Work and Travel in Albania

VOLUNTEER AND PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN ALBANIA FOR TRAVELLERS

Albania is considered to be the untouched area of Europe. Few travellers consider Albania for a short trip yet those who go uncover a land that’s diverse, historical, and different from the rest of Europe. So what better way to really experience it than by choosing from one of the many volunteering opportunities in Albania?

This travel guide for Albania is going to help you. You’re going to find out about some of the incredible opportunities for work and travel in Albania right now. It’s truly a destination that will change your life for the better.

1. Animal Care in Tirana

Like many poorer countries, Albania has a big problem with abandoned and stray animals. The capital of Tirana is filled with stray animals, as you’ll find when you travel in Albania. Join an animal care programme and help the stray animals of this country.

You’ll help nurse them back to health and to train them up so they’re suitable to go into a domestic environment. Trained animal experts may even be able to find paid positions that include neutering animals and placing trackers on them.

2. Help Discriminated Children in Cerrik

Cerrik, Albania, is where a number of different childcare programmes have sprung up. If you’re interested in aiding the children of the Roma community, you’ll be able to do it here.

The only necessary qualifications are a friendly attitude and a willingness to provide your time and effort. You don’t need any prior experience and you’ll be able to support children who’ve lost their parents, been removed from their communities, or who struggle with mental/physical disabilities.

3. Developing Communities in Albania

The first thing people notice when they work and travel in Albania is that there are a lot of extremely poor communities here. Tirana is one such place, particularly on the outskirts. Members of the minority Roma group and Egyptians that have migrated to the country have been discriminated against and it has prevented them from developing and opened them up for exploitation.

Join one of these support organisations as you travel in Albania. These centres support people from these communities and offer companionship and support to children at risk.

VOLUNTEER WORK VISA / PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALBANIA

Albania is like most of Europe in that it’s simple to travel in Albania for 90 days without needing to apply for a visa. This requirement applies to all EU citizens, as well as all of North America. Furthermore, Australians, Kiwis, South Koreans, and the Japanese are able to enter without a visa.

Russians must apply for a visa from the nearest Albanian embassy. The same goes for South Africans, who also don’t have visa-free travel.

Albanian visa applications usually don’t take a long time to process and can be issued in as little as a few days. Visas for longer stays, however, are more bureaucratic and can experience delays. If you’re applying for a long-term residency visa in Albania you should make sure you apply in good time.

SEASONAL BACKPACKER SKILLS NEEDED IN ALBANIA

SPRING WORK

The spring in Albania is just like the rest of Europe. The leaves begin to appear on the trees and the temperatures start to increase again. Coastal winds from the Adriatic Sea keep the temperatures higher than other areas of the Balkans, and snow is rare close to the coast.

You should bear in mind that specific seasonal backpacking skills all fall into the general programmes listed above. Many close for the winter and reopen during this season. Spring is the quietest period of the year for backpacking jobs in Albania.

SUMMER JOBS

The summer is the primary time of year for the tourism industry. Areas like Berat and Dhermi receive high numbers of regional and domestic tourists. Work in hostels, guesthouses, hotels, as well as in clubs are available for anyone who wants to work in Albania in exchange for free accommodation.

This is also the time of year when the schools close. Summer camps are always looking for volunteers to provide assistance. These could be language exchange programmes or they could be sports camps. You won’t be expected to know any Albanian. A lot of young people know at least a basic level of English these days.

AUTUMN

Autumn is the beginning of the school year and it’s when a lot of parents look into helping their children with English. Both educational institutions and private organisations want native English speakers who can provide their expertise. Work and travel in Albania in this way will often give you a way to stay and fund yourself for at least the duration of your visa.

Take note that paid English teaching positions aren’t lucrative as they’ll pay by local wages. And this is the 3rd poorest country in Europe.

WINTER

The winter can be bitterly cold in Albania, but in the mountains there is a selection of small ski resorts open to the public. It’s always worth applying to see if you can teach people how to ski on the slopes or simply work in the lodges. Ski work is one of the most lucrative positions (by Albanian standards) and will usually give you access to the slopes for your own pleasure in addition.

ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING IN ALBANIA

The number of foreigners deciding to travel to Albania has increased exponentially in the last ten years. It’s opened up the country’s formerly diminutive tourism industry. This means that the sight of a foreigner is nothing special and nothing particularly out of the ordinary, so you shouldn’t run into any problems.

The only piece of advice is to beware of racial tension here. Dark skinned people and those from Asia may experience certain levels of discrimination. This is almost never violent, but you should take care when you travel throughout the country.

But many travellers still report that Albanians are some of the friendliest people in Europe, so you’re bound to have a good time.

Are you ready to challenge yourself?