eSIM Albania: Mobile Internet from Tirana to the Coast

Albania lies in Europe but is not a member of the European Union. EU roaming rules therefore do not apply there, and many tariffs from EU countries charge roaming in Albania. Some providers have their own arrangements, so the only reliable answer is in your contract. Check it before you go.

For travellers from outside Europe the situation is similar: home providers usually treat Albania as a roaming destination. With an Albania eSIM, your mobile data runs on a separate prepaid plan, and you know before departure what you are paying for.

Once active, the eSIM joins local Albanian networks. Coverage is listed for Tirana, Durres, Vlore, Shkoder, Elbasan, Korce, Fier, Berat, Gjirokaster and Kamez, plus other cities. Network type is 3G, 4G/LTE or 5G, depending on the operator and where you are, and speeds can be limited by the operator's fair-use policy.

Tirana and the centre

In the capital and nearby Kamez and Elbasan, the eSIM covers the everyday things: ride and route planning, restaurant searches, messages to the people you are meeting.

The coast

Durres and Vlore are the classic beach towns, with Fier nearby. Holiday rentals, ferry times and beach photos all need data, and the eSIM saves you from depending on hotel Wi-Fi.

Old towns and the south

Berat, Gjirokaster and Korce are favourites for a round trip. On the road between them the network type can change, so keep maps available offline as a backup.

The north

Shkoder is the gateway to northern Albania and a common stop on the way to Montenegro.

Start with your phone: it needs eSIM support and must not be SIM-locked. Note that a few iPhone models from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau have no eSIM.

On the eSIM page, select Albania, choose a plan, log in and pay from your Anosim balance. You fund the balance with cryptocurrency or a bank transfer; no ID is checked. Afterwards, connect to Wi-Fi and scan the QR code. Scan it only once and keep the profile on your phone: the code cannot be reused. Leave the eSIM switched off until you arrive. You can find the plan later under My eSIM Plans.

Once you are in Albania, go to your phone settings, turn the eSIM on, select it for mobile data and enable data roaming for it. A local network usually picks it up within one to two minutes.

Your plan starts with that first connection in Albania. Since activation is possible up to 180 days after purchase, you can buy well before the summer season.

If nothing happens, restart the phone, turn airplane mode on and off once and make sure network selection is automatic. If it still does not connect, contact support rather than deleting the eSIM.

Many visitors combine Albania with its neighbours. If you continue north from Shkoder, see eSIM Montenegro, which is not in the EU either. Other routes lead east to North Macedonia or south to Greece.

An Albania plan is valid in Albania only. For a longer route, check on eSIM Europe and in the order form which countries a regional plan includes, and whether Albania is among them.

The eSIM has no phone number, so verification codes sent by SMS do not reach it. If a booking site, a rental app or another service asks for a code during your trip, use an Anosim number:

- Activation for a code you need once.
- Rent Service for a service that may ask for codes again.
- Rent Number if you want a single number for every sign-up on your Albania trip.

If a number is virtual, it is labelled as such in the provider selection.

The plan is data only: maps, messengers, WhatsApp calls, streaming and uploads all run over it, regular calls and SMS do not. Your normal SIM stays in the phone, so your own number is still reachable, for example on WhatsApp.

Whether hotspot works depends on the network operator. The plan is prepaid, with no contract and no monthly fee, and our support is available 24/7 via Telegram, the website chat and email. Looking for another country? See the eSIM overview.