Is Albania covered by EU roaming?
No. Roam Like at Home covers the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and since 1 January 2026 Ukraine and Moldova too; the Commission states plainly that countries outside the EU and EEA are not covered.
Albania is not on that list. Some operators choose to extend their EU allowance to other countries, so the only reliable answer is your own tariff.
The EU's Your Europe portal puts it in one line: roaming outside the EU can be expensive, so check the costs with your provider before you travel.
Will Albania join Roam Like at Home?
It is on the way, without a date. On 25 February 2026 the Commission proposed opening negotiations with 6 Western Balkan partners, Albania among them, and the Council has since authorised talks for Albania.
Each partner must first fully align with EU roaming rules, wholesale caps and termination rates included, and show it can enforce them. 'At this stage, there is no set deadline,' says the Commission.
The latest official word came on 6 October 2026: Montenegro has joined Roam Like at Home, and negotiations are still ongoing with the other partners.
| When | What happened | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| December 2022 | 38 operators from the EU and the Western Balkans sign a voluntary pledge to cut data roaming prices | European Commission |
| 1 October 2023 | The first reductions under that pledge take effect | European Commission |
| 1 January 2026 | Roam Like at Home reaches Ukraine and Moldova; Albania is not included | European Commission |
| 25 February 2026 | The Commission proposes negotiations with Albania and five other partners | European Commission |
| By 28 July 2026 | The Council has authorised talks on extending Roam Like at Home to Albania | Commission roaming FAQ |
| 6 October 2026 | Montenegro has joined; talks still ongoing with the other partners | Commission statement |
What does the EU–Western Balkans operators' deal change?
It narrows the gap, but it is voluntary and sets no single price. In December 2022, 38 operators committed to bringing data roaming prices between the EU and the Western Balkans closer to domestic levels, with the first cuts from 1 October 2023.
The Commission describes further reductions planned for 2026 and a goal of close to domestic prices by 2028, and calls the arrangement a voluntary agreement between operators.
None of the official pages publishes a price per gigabyte, so we don't quote one. What your operator charges in Albania is written in your own tariff.
Buying a local SIM: which operators?
Two companies run Albania's retail mobile market: One Albania and Vodafone Albania. They are the pair the Competition Authority investigated and regulated in July 2026, and the operators in the market-share series of AKEP, the communications regulator.
That decision, no. 1307 of 24 July 2026, obliges both to keep their cheapest package on sale at physical points of sale, alongside rules on price changes.
We list no prices: none of the official sources publishes a visitor tariff, and offers change.
How do you avoid a surprise bill?
Ask before you go, and decide whether roaming stays on. AKEP, Albania's communications regulator, notes that roaming services, internet access included, are usually more expensive, and that photos, music and videos weigh on the bill.
Its advice to Albanian users works for visitors too: ask your provider whether roaming is active and how to switch it off, and choose your network manually. Near a border, AKEP adds, a phone can join a foreign network without you noticing.
Your phone on a night out on the Riviera
Sort out the night's details while you still have Wi-Fi. Our pages on Sarandë's clubs and Ksamil's beach clubs list the venues, and Saranda or Ksamil helps you pick where to spend the night.
The border itself is covered in entering Albania with an ID card, and the 2027 season page fills up as the venues publish their dates.
