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Complete Guide: How To Send & Receive Packages in Albania (2025 Update)

ByBrooke


If you’re living in or traveling through Albania and need to send or receive a package, this complete guide of how to send and receive packages in Albania covers the fastest, cheapest, and most reliable shipping options including DHL, FedEx, UPS, Albanian Post, customs fees, delivery timelines, and everything you need to know to avoid delays.

Whether you’re receiving a care package, an online order, sending documents abroad, or shipping gifts back home, here’s exactly how to handle packages in Albania with zero stress.

If you have just arrived to Albania and are still getting settled, check out How to Live in Albania: Everything You Need to Know for Daily Life (Digital Nomads)

Best Way to Send and Receive Packages in Albania

The most reliable and fastest method to send and receive packages in Albania is DHL Express.

✅ DHL has:

  • The quickest delivery times
  • The most accurate tracking
  • The fewest customs delays
  • The best customer service in Albania

If your package is time-sensitive or valuable, DHL is the top choice.

Fastest Way to Send and Receive Packages in Albania

✅ DHL Express (Fastest & Most Reliable)

✅ Your package arrives internationally in 1–3 business days.

Cheapest Way to Send and Receive Packages in Albania

The Albanian Post (POSTA SHQIPTARE) is the cheapest option, but:

  • Very slow – Packages may take several months
  • Often unreliable
  • Tracking can be inaccurate

Other Options

FedEx

  • FedEx is more expensive than DHL
  • Slower than DHL

UPS

  • UPS has limited availability in Albania
  • Delivery times vary
  • Usually more expensive than DHL

✅ It is recommended to use DHL when sending and receiving packages in Albania because it is the most reliable and fastest.

How Long Does Shipping Take in Albania?

DHL Express shipping times FROM Albania are:

  • 1–2 business days within Europe
  • 2–3 business days outside Europe
  • 2 business days to USA
  • 1 business day to UK

Customs clearance may add extra time for certain countries, especially the USA.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Package From Albania?

Shipping rates with DHL Albania are based on weight and destination zone.

There are 6 DHL zones worldwide.

  • Zones 1–3 = Europe (1-3 days)
  • Zone 2 = UK (1 day)
  • Zone 4 = USA (2 days)
  • Zones 4–6 = Rest of the world

For Europe (Zones 1–3):

  • Minimum price: €39 – €48 per 0.5 kg

Payment methods at DHL Albania:

  • Cash (Albanian Lek or Euros)
  • Credit card

**Prices increase depending on the total weight and the destination zone.

Below are the (translated) DHL shipping rates and days to ship. The non-translated versions (in Albanian) are at the end of this article for reference.

For example, if you are shipping a package to the USA (zone 4) that weighs 1kg, the price would be €61.76 (and it would take 2 business days).

If you are shipping a package to the UK (zone 3) that weighs 2kg, the price would be €75.16 (and it would take 1 business day).

The USA is in the right column, 4th from the top
The UK is in the left column, 8th from the bottom

Prohibited Shipping Items (Important)

Certain items cannot be shipped FROM Albania with DHL, including:

  • Perfumes
  • Food
  • Medicines
    • Allowed only with a doctor’s prescription
    • Not allowed at all to Germany, Sweden, Norway, or Finland
    • You CAN ship medication FROM any country TO Albania, but you MUST include a doctor’s prescription.

Check the prohibited items list before sending to avoid delays or returns.

Where to Send or Receive Packages in Albania

Tirana has three official DHL service points. You can:

  • Drop off your package at the nearest DHL location, or
  • Receive packages at a DHL service point
  • Choose home delivery (make sure your phone number is correct- couriers call before delivery)

**Your phone number is essential. If DHL cannot reach you, the package may be returned.

How to Receive a Package From DHL in Albania

To make sure your package arrives without issues:

  1. Confirm which DHL location will receive your package OR use your home address for courier delivery.
    • When sending the package, you can choose any of the DHL locations to receive your package
  2. Provide a correct phone number
    • DHL will call before delivery– if they can’t reach you, the package will likely not be delivered.
  3. Track your shipment using the DHL tracking code.
  4. Bring ID when picking up from a DHL service point.

How to Send a Package From the USA to Albania

To avoid delays:

  1. Provide a correct Albanian address OR use a DHL service point address for pickup.
    • You can also schedule a pickup with DHL
  2. Phone number is mandatory: Without a working phone number (in Albania), the package will likely be returned.
  3. Expect to pay customs fees upon arrival in Albania. Customs Fees are 28% of the value. Even if the sender declares a lower value, customs could open your package and charge you whatever they want.  (The receiver pays these fees.)
    • You will be notified while your package is in transit that you have to pay customs.
    • This fee is paid to the bank (Intesa San Paolo or Raiffaisen), and the bank will send the payment to DHL, which will clear it from customs.
    • You will just need to show the bank the message you received from DHL about customs and they will process it.

How to Send a Package From Albania to the USA

Requirements:

  • Full name of receiver
  • Correct address
  • Phone number or email

✅ Shipping will take 2 business days to USA (Zone 4)

Important:
 For all packages except documents, the receiver in the USA will pay customs fees.

How to Send a Parcel From the UK to Albania

Requirements:

  • Full name of receiver
  • Correct address
  • Phone number or email

Receiving packages in Albania from the UK incurs a 28% customs fee (based on declared value of goods).

How to Send a Parcel From Albania to the UK

Requirements:

  • Full name of receiver
  • Correct address
  • Phone number or email

✅ Shipping will take 1 business day to the UK (Zone 3)

✅ The UK has free customs clearance for Albania – the receiver does NOT pay customs fees.

Customs

Receiving packages in Albania from ALL COUNTRIES incurs a 28% customs fee (based on declared value of goods).

Even if the sender declares a lower value, customs could open your package and charge you whatever they want.  (The receiver pays these fees.)

  • You will be notified while your package is in transit that you have to pay customs.
  • This fee is paid to the bank (Intesa San Paolo or Raiffaisen), and the bank will send the payment to DHL, which will clear it from customs.
  • You will just need to show the bank the message you received from DHL about customs and they will process it.

Sending packages FROM Albania to other countries: The customs fees vary by receiving country. Check the destination country for accurate prices.

✅ The UK has free customs clearance for Albania – the receiver (in the UK) does NOT pay customs fees.

For all packages except documents, the receiver in the USA will pay customs fees.

Customs clearance will add extra time for certain countries, especially the USA.

Frequently Asked Questions

It usually works, but expect long delays (several months). DHL is significantly more reliable.

Yes- choose any DHL service point as your delivery address.

The package may be returned- always make sure the phone number provided is accurate and works in Albania.

Yes, Amazon ships to Albania using DHL. You can have your package delivered to your home address or a DHL service point.

Not through DHL- food is prohibited.

Yes, you can ship medication from any country to Albania but you MUST include a doctor’s prescription.

Other Albania Resources

DHL Shipping Zones and Rates (non-translated – Albanian)

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