Licensing aligned with your AML and compliance position
Coordinated with your corporate and tax structure
How We Work
Every licensing engagement — whichever sector — follows the same basic model:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Initial eligibility assessment | We confirm which license applies to your activity, what the regulator actually requires, and whether you meet the baseline eligibility before any fee is committed. |
| Application preparation & filing | Documentation is prepared to the specific regulator’s format and submitted, rather than adapted from a generic template. |
| Regulatory liaison | We manage communication with the regulator throughout the review, including responding to information requests. |
| Post-licensing compliance | Once granted, we help you meet the ongoing reporting and compliance obligations that come with holding the license. |
Fees are confirmed in writing before work begins, based on the specific sector and complexity of your application.
What We Typically Need From You
The exact requirements vary significantly by sector, but most engagements start with:
- A description of your intended activity and target market within the licensed sector.
- Your company’s registration documents, or confirmation that registration will happen alongside licensing.
- Details of the ownership and management structure, including any beneficial owners subject to fit-and-proper checks.
- Your available capital or planned capitalisation, where the sector has a minimum capital requirement.
- Any existing licenses or regulatory history in other jurisdictions, if applicable.
We confirm the exact requirements for your specific sector at the start of the engagement.
How the Licensing Process Works
The typical sequence, adapted to the specific regulator’s process:
Eligibility & regulatory scoping
Application & documentation prepared
Filing with the regulator
Regulatory review & responses
License issued & compliance setup
Timelines vary enormously by sector — a taxi or alcohol license can sometimes be granted in weeks, while crypto, forex and gambling licenses typically take considerably longer given the depth of regulatory review involved.
Typical Starting Fees by Sector
Indicative starting fees are set out below; each sector has its own dedicated page with more detail. Licensing fees vary far more than most of our other services, since they reflect the underlying regulator’s complexity, not just our own time — your adviser confirms an exact quotation once your specific activity is scoped.
| Sector | Starting Fee |
|---|---|
| Crypto license — virtual asset service provider | from €3,000 |
| Forex license — trading platform / brokerage | from €5,000 |
| Gambling license — betting, casino or gaming | from €4,000 |
| Transport license — freight or passenger carriage | from €500 |
| Taxi license — taxi or ride-hailing operator | from €300 |
| Alcohol license — production, import or sale | from €400 |
| Pharma license — import, distribution or pharmacy | from €800 |
All figures are indicative order-of-magnitude estimates and must be verified against current regulatory fee schedules and capital requirements before publication — licensing costs and requirements are set by each sector’s regulator and are periodically updated.