Border crossings of Albania

Last updated

Border crossings (Albanian : Vendkalimet kufitare) in the Republic of Albania are defined as boundary checkpoints that serve to control the flow of people and goods from neighbouring countries to and from Albania. These checkpoints are administered by the border police authorities that record the entry and exit of each person and vehicle followed by the customs authorities that record the entry and exit of goods and cash. Albania currently has 22 operational land border crossings and shares borders with Montenegro, Kosovo (116.3 km), [1] North Macedonia (186.1 km), [2] and Greece. This article outlines a complete list of Albania's international border crossings, including land, sea and air entry points. [3]

Contents

History

During the communist period in Albania, very few people were allowed to leave the country (usually only diplomats) and would also be required to have written permission to do so. Visitors entering the country from outside for any reason, tourism or otherwise, were immediately suspect and closely monitored. Escaping the country was practically impossible with electric fencing, guard dogs and border police instructed to shoot at will if they saw citizens fleeing across the border. [4]

Land border crossings

* Indicates main border crossing

Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro

Muriqan-Sukobin integrated crossing between Albania and Montenegro Muriqan.jpg
Muriqan-Sukobin integrated crossing between Albania and Montenegro

Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo

Morine-Vermice border crossing Morina Border (OSCAL19 trip).jpg
Morinë–Vërmicë border crossing

Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia

Bllate border Border Bllate Bllato.jpg
Bllatë border

Flag of Greece.svg  Greece

Kakavi border Welcome to Albania - panoramio.jpg
Kakavi border

Railway crossings

Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro

Flag of Greece.svg  Greece

Maritime ports

Port of Durres Hafen Durres von oben.jpg
Port of Durrës

Airports

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Albania</span> Administrative divisions of albania

Districts were first and second-level administrative divisions of Albania from 1913–2000. Their number, size, and status changed over time. From 1991 to 2000, the 36 districts were organized into 12 counties. Pursuant to the 1998 Constitution and Law No. 8653, the districts were abolished and replaced with the larger counties and smaller municipalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kukës County</span> County of Albania

Kukës County is a landlocked county in northeastern Albania, with the capital in Kukës. The county spans 2,374 square kilometres (917 sq mi) and had a total population of 61,998 people as of 2021. The county borders on the counties of Dibër, Lezhë and Shkodër and the countries of Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia. It is divided into three municipalities: Has, Kukës and Tropojë. The municipalities are further subdivided into 290 towns and villages in total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shkodër County</span> Country in northern Albania

Shkodër County is a county in northwestern Albania, with the capital in Shkodër. The county spans 3,562 square kilometres (1,375 sq mi) and had a total population of 154,479 people as of the 2023 census. The county borders on the counties of Lezhë, Kukës and the country of Montenegro. The county consists of five municipalities: Fushë-Arrëz, Malësi e Madhe, Pukë, Shkodër and Vau i Dejës.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gheg Albanian</span> One of two major varieties of the Albanian language

Gheg or Geg is one of the two major varieties of Albanian, the other being Tosk. The geographic dividing line between the two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Albania. Gheg is spoken in northern and central Albania, Kosovo, northwestern North Macedonia, southeastern Montenegro and southern Serbia by the Albanian dialectal subgroup known as Ghegs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haxhi Lleshi</span> Albanian military leader and communist politician

Haxhi Lleshi was an Albanian military leader and communist politician who served as the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania from 1953 to 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hekurudha Shqiptare</span> State-owned operator of Albanian railways

Hekurudha Shqiptare or HSH(Albanian Railways) is the state-owned operator of the Albanian railway system and became a private company in 2005. The system's main passenger terminal was Durrës railway station in the port city of Durrës.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bajzë</span> Town in Shkodër, Albania

Bajzë is a small town in the former Kastrat Municipality, Shkodër County, northern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became part of the municipality Malësi e Madhe. It has a population of 2,346.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Albania</span> Railway transport system

