Can Foreign Buyers Transfer Large Amounts of Money to Albania for Property Purchase?

If you work in real estate in Saranda long enough, certain questions come up again and again.

One of the most common ones is surprisingly simple:

“Can I transfer a large amount of money to Albania to buy property?”

It usually comes after the second or third property viewing. The client has already fallen a little bit in love with the place — the sea views, the relaxed pace of life, the sunshine that seems to last forever.

And then reality kicks in.
They start thinking about the practical part.

How do you actually move money from Germany, Sweden, the UK, or the Netherlands to Albania to buy a property?

I’ve had this conversation more times than I can count. And honestly, I understand the concern.

The Moment When the Question Usually Appears

A few weeks ago, I was showing a couple from Northern Europe a beautiful apartment in Saranda with a wide balcony overlooking the Ionian. It was late afternoon — that moment when the sea turns silver and the ferries heading to Corfu pass quietly in the distance.

They were excited. Really excited.

But as we were leaving the building, the husband paused and said something I hear often:

"If we decide to buy… how do we actually send the money here?"

It’s a fair question.

When you’re transferring a serious amount of money — maybe €120,000, €300,000, sometimes more — you want to understand exactly how the process works.

Let me explain it the way I explain it to my clients.

Yes — You Can Transfer Large Amounts of Money to Albania

The short answer is simple:

Yes. Foreign buyers transfer large amounts of money to Albania every day to purchase property.

This is actually the standard way property purchases are completed here.

The payment is typically done through a bank transfer directly from the buyer’s bank account to the seller’s bank account, often coordinated with the notary who finalizes the transaction.

Nothing unusual about it.

I’ve worked with buyers from Italy, Poland, Norway, the UK, the Netherlands — even the United States. All of them transferred the purchase funds through normal international banking channels.

And it works smoothly.

Why Buyers Are Often Nervous at First

I think the hesitation mostly comes from unfamiliarity.

If you’ve never bought property outside your home country, everything feels slightly uncertain.

Different legal system.
Different language.
Different banking process.

But once clients see how the process works here, they relax quickly.

Actually, just last month I helped a buyer secure a recently renovated apartment near the city center on Rruga e Flamurit. It’s one of those practical investments that quietly makes sense — walking distance to the promenade, close to everything, perfect for long-term living or rental.

You can see the kind of property I mean here:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/1-bedroom-apartment-for-sale-in-saranda-property-near-city-center-on-rruga-e-flamurit

The buyer transferred the full purchase amount from abroad without any complications. The bank handled the transfer, the notary verified the documents, and within a short time the ownership was registered.

Simple.

A Small Tangent About Coffee (Because This Is Albania)

Let me take a quick detour here.

Whenever clients visit Saranda to look at Saranda apartments for sale, I always start the day the same way: coffee by the promenade.

There’s a small café near the old port where local fishermen still sit in the mornings talking about the weather and the sea conditions. Nothing fancy. Just good espresso and the sound of boats leaving for Corfu.

You learn a lot about the rhythm of a place in moments like that.

And honestly, many buyers realize during those quiet mornings that they want to be part of this lifestyle — not just visit it once a year.

But back to the money transfer question.

How Property Payments Usually Work

In most real estate transactions here on the Albanian Riviera, the process follows a fairly simple structure.

First, the buyer and seller agree on the price and conditions.
Then a reservation or preliminary agreement may be signed.

After that comes the key step: the bank transfer for the purchase amount.

The transfer can come directly from the buyer’s bank account abroad to the seller’s bank account in Albania. Sometimes the funds arrive a few days before the notary appointment, sometimes on the same day depending on the bank.

I’ve seen both.

Once the funds are confirmed, the notary finalizes the transaction and the property becomes officially registered under the buyer’s name.

Properties Buyers Often Choose When Transferring Funds

Many international buyers prefer new or modern developments because everything feels straightforward and transparent.

For example, some buyers are currently interested in properties like this luxury duplex in Ksamil:

https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/luxury-duplex-for-sale-in-ksamil-new-building-pool-near-beach-139m2

It’s a brand new 2025 construction with two swimming pools — one private for the duplex and another shared with the residence. Underground parking, privacy, security, and just a short walk to the beach and the center of Ksamil.

Properties like this tend to attract investors because the potential rental returns can reach around 16% annually, which is quite rare in Mediterranean markets today.

And yes — the purchase funds for these kinds of properties also arrive through standard international transfers.

Sometimes Buyers Decide to Think Bigger

Occasionally the conversation shifts from apartments to villas.

This happens more than you might expect.

One afternoon I drove a client to a very quiet neighborhood in Saranda — the Surra area. Olive trees, calm streets, almost no traffic. You wouldn’t even realize you’re only minutes from the city center.

We visited a new private villa with a swimming pool and spacious layout, the kind of home families dream about when they imagine living on the coast.

You can see what I mean here:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/private-villa-for-sale-in-saranda-albania-with-swimming-pool-surra

For buyers looking for privacy and space, villas like this offer something special. A rare opportunity, really.

And again, the same question appeared.

"How would I transfer the money for something like this?"

Same answer.

Through the bank. Securely. Transparently.

A Local Detail Many Visitors Miss

Let me share something small that most tourists never notice.

When I show properties near Borsh, I sometimes stop at a quiet viewpoint above the beach road. Not many people know about it. From there you can see the entire coastline stretching south — olive trees, mountains, and the sea all in one frame.

It’s one of those places where buyers suddenly understand the scale of the Albanian Riviera.

And occasionally, someone asks about land instead of buildings.

For investors thinking long-term, land like this in Borsh can be interesting:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/seaview-land-property-for-sale-in-borsh-albania

Sea view land on this coastline is becoming harder to find every year.

Investors Sometimes Look Beyond Residential Property

Another conversation I often have with clients revolves around business opportunities.

Because tourism here keeps growing.

Some buyers who initially come looking for seaview apartments later start thinking about restaurants, cafés, or retail spaces near the beach.

There’s currently a commercial space right on the first line in Saranda — terrace, parking, only about 50 meters from the sea. The kind of location where a restaurant or lounge could thrive.

You can see it here:
https://www.vivaview.al/en/properties/perfect-commercial-shop-for-rent-in-saranda-234m2-terrace-parking-50m-from-beach-first-line-location

And yes, buyers who decide to invest in commercial properties also transfer their funds internationally the same way.

Why I Still Believe This Region Has Huge Potential

I say this often to clients, and I truly mean it.

Saranda still offers some of the best value on the entire Mediterranean coast.

You can find affordable properties, beachfront locations, and modern developments at prices that simply don’t exist anymore in Italy, Spain, or Greece.

And as more people discover the Albanian Riviera, demand continues to grow.

Which brings us back to the original question.

So… Can You Transfer Large Amounts of Money to Albania?

Yes.

Foreign buyers do it every day.

For Saranda apartments for sale, for villas, for land, for commercial spaces — the purchase funds are transferred through international banking systems and coordinated with the notary during the transaction.

Once buyers understand the process, the worry usually disappears.

And then something interesting happens.

They stop thinking about the transfer.

They start thinking about the life they’ll build here instead.

Morning coffee by the sea.
Evening walks along the promenade.
Friends visiting in the summer.

Sometimes I think that’s the real reason people buy property here.

Not just the investment.

But the feeling that they’ve found a place where life slows down in the best possible way.