Frequently Asked Questions on NRC
May 2008
Q: What is NRC?
A: The National Registration Center (NRC, www.qkr.gov.al) is the sole institution responsible for business registration in Albania. It serves as a one-stop-shop for all business registration needs, including tax registration at the national and municipal level, registration for social security and health insurance, as well as with the Labor Inspectorate.
Q: When did NRC open?
A: The NRC opened on September 3, 2007, replacing the previous court-based registration procedures for all types of businesses that carry out an economic activity in Albania.
Q: Which is the legal basis the NRC operates on?
A: The law no. 9723, "On the National Registration Center", was approved on May 3, 2007. It was drafted with the assistance of the Millennium Challenge Albania project, administered by USAID, and is in full compliance with international standards and relevant EU directives.
Q: Where can I find information on the NRC legislation?
A: You can find information on all legal documents that inform NRC activity by visiting its website, at www.qkr.gov.al, or by reading the official gazette.
Q: How has NRC changed business registration procedures in Albania?
A: NRC has made business registration procedures in Albania faster and easier, less costly and more transparent. It reduces to one day the registration time for all offered services and combines all business registration steps in one single procedure.
Q: What are the services that NRC provides?
A: NRC services include the following: new business registration, change of business registration data, issuing of abstracts or other certificates, registration of cancellation, name clearance, commercial name reservation, etc..
Q: What are the hours of operation at NRC?
A: The public service hours at the NRC are:
Monday to Thursday: 8:30 – 16:30
Friday: 8:30 – 14:00
To apply for registration, changes, extracts or business cancellation:
Monday to Thursday: 8:30 – 14:00
Friday: 8:30 – 11:30
To pick up abstracts and other certificates:
Monday to Thursday: 14:00 – 15:00
Friday: 11:30 – 12:30
At the NRC Headquarters At the NRC municipality service windows:
Monday to Thursday: 8:30 – 16:30
Friday: 8:30 – 14:00
Q: What are the service fees at NRC?
A: All applications at NRC have the same fee of 100 ALL.
Q: Where are the NRC service windows located?
A: NRC is headquartered in Tirana, at "Ismail Qemali" Street, behind the Prime Minister's office building. It currently has service windows also in 10 municipalities: Tirana, Durrës, Elbasan, Korçë, Shkodër, Fier, Gjirokastra, Vlora, Lezha, and Kukës, with 19 more planned to open by the end of 2008 in other municipalities, as well as at the Chambers of Commerce.
Q: Do all NRC service windows offer the same services as the headquarters?
A: Yes. All NRC service windows offer the same services. They location allow businesses to have access to service as near as possible to their place of business.
Q: Do I have to apply only at the NRC service window that is close to where my business is located?
A: No. Regardless of the location of your business, you can apply at any of the NRC service windows, without exception.
Q: How does the NRC registration system work?
A: NRC operates based on an integrated database system, which connects all service windows with the NRC headquarters in Tirana. The design of the registration system is based on international standards and best practices in e-registration. It is builtNRC was established with the support offunding from the the Millennium Challenge Corporation (www.mcc.gov) under the two-year Millennium Challenge Albania Threshold Agreement between the Government of Albania and the Government of the United States. the Millennium Challenge Corporation (www.mcc.gov), and is based on international standards and best practices about e-registration. Administered by USAID, this the Millennium Challenge project assists in reforming and modernizing tax administration, public procurement, and business registration in Albania through information technology solutions and legislative enhancements.
Q: Is the NRC information on registered business in Albania open to the public?
A: Yes, except for the personal information on the people who run or own the businesses. NRC maintains the Commercial Registry of the Republic of Albania, which is in electronic format and open to the public. NRC offers to all interested parties full access to the information contained in this Registry through its website: www.qkr.gov.al.
Q: What is the Electronic Commercial Registry?
A: The Electronic Commercial Registry is a unique, uniform, and electronic database, which includes data on all businesses registered in Albania. It is established, maintained, and accessible online by the public, in full compliance with all relevant EU directives and standards.
Q: How can I obtain information on businesses registered at NRC?
A: You can apply at anyone of the NRC service windows or click on "Commercial Registry" while visiting its the NRC website at www.qkr.gov.al, in order to get information on any business entity you are interested in, regardless of whether you have a relationship with it or not.
Q: Is the NRC system interconnected with other e-government systems?
A: Yes, the NRC system is linked with that of the General Directorate of Taxation as well as the Electronic Procurement System administered by the Public Procurement Agency.
Q: How do other institutions that deal with businesses receive updates of the business registration data?
A: On a periodic basis, NRC sends the data on all businesses registered at its service windows to the central and local tax authorities, the Labor Inspectorate and the Institute of Statistics.
Q: How is an application processed at NRC?
A: The NRC operates based on mandatory self-declaration as applicants fill out the appropriate application forms. The service window clerk receives the completed application forms and enters the data into the system at the moment of submission. The applicant signs the form, pays the fee as determined by law, and receives in turn a receipt (certificate) stating the type of service requested, the supporting documents submitted, and the fee paid. Then, the first available registrar reviews the application and makes a decision to approve it or not in accordance with the NRC law. There are currently 12 registrars working at the NRC headquarters in Tirana.
Q: Who makes decisions on business registration applications?
A: The NRC registrars at the NRC headquarters in Tirana are the only officialnes with the authority to make a decision on submitted applications. Their decisions are posted in the NRC system, and the applicants can receive the answer when they return the next business day to either the service window where they applied, or any other NRC service windows. The decision is also posted at the NRC website, www.qkr.gov.al.
