Diplomatic missions and Albanian consulates abroad are set to provide services equivalent to those offered by civil status offices within the country, aiming to streamline procedures for Albanian citizens residing in various foreign countries.
Recent amendments to the “Civil Status” law encompass a range of regulations, including provisions for simplifying procedures beyond the national borders.
The accompanying draft, released by the Ministry of Interior, outlines in Article 22 the responsibilities of the civil status service at diplomatic and consular representations. These entities are expected to carry out tasks akin to their counterparts within the territory of the Republic of Albania.
As stipulated in paragraph 2 of Article 71, these designated employees are required to undergo training similar to other civil status personnel before commencing their duties.
The draft specifies, in paragraph 3 of the same article, that these appointed personnel will manage documentation and execute actions in the National Civil Status Register of 2010 for Albanian citizens with permanent residency outside Albania, adhering to the regulations outlined in this law and other applicable legal provisions.
Paragraph 4 of the article foresees the establishment of rules governing the administration and transmission of documents to the General Directorate of Civil Status for Albanian citizens. These actions will be carried out by service employees at consular posts. For consular staff, these responsibilities are supplementary, aimed at providing the best and most efficient services to Albanian citizens residing abroad.
The Ministry justifies the proposed draft law as part of the broader government initiative to reform public services. This initiative, facilitated through the unique government portal e-Albania, has significantly expanded the range of online services for citizens.
This expansion includes the generation of electronic signature-backed documents with data from the National Civil Status Register of 2010, enabling citizens to access various documents previously issued by civil status offices in municipalities/administrative units and civil status archive offices at the prefect’s office through service centers.
