GEN 1.4  Entry, transit and departure of cargo

1.   Customs requirements concerning cargo and other articles

1.1  The import and export of goods by air through international airports in Albania are subject to customs control (Refer to Customs Law of the Republic of Albania).
1.2  If the aircraft has stores on board, they must be declared to Customs in accordance with the procedure in operation at the airport concerned. The following documents are required for the clearance of goods through Customs:
  1. transport document;
  2. commercial invoice;
  3. certificate of origin;
  4. sanitary certificates or related documents for animal and plant shipments.
1.3  No documents are required in respect of shipment not exceeding the value of 30 000 Leks or its equivalent.
1.4  No advance notification is required but the documents must accompany the shipment.
1.5  All air cargo shipments addressed to International Humanitarian Organisations and Diplomatic Corps are free of consular formalities and charges.
1.6  As regards air cargo simply being transshipped from one flight to another flight at the same airport under customs supervision, documentary evidence is required.
1.7  In the case of cargo and other articles being transferred to another international airport in Albania, the cargo manifest or stores list are also used for the customs supervision.
1.8  No clearance documents are required with respect to goods retained on board of an aircraft for on-carriage to a destination outside Albania.
1.9  Upon exportation, the following documents are required for the clearance of shipments to be exported by air:
  1. export declaration;
  2. stores list.

2.   Agricultural Quarantine Requirements

2.1  The import, transit and export of plants, plants products and other objects by air through international airports in Albania are subject to phytosanitary supervision border post.
2.2  The import, entry and storage of parasites, infected plants and plant products and live pathogenic microorganism (bacteria, viruses and fungi) in Albania are prohibited.
2.3  In exceptional cases and under certain conditions, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development may allow scientific and research organisations to import parasites and pathogenic microorganisms if the latter is needed by the said organisations for scientific and research purposes and if they fulfil the prescribed conditions.
2.4  Plants and some categories of plant products that are allowed to be imported/exported must be accompanied by an import/export permit, an original phytosanitary certificate issued by the official phytosanitary authority of the country of origin and origin, qualities, treatment procedures and affirming documents of consignment should comply with statutory special requirements. List of plants, plant products and other objects subject to phytosanitary inspection in border custom posts is established by Government Order of the Republic of Albania No. 72, dated 6 February 2003.
2.5  The plant products meant for personal consumption that passengers have with them are allowed to be imported without phytosanitary certificate in small quantities according to the simplified procedure for importation.
2.6  An importer/exporter of plants and plant products is obliged to inform the relevant local Directorate of Agriculture and Food about the planned import/export 48 hours prior to arrival of consignment at the border point.
2.7  The import, transit and export of consignments of animals, animal products, raw material for food and foodstuffs by air through international airports in Albania are subject to veterinary and food supervision border posts.
2.8  The import or transit of consignments is not permitted if in exporting country or transit countries there is a contagious animal disease and if there is a danger of entry of the said disease in the Republic of Albania.
2.9  The list of goods which are subject to the veterinary and food supervision, including goods requiring import/export permit or transit licence and the numerical code of the Albanian goods list are provided in the Regulation No. 2 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Albania “Veterinary and Food Supervision Procedures on Importing and Exporting Goods”, dated 22 June 1993.
2.10  By importing/exporting goods that require import/export permit or transit licence, the importer/exporter shall present the veterinary supervisory official at the border point an import/export permit issued by Directorate of Veterinary Service in Albania, a certificate of origin and an original veterinary certificate issued by the competent supervisory authority of the country of origin, certifying the fitness of an animal or the quality and safety of goods. In case of goods not requiring import/export permit or transit licence, the importer/exporter shall present a document certifying the safety of goods or certifying that the processing food has been subordinated to the supervision.
2.11  No certificate or any other document certifying the acceptability shall be required on foodstuffs or raw material on food not surpassing the total weight of 5 kilograms that a passenger has taken with him/her for personal consumption, except raw material of animal origin and food of animal origin not normally processed.
2.12  No import/export permit or transit licence is needed for a pet taken with by a passenger. The passenger shall present the veterinary supervisory official at the border point a certificate of vaccination for his/her pet and an original veterinary certificate issued by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin.

3.   Weapons and DANGEROUS goods requirements

3.1   Transportation of weapons and ammunition of war
3.1.1  Article 124 of the Air Code of Albania 2020 prohibits the transportation of weapons and/or ammunitions of war through the air, except when the person carries them in compliance with the laws of the country, in the performance of duty and when authorized by the state.
The operator shall inform the pilot-in-command in writing of the authorized person, type, weight or quantity and location of any weapons and/or ammunition to be transported before the flight begins. The ammunition of war shall be stowed in the aircraft in a place which is inaccessible to passengers during flight. Firearms during transport shall be unloaded.
3.1.3  No flight on which these articles are to be carried out may be operated unless permission has been granted by the Civil Aviation Authority.
3.1.4  Application must be made at least 10 working days before the proposed date of the flight and should state precisely what munition of war are involved, the manufacturer, the import/export licence number and its expiry date, air waybill number, the names and addresses of both consignor and consignee, the destination, the airport of departure and arrival and the date of flight and flight number.
3.1.5  If the consignment contains dangerous goods the United Nations number, hazard class or division compatibility group (where applicable) and net explosive content (for explosives) should be stated, together with information on the method of packing.
3.1.6  The above is the minimum information required. On occasions further information may be required.
3.2   Transportation of dangerous goods
3.2.1  Article 126 of the Air Code of Albania 2020, prohibits the carriage of goods which are defined as dangerous, in particular toxic gases, nuclear fuel, biological weapons and other radioactive substances, unless it is provided with a permit issued by CAA. No flight on which dangerous goods are to be carried out may be ordered unless prior approval for their carriage has been obtained.
3.2.2  Application must be made at least 10 days before the proposed day of the flight and should include full details of the following: United Nations number, hazard class or division, net explosive content (for explosives), full packing details, weight, air waybill number, the name and address of both consignor and consignee, the destination, the airport of arrival and departure and the date of the flight and flight number.
3.2.3  The above is the minimum information that is required. On occasions further information may be required.
3.3   Applications
3.3.1  Applications and enquires for such permission should be made in writing and addressed to:
Post:

Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy
Civil Aviation Authority
Directorate of Air Transport Development
Sulejman Delvina Street, No.1
P.O. Box 205
Tirana
Albania

Tel:+355 42 226232

Fax:+355 42 226232

Email:info-trafficrights@acaa.gov.al

URL:www.aac.gov.al