Q: Does the service window clerk make any decisions?
A: No, the service window clerk does not make any decision on applications. He/she serves at the NRC service window and enters the data declared by the applicant into the system. The service window clerk does not even decide whether the application and the submitted documents are in order or not, but must accept at all times what the applicant brings in. Notwithstanding, theThe service window clerk has the duty to inform provide the applicant a list ofwhich are the supporting documents that are required by law for the particular application being submitted. The service window clerk must accept all applications and supporting documents that are submitted, without making a determination of whether the application and the submitted documents are in order.
Q: When can I expect to receive an answer for my application at NRC?
A: In accordance with the law, for any type of registration service requested, you should receive an answer at the NRC service windows within 24 hours from the submission of the application.
Q: What does "silent consent" mean?
A: As provided by law, if within 1 day from the moment of application, you receive no answer on it your application when you go to the NRC service window, your application is automatically considered approved in accordance with the principle of "silent consent".
Q: How long does it take to cancel a business?
A: The NRC cancels the registration of a business within 45 days from the moment of application at its service windows. The reason for this time- limit is that, as a matter of procedure, NRC requires from the tax authorities to confirm whether or not the business entity has outstanding taxes dues or not,, and then it makes a decision. If the tax authorities do not reply within 45 days, NRC cancels the business automatically in accordance with the principle of "silent consent".
Q: What documents are needed to register a new business or to update or change data of an already registered business?
A: You can easily obtain all information related to any registration procedure at NRC by visiting any service window or the NRC website at www.qkr.gov.al.
Q: What type of businesses should register at NRC?
A: All commercial businesses operating in Albania, whether physical or juridical persons, which operate in Albania, should register at the NRC.
Q: Can NRC advice on the legal form of business I should select to register?
A: No, the NRC is not the place to get such an answer, as these questions are better addressed to a lawyer.
Q: Which entities are not required to register at NRC?
A: Non-profit organizations, foundations, institutes, political parties and other entities as provided by law, do not have to register at NRC. Their registration will continue to take place at the courts.
Q: Do the ambulant merchants register at NRC?
A: No the ambulant merchants do not register at NRC.
Q: Do I also have to register with the local and central tax office after initial registration at NRC?
A: No. Initial registration at NRC implies also simultaneous registration with the tax authorities, both municipal and central, as well as for social security, health insurance and with the Labor Inspectorate.
Q: Following the registration at NRC, where should I go if I have a tax related issue?
A: After registration at NRC, the respective tax offices, at the central and/or municipal level, remain your interlocutors for any tax related matter you may have.
Q: How do I proceed in dealing with the social security and health insurance authority as well as the Labor Inspectorate after the registration at NRC?
A: Following the registration at NRC, you should continue to maintain direct relations with the social security and health insurance authority as well as the Labor Inspectorate, for all issues that are related to these institutions.
Q: Should a Limited Liability Companies (l.lc.) pay the initial capital prior to registration at NRC?
A: No. The initial capital payment is no longer a condition for registering a limited liability company (l.l.c.).
Q: Is it necessary to have a license before registering a new business?
A: No. The law provides that licensing for specific activities is no longer a condition for business and tax registration. This remains a requirement for banks only.
Q: Does NRC issue licenses?
A: No. NRC does not issue licenses.
Q: What kind of business registration certificate does NRC issue?
A: NRC issues initial registration certificates with the relevant taxpayer identification number (NIPT), which includes certificates for main and secondary business addresses, both in pink color. NRC issues also certificates for any type of registration carried out at its service windows, such as certificates for name reservation, name transfer, etc.
Q: Should I receive a certificate upon submission of an application, as well as following the decisions made by NRC?
A: Yes. For any application submitted at the NRC service windows, you should receive a certificate. Don't leave without it.
Q: Can other institutions, such as national or municipal tax offices, issue registration certificates?
A: No. NRC is the only authority that issues valid business registration certificates.
Q: Should the business' secondary addresses be registered with the NRC?
A: Yes. You should update your business registration data at NRC. Following your notification, NRC issues the appropriate certificate for each business address.
Q: When should I submit the financial statements to NRC?
A: As provided in the NRC law, the financial statements approved by the assembly of partners or shareholders, should be submitted to the NRC annually no later than July 31. Notwithstanding, complying with this obligation does not exempt you from fulfilling separately a similar requirement in the tax legislation entailing a visit to the tax offices.
Q: Is it possible to apply online for business registration at NRC?
A: Through the NRC website, at www.qkr.gov.al, you can fill out and submit initial registration forms for a physical person, limited liability or a joint stock company. Afterwards, you should visit one of the NRC service windows in order to complete your application, submit the supporting documents and pay the application fee. Only then is , your application is considered finalized.
Q: How can I check whether my application was approved or not?
A: You can either visit the NRC website and search for your business, or read the electronic bulletin of official announcements. The latter publishes all daily actions carried out by NRC in response to submitted applications.
Q: If I have a question on a business registration procedure, what should I do?
A: You have various options to receive answers to questions you may have:
- You can go to the NRC website: www.qkr.gov.al;
- You can call: (4) 22 50 066;
- You can send an e-mail at: info@qkr.gov.al; or
- You can visit the NRC service window closest to you.
Q: Where should I address my complaints, if any, regarding the service received at NRC service windows?
A: You can call: (4) 22 50 066, e-mail at: info@qkr.gov.al, or visit the NRC headquarters to meet with the Director during these hours: Monday to Friday, from 14:00 to 16:00.