A .al domain for foreigners and the diaspora
You do not have to live in Albania to own an Albanian domain. Foreign individuals and entities can register one, provided they submit the required identification documents.
Can a foreigner register a .al domain?
Yes. AKEP's regulation allows the registrant of a .al domain to be an individual or a legal entity, Albanian or foreign. The condition is the same for everyone: the details must be accurate and genuine, and the application must come with the identification document required for that type of registrant.
That means an Albanian living in Italy, Germany or the United States, a foreign national starting a business in Albania, or a foreign company targeting the Albanian market can buy a .al domain just like a local registrant. There is no separate process for applicants abroad: the same rules, documents and approval apply.
The Albanian diaspora: a link to home
For many Albanians abroad, an Albanian domain is more than a technical address. It can be the site of an emigrant association, the blog of a family writing about their home town, a shop that ships traditional products, or the site of a professional who works with clients both in Albania and abroad.
- For an association or community, .org.al clearly signals its non-profit nature.
- For a personal site or portfolio, see .al domain for individuals.
- For a business selling into Albania from abroad, see .al domain for an online store.
Foreign companies entering the Albanian market
A foreign company targeting customers in Albania benefits in the same way as a local one: the customer sees the .al extension and understands that the site is meant for them. For search engines, the extension is also one of several geographic signals for searches made from Albania.
Many international brands keep a global address alongside a .al address for Albanian-language content. If that is your situation, the guide .al vs .com helps you decide how to split them. Before registering, also check whether the brand name is registered with DPPI, because names that exactly match approved trademarks are reserved for their holders.
Which documents you need from abroad
| Registrant | Core document | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign individual or member of the diaspora | Valid identification document | The name must match the registrant contact |
| Foreign company | Registration document equivalent to the QKB extract, issued in its home country | Translated where required |
| Company registered in Albania | QKB extract | The entity name must match the registrant |
If you are not sure whether your document is enough or needs translating, ask before you pay by opening a support ticket. With complete documentation, approval usually takes 1–3 business days. Declaring false data is a criminal offence under articles 186, 189 or 191 of the Albanian Criminal Code.
Registering and managing it remotely
The whole process happens online: search the name, fill in the details, upload the document and wait for approval. Prices are in euro and exclude VAT: .al costs €8.99 per year, while .com.al, .net.al and .org.al cost €9.99 per year. You can register for 1 to 10 years.
Once approved, the domain is managed from the client area, with managed DNS at no extra cost. You can connect it to our hosting or to another provider by changing the nameservers, as explained in DNS and nameservers. Keep the usage rule in mind: a .al domain that is not put into use for one year from registration or renewal may be released.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Albanian citizenship to own a .al domain?
Do a foreign company’s documents need to be translated?
How long does approval take when I apply from abroad?
What happens if AKEP does not approve the application?
Want an Albanian address?
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