Visa-Free Regime Established between Albania and Macedonia
Balkan Travellers
It is expected that the agreement will be signed on February 18, during the official visit of Macedonian Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, to Tirana, the Macedonian Vecher newspaper reported.
The decision comes after new procedures that required Albanians to apply for visas at Macedonian diplomatic missions and not at border control points were postponed on February 1.
As BalkanTravellers.com reported in January, Skopje adopted the new, stricter procedures as part of the country’s candidacy to the EU. Following strong opposition by Albania, however, the new regime was first postponed and then renegotiated.
In addition to entirely dropping the visa requirement, the recent agreement includes additional concessions for people who live in the regions on both sides of the border. Macedonian and Albanian citizens residing within 20 kilometres of the border will be able to cross it with their state-issued identification cards, without the need for passports.
Related news:
Macedonia’s New Visa Procedures for Albanians Postponed
Albanians Oppose New Visa Regime in Macedonia
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