Transport License
Licensing for road freight and passenger transport operators – domestic and international carriage for hire.
Carrying Goods or Passengers for Hire Needs a License
Registering a company and buying a truck or minibus doesn’t authorise you to carry other people’s goods or passengers for payment. Road transport for hire – freight haulage, courier and logistics services, scheduled or non-scheduled passenger transport – is a licensed activity in Albania, separate from vehicle registration and separate from standard company registration. International routes typically add a further layer of permits on top of the domestic license.
Albania For Business Sh.p.k. supports freight and passenger transport operators through licensing – confirming the right category for your activity, preparing the application, and coordinating the professional competence and fleet compliance requirements that come with it.
LICENSING
TRANSPORT LICENSE APPLICATION
fixed service fee
PACKAGE OF TRANSPORT LICENSE APPLICATION INCLUDES:
- Eligibility assessment for your transport activity – freight or passenger, domestic or international
- Preparation of the license application and supporting documentation
- Fleet and vehicle compliance documentation
- Professional competence certification support for your designated transport manager
- Financial standing documentation
- Good repute (fit and proper) documentation for directors and the transport manager
- Liaison with the transport authority throughout review
- Post-licensing compliance setup guidance
What Requires a Transport License
- Freight/goods carriage for hire – transporting other companies’ or individuals’ goods for payment, above the applicable vehicle weight threshold.
- Courier and logistics services operating commercial delivery fleets.
- Passenger transport – scheduled bus/coach routes, non-scheduled charter and tour transport, and shuttle services.
- International road haulage requires a specific licence for international road transport of goods for third parties or for hire. Depending on the destination and route, additional bilateral or multilateral permits, including CEMT permits where applicable, may also be required.
Own-account transport is regulated separately from carriage for hire. Domestic own-account goods transport generally requires the applicable certificate, although statutory exemptions apply, including for certain vehicles with a carrying capacity below 1,500 kg and other exempt categories.
License Categories
| Category | Covers |
|---|---|
| Domestic freight transport | Carriage of goods for hire within Albania |
| International freight transport | Cross-border carriage of goods for third parties or for hire under a specific international road transport licence, with additional bilateral or multilateral permits where applicable. |
| Passenger transport | Scheduled or non-scheduled carriage of passengers by bus, coach or minibus |
| Taxi services | Licensed separately – see our dedicated Taxi License page |
What the Regulator Requires
- Good repute – no disqualifying criminal or regulatory history for directors and the designated transport manager.
- Professional competence – a designated transport manager holding (or obtaining) the required professional competence certification.
- Financial standing – evidence the company has adequate financial resources to establish and manage the transport operation.
- An appropriate, compliant vehicle fleet, including valid registration, insurance and technical inspection.
- For international routes, the additional cross-border permits required for the specific countries served.
Transport Licensing, Step by Step
- Eligibility & category assessment – we confirm which license category applies to your activity.
- Transport manager & fleet review – we confirm your designated transport manager’s competence status and your fleet’s compliance.
- Application & documentation prepared – the full application package is prepared to the regulator’s requirements.
- Filing with the transport authority – the application is formally submitted.
- Regulatory review & responses – we manage any information requests raised during review.
- License granted & compliance setup – once granted, we help set up ongoing fleet and reporting compliance.
What We Need From You
- A description of your transport activity – freight or passenger, domestic or international.
- Details of your designated transport manager and their professional competence status.
- Your fleet details – vehicle registration, insurance and inspection records.
- Evidence of financial standing for the company.
- Details of intended international routes, if applicable.
Fee Schedule – Additional & Ongoing Services
Beyond the fixed package above, the following services are priced individually. Your adviser confirms an exact quotation once your structure, nationality and banking preference are known.
| Service | Indicative Fee |
|---|---|
| Transport license application – single category (as above) | From €500 fixed service fee |
| Additional license category (combined application) | from €200 |
| International permit application (per country/route) | from €150 |
| Transport manager professional competence support | from €300 |
| Fleet compliance review (per vehicle beyond first 3) | from €50 / vehicle |
| License renewal support | from €300 |
| Ongoing compliance monitoring (monthly) | from €150 / month |
The professional competence requirement for your transport manager is the detail most likely to hold up an application – not the fleet, not the company paperwork. If nobody in your organisation already holds the required certification, this needs to be identified and addressed early, since it can take longer to resolve than the rest of the application combined. We check this first, before investing time in the paperwork around it.