In short
- Albania issues civil status certificates from its national civil register, so each certificate is printed fresh from the database.
- The Çertifikatë Personale and the multilingual Çertifikatë Lindjeje show a person's birth details and parents; the Certifikatë Familjare shows the family members registered together.
- Albanian certificates carry an identification number, a registration code for the issuing office and a hologram, all of which should appear in the translation.
- Names must follow the passport spelling, including whether ë and ç are kept.
If you were born in Albania, or your family is registered there, UK and US offices may ask for your Albanian civil status certificates. They are short documents, but getting the translation right matters, especially the names and the identification details.
Which Albanian certificates are there?
Albania's civil status offices are connected to a national civil register in Tirana, managed by the General Directorate of Civil Status. Certificates are generated from that database, so every copy shows the same information.
| Certificate | What it usually shows | Often requested for |
|---|---|---|
| Çertifikatë Personale (personal certificate) | Name, personal identification number, parents' names, date and place of birth, residence, sex, marital status and citizenship | Proof of birth and identity details |
| Çertifikatë Lindjeje (birth certificate, multilingual) | Name, parents' names, date and place of birth, sex, nationality, marital status and registration details, in several languages | Proof of birth |
| Certifikatë Familjare (family certificate) | The members of the family registered together and their relationship to each other | Proof of family relationships, for example for family or spouse applications |
Which certificate an office wants depends on the application. Check the guidance for your case.
How do I get an Albanian certificate?
You can usually request certificates from a civil status office (Zyra e Gjendjes Civile) or online through the e-Albania government portal. Administrative documents obtained through e-Albania are stated to have the same legal value as a written document within Albania. Abroad, Albanian embassies and consulates can also advise.
If an office asks for a recently issued certificate, request a new one before you order the translation, so you don't pay to translate an outdated copy.
What should the English translation include?
- Every field, including the personal identification number (numri personal) and the registration details.
- Stamps, seals and signatures, described in brackets, for example [Stamp: Civil Status Office, Tirana].
- The hologram and security features, noted so the reader knows they are on the original.
- Electronic seals or verification codes on documents issued through e-Albania.
- Field labels translated consistently, so the translation mirrors the layout of the original.
Names: the details that matter
Albanian uses the Latin alphabet with two extra letters, ë and ç, and letter pairs such as dh, gj, xh and sh. Passports may show names with or without the diacritics, and the machine-readable lines at the bottom of a passport use only A to Z.
The rule is simple: the translation follows your passport's personal details page exactly.
| On the certificate | If the passport shows | The translation should say |
|---|---|---|
| Arbër Çela | ARBËR ÇELA | Arbër Çela |
| Arbër Çela | ARBER CELA | Arber Cela |
| Xhenet Dhima | XHENET DHIMA | Xhenet Dhima |
Give us the spelling from each person's passport when you order, and we'll use it consistently across every document.
Does a multilingual certificate still need translating?
If a certificate already includes English, some offices may accept it as it is. Others still expect a full certified translation, especially of stamps, notes or any parts that appear only in Albanian. Check with the office handling your case.
Frequently asked questions
Is the family certificate the same as a birth certificate?
No. A birth or personal certificate is about one person. A family certificate lists the members of a registered family and their relationships.
Do I need an apostille on my Albanian certificate?
That depends on the office and the purpose. UK and US immigration guidance on translations doesn't call for one, but other uses may. Check with the office handling your case.
Can you translate certificates issued in Kosovo or North Macedonia in Albanian?
Yes. We translate Albanian-language documents from Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia into English.
How long does an Albanian certificate translation take?
Standard orders are usually delivered within 2–3 UK working days, and express orders within 24 hours, Monday to Friday. Price your document online.
Sources
- Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (via ecoi.net): Albanian birth certificates, issuance and security features
- SEEDIG: Electronic certification in Albania (2018)
- 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3): USCIS translation requirement
This article is general information based on published guidance as of 31 October 2026. It is not legal or immigration advice, and requirements can change. Always check the current requirements with the office handling your case. Lexiveris Translations provides translation services only and is not affiliated with any government agency.