Albania border crossings by car
The road crossings from Albania to Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Greece, with their opening hours, the documents to carry and the rules for taking a rental car abroad.
Last checked October 11, 2026. Opening hours can change, so check the official notices before you travel: Albanian Customs
Taking a rental car abroad
-
Permission to cross
You need the rental company's permission to drive out of Albania. Choose a car that may go to your destination and add the border crossing extra when you book.
-
Border crossing fee
Each rental company sets its own border crossing fee. Most charge once for the whole trip, often €50; others charge per day, often €10. Checkout shows the exact price before you pay.
-
Papers and Green Card
The rental company provides the authorisation to cross and the car's papers. The Green Card insurance isn't included: you buy it separately before you cross. Kosovo doesn't need one.
-
Where you can drive
Most rental companies that allow border crossing accept Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Few allow Greece, so check before you book.
-
Further afield
A few rental companies also allow Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia.
Border crossings to Kosovo
Kosovo is the easiest border to cross from Albania: your Albanian car insurance is valid there, and the motorway from Tirana leads straight to Morinë.
| Crossing | Opening hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Morinë – Vërmicë Main crossing Kukës → Prizren The main crossing, at the end of the motorway from Tirana. | Open 24 hours | The main crossing, at the end of the motorway from Tirana. |
| Qafë Prush – Qafa e Prushit Krumë → Gjakovë A smaller crossing in the Has region. | Check before you travel | A smaller crossing in the Has region. |
| Qafë Morinë – Qafa e Morinës Bajram Curri → Gjakovë A smaller crossing, handy from the Valbona valley. | Open 24 hours | A smaller crossing, handy from the Valbona valley. |
| Shishtavec – Krushevë Kukës → Dragash A mountain road to the Dragash area. | Check before you travel | A mountain road to the Dragash area. |
Border crossings to Montenegro
From Shkodër, one road leads north to Podgorica and another west to Ulcinj on the coast.
| Crossing | Opening hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hani i Hotit – Božaj Main crossing Shkodër → Podgorica The main crossing, on the road to Podgorica. | Open 24 hours | The main crossing, on the road to Podgorica. |
| Muriqan – Sukobin Shkodër → Ulcinj The way to Ulcinj and the Montenegrin coast. | Open 24 hours | The way to Ulcinj and the Montenegrin coast. |
| Bashkim – Grnčar Vermosh → Gusinje A remote mountain crossing near Vermosh, at the end of the Kelmend valley. | Check before you travel | A remote mountain crossing near Vermosh, at the end of the Kelmend valley. |
Border crossings to North Macedonia
Most drivers head for Lake Ohrid: through Qafë Thanë to Struga, or along the shore from Pogradec to Sveti Naum.
| Crossing | Opening hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Qafë Thanë – Kjafasan Main crossing Elbasan → Struga The main crossing, on the road from Tirana to Struga and Ohrid. | Open 24 hours | The main crossing, on the road from Tirana to Struga and Ohrid. |
| Tushemisht – Sveti Naum Pogradec → Ohrid On the shore of Lake Ohrid, next to the Sveti Naum monastery. | Open 24 hours | On the shore of Lake Ohrid, next to the Sveti Naum monastery. |
| Goricë – Stenje Pustec → Resen A small crossing on Lake Prespa. | 07:00–24:00 Albanian time | A small crossing on Lake Prespa. |
| Bllatë – Blato Peshkopi → Debar A smaller crossing in the Dibër region. | Open 24 hours | A smaller crossing in the Dibër region. |
Border crossings to Greece
Greece is in the EU and the Schengen area, so every traveller is checked on entry. Few rental companies allow Greece, so check before you book.
| Crossing | Opening hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kakavijë – Kakavia Main crossing Gjirokastër → Ioannina The main crossing, on the road from Gjirokastër to Ioannina. | Open 24 hours | The main crossing, on the road from Gjirokastër to Ioannina. |
| Kapshticë – Krystallopigi Korçë → Kastoria The main crossing from south-east Albania. | Open 24 hours | The main crossing from south-east Albania. |
| Qafë Botë – Mavromati (Sagiada) Sarandë → Igoumenitsa The closest crossing to Sarandë and Ksamil. Greece is one hour ahead of Albania. | 05:30–22:30 Albanian time | The closest crossing to Sarandë and Ksamil. Greece is one hour ahead of Albania. |
| Tre Urat – Mertziani Përmet → Konitsa A small crossing near Leskovik. | Check before you travel | A small crossing near Leskovik. |
Documents to carry
- Your passport. To enter Greece, travellers from outside the EU need one issued within the last ten years and valid for at least three months after the day they leave the Schengen area.
- EU citizens can travel with a national ID card instead: to Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. In Montenegro, an ID card covers stays of up to 30 days.
- Your driving licence.
- From the rental company: the rental agreement, the vehicle registration and the authorisation to cross. The Green Card insurance is bought separately. Kosovo doesn't need one.
Entering Greece: EES and ETIAS
EES
The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been running at every Schengen border since 10 April 2026. Travellers from outside the EU give a face photo and fingerprints the first time they enter, so allow extra time at the Greek border, above all in summer.
ETIAS
ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visitors who need no visa, is not required yet. It has no announced start date, so there is nothing to apply for before your trip.
Car ferry from Sarandë to Corfu
Sarandë → CorfuCar ferries sail from Sarandë to Corfu, run by operators such as Ionian Seaways and Finikas Lines. Corfu is in Greece, so you can take the car on board only if the rental company allows Greece.
Cars you can take to GreeceBorder crossings: questions travellers ask
It depends on the rental company. Most that allow border crossing accept Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Few allow Greece, and a few also allow Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia. Filter the car list by country to see the cars that may go there.
Each rental company sets its own fee. Most charge once for the whole trip, often €50; others charge per day, often €10. Checkout shows the exact price before you pay. The Green Card insurance isn't included and is bought separately. Kosovo doesn't need one.
No. Albanian car insurance is valid in Kosovo, so there is no border insurance to buy. You still need the rental company's permission to take the car to Kosovo.
The EU Entry/Exit System registers travellers from outside the EU when they enter the Schengen area. It has run at every Schengen border since 10 April 2026. On your first entry you give a face photo and fingerprints, so the queue at the Albania–Greece border can take longer.
Not yet. ETIAS, the EU travel authorisation for visitors who need no visa, has not started and has no announced start date. Until it does, travellers who can visit the Schengen area without a visa need only a valid passport.
Only if the rental company allows Greece, because Corfu is Greek. Car ferries sail from Sarandë to Corfu, so book a car that may go to Greece and add the border crossing extra.
