How much does it cost for Albanians to leave the country? About 1 in 5 young people take out debt to cover the costs of leaving
Emigration does not start with profit, but with expense. For many Albanians, emigration is often described as an economic escape route, but recent data also shows another reality. Leaving the country is not only a personal or social decision, but also an immediate financial burden, which many families face with sacrifices and debts.
According to the World Bank and INSTAT report on the 2024 Migration Survey, the average cost of leaving Albania is around US$1,100. This amount is equivalent to approximately two average net salaries, making emigration an expensive investment for most families.
These costs include primarily transportation, but also visa fees, documentation, medical checks, insurance and, in some cases, payments for intermediaries or orientation courses. The report notes that these costs are higher for migrants in recent years, due to increasingly formalized and restrictive procedures.
Although most migrants manage to cover this cost with their personal savings, the report shows that a significant proportion are forced to seek financial assistance. Around 40% of current migrants also rely on family and friends to finance their departure. The data shows that 98% of return migrants and 92% of current migrants financed their migration mainly through personal savings.
Faced with this financial burden, not all migrants manage with their personal savings. Around 15% of migrants declare that they have taken out debt to finance their departure.
Young people aged 15-34 and people with higher education are more exposed to borrowing. For these groups, the percentage of those who take on debt exceeds 25%, indicating that even those considered “more prepared” for the international labor market are heading towards emigration with a financial burden on their backs.
We emphasize that we are only talking about legal immigration, as the costs can be many times higher for illegal departure.
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