Railways in Albania are administered by the national railway company Hekurudha Shqiptare (HSH). It operates a standard-gauge railway gauge rail system in Albania. All trains are, currently, hauled by Czechoslovak-built ČKD diesel-electric locomotives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durrës-Kukës Highway</span> Toll motorway in Albania

The A1, also commonly Rruga e Kombit or SH10, is the longest and only toll motorway in Albania, stretching 114 kilometres (71 mi) in the counties of Lezhë and Kukës. It consists for the most part of two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each driving direction separated by a central reservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian dialects</span> Overview of dialects of Albanian

The Albanian language is composed of many dialects, divided into two major groups: Gheg and Tosk. The Shkumbin river is roughly the geographical dividing line, with Gheg spoken north of the Shkumbin and Tosk south of it.

Postal Codes in Albania consist of 4 digits; the first two digits show the branch on a district level located at the center of that administrative level, whereas the second two digits show the postal office offering service to a defined administration unit on a municipality level:

The regions of Albania—apart from the official present and historical administrative divisions—include the following:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Committee for the National Defence of Kosovo</span> Political activist organisation

The Committee for the National Defence of Kosovo was an Albanian organization founded in Shkodër on 1 May 1918. It mainly consisted of the political exiles from Kosovo and was led by Hoxha Kadri from Pristina. It had existed in looser form since May 1915.

The District Courts in Albania are the Courts of First Instance, providing the first level of justice in the Judicial system of Albania.

Communes, officially known as administrative units or units of local administration, government, or governance since 2015, are the 373 third-level administrative divisions of Albania which serve as its local government. There are 12 counties and 61 municipalities above the administrative units and 2,972 villages below them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highways in Albania</span> Transport network in Albania

The Highways in Albania are the central state and main transport network in Albania. The motorways and expressways are both part of the national road network. The motorways are primary roads with a speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph). They have white on green road signs such as in Italy and other countries nearby. The expressways are the secondary roads, also dual carriageways, but without an emergency lane. They have a speed limit of 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph). They have white-on-blue road signs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Border and Migration Police (Albania)</span> Law enforcement agency

The Border and Migration Police is a law enforcement branch of the Albanian State Police. It is tasked to oversee and control the transiting of goods and persons across the country's territory. The Border and Migration Police carries out enforcement measures to prevent the illegal border crossings of foreign nationals and nationals engaged in the illegal trafficking of goods. It cooperates with other state police branches in effort to facilitate an efficient management of the borders that are safe and secure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morina (tribe)</span> Region in Gjakova highlands, historic Albanian tribe

Morina tribe is a small tribe and historical region of the Highlands of Gjakova in Kosovo. The border post between Albania and Kosovo called Qafë Morinë lies on Morina territory, however the Morina have settled various parts of Kosovo, in particular Gjakova, Dardana and Gjilan.

The Mjeda family, is a noble Albanian family which played a prominent role in the history of Albania and Kosovo in the 19th and early 20th century.

References

  1. "Kosova në shifra" (PDF). Agjencia e Statistikave të Kosovës. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  2. "Sector for Border Affairs and Migration". Macedonian Border Police. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  3. "Cilat janë pikat kufitare me fluksin më të madh në Shqipëri?". Scan TV. 3 June 2018.
  4. Blaire, D. K. (2020-06-24). "The Insane Regime of Enver Hoxha: 40 Years of Hell in Albania (The "Other North Korea")". medium.com . Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  5. "Projektligji "Për hapjen e pikës së përbashkët kufitare Muriqan–Sukobin"". Zyra e Komunikimit dhe Informimit të Këshillit të Ministrave. 17 February 2007.
  6. "Hapet pikëkalimi Shishtavec midis Kosovës e Shqipërisë". Koha ditore. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  7. "Marrëveshjet me Malin e Zi Hekurudha, projekti kryesor". BalkanWeb. 12 May 2001.
  8. "Linja e re hekurudhore që do të lidhë Shqipërinë me Greqinë". ABC News. 20 May 2021.