Albania is an up-and-coming destination, attracting more and more travelers looking for unspoiled landscapes, paradise beaches, and rich cultural discoveries. However, unlike Schengen Area countries, Albania does not allow European citizens to use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
This means that in case of illness or an accident, medical expenses will be entirely at your own cost—unless you have proper travel insurance.
We set off for several months around the Balkans, so we decided to take out long-term travel insurance to have peace of mind while abroad!
💡 Did you know? A simple broken arm can cost over €1,000 between consultations, hospitalization, and possible surgery. Travel insurance protects you from these unexpected—and often expensive—costs.
Spoiler alert if you don’t have time to read everything:
We personally chose April International for our own trip. They offer free teleconsultations with doctors, and for us it was the best value-for-money option we found. One practical detail we liked: no need to pay hospital fees upfront, and reimbursements can be requested easily by uploading a photo of the invoice on their app or website.
👉 Traveling for less than 12 months?
Here’s an affiliate link—using it helps support this blog 🙂
Simply enter your destination and you’re good to go! (If you’re visiting several countries, no problem—it works by zone. For example, we selected “Albania” but it’s valid throughout Europe.) – this link works for any other country, woldwide !
👉 More than 12 months? Expatriate? Lucky you 😉
Here’s another link (affiliate as well—by clicking and subscribing through it, you help support this blog, thank you! ☺️) – this link works for any other country, woldwide !
Why APRIL INTERNATIONAL was a good fit for us : Works by travel zones (ideal when visiting several countries), Digital payment card (Easy Pay) to avoid paying upfront, Direct billing with hospitals, Reimbursement via photo upload (super handy from abroad), Free and unlimited 24/7 teleconsultations worldwide, Fully digital subscription process (These points are shared for information purposes only and based on our personal experience. For detailed coverage or conditions, please refer directly to April International’s website.)
1. Do You Need Health Insurance for Albania?
Travel health insurance isn’t mandatory, but it’s highly recommended because:
- Albania isn’t part of the Schengen Area, so the EHIC doesn’t apply.
- Medical infrastructure is limited, especially outside major cities.
- Private clinics can be expensive, particularly for specialists or hospital stays.
What should your travel insurance cover?
Your ideal health insurance depends on your needs and budget, but here are the key points to check:
✔️ Medical expenses coverage
✔️ Medical repatriation in case you need to be transferred elsewhere
✔️ Hospitalization and consultations after an accident or illness
✔️ COVID-19 or epidemic coverage, if applicable
💡 Good to know: Some bank cards include travel insurance if you pay for your flight with them. If you’re travelling only for a short period, it might be enough. Double-check the limits and guarantees before leaving.
How Much Does Travel Insurance for Albania Cost?
The cost depends on coverage, depends on how long you stay, ….but on average:
- €10–30 for basic coverage for a week (medical + repatriation)
- €40–60 for more comprehensive plans (including cancellation, liability, etc.)
In our case, since we’re traveling for several months, we opted for a long-term plan that costs more than €100 per month.
We subscribed just two days before departure—it was super easy!
⚠️ Be sure to subscribe before leaving, otherwise a waiting period may apply.
2. Do You Need Trip Cancellation Insurance?
If you’ve booked flights, accommodation, or activities in advance, cancellation insurance can be very useful. It reimburses you if you have to cancel for a valid reason (illness, accident, family emergency, etc.).
Check the following before buying:
- Accepted cancellation reasons
- Maximum reimbursement amount
- Notification deadline
Some premium bank cards (Visa Premier, Mastercard Gold, etc.) already include cancellation insurance— we recommend checking before paying for extra coverage.
We didn’t take out cancellation insurance because our bank card already covers it.
3. Vehicle Insurance in Albania
If you’re traveling by car or van, make sure your vehicle is properly insured.
We’re on a long trip and checked with our insurer—they confirmed we’re covered abroad.
🚗 With your own car:
- Check if your car insurance includes Albania (some exclude it).
- If not, ask for a coverage extension or buy border insurance upon arrival.
🚙 With a rental car:
- Carefully read the rental agreement (theft, accident, liability).
- Consider adding excess waiver insurance—the standard deductible can be very high.
💡 Watch out for poor road conditions! Damage to tires or undercarriage isn’t always covered by standard rental insurance. When we travel in countries with rough roads, we usually go for maximum coverage. It costs a bit more, but it’s worth the peace of mind!
4. Civil Liability Insurance: A Must-Have
Civil liability coverage protects you if you cause harm to others (road accident, property damage, etc.).
📌 This is often included in:
- Standard travel insurance
- Home insurance policies with an “abroad liability” clause
5. Best Travel Insurances for Albania
Here are some well-known options that offer coverage for Albania:
✈️ April International – Suitable for travel outside Schengen, with COVID-19 coverage. (the one we chose )
🏥 Chapka Assurance – Great for both short and long trips, comprehensive coverage.
🛡️ ACS Globe Traveller – Good medical and assistance coverage.
💳 Bank card insurance (Visa Premier, Mastercard Gold) – Handy for occasional travelers or a short trip.
Find more information here
We personally chose APRIL International because it seemed the best fit for our trip in terms of coverage, flexibility, and price.
(This mention is based on our personal experience and does not constitute professional insurance advice.)
Conclusion: Which Insurance Should You Choose for Albania?
Even though travel insurance isn’t mandatory to enter Albania, it’s strongly recommended.
Medical care can be expensive, and facilities are limited outside major cities.
Before leaving, compare available plans and pick one that suits your travel style (short trip, road trip, long stay, expat, etc.).
For us, April International was the best match for our needs (and it’s also what my brother-in-law used for his six-month trip to Brazil!).
💡 Tip: If you travel often, an annual multi-destination plan may be more cost-effective than one-off insurance. That’s what we went for—with April.
Albanian Travels 
Laisser un commentaire