On 25 September 2014 the Visa Information System (VIS) for Schengen short-stay visas started operation in all Schengen States' consulates present in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro and Serbia) and Turkey. This is part of the gradual worldwide deployment of the VIS (which started in October 2011) leading to all Schengen States' consulates worldwide being connected. The global roll-out is scheduled to be completed in summer 2015.

As VIS relates exclusively to Schengen short-stay visas, Albanian citizens holding a biometric passport will not be affected. However residents in Albania who – due to their nationality – fall under the Schengen visa requirement will be submitted to the VIS procedure.

​Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme for education, training, youth and sport. Between 2014 and 2020, it will provide opportunities for four million people to study, train and gain life experience abroad.

Erasmus+ replaces a number of older programmes, including an international exchange programme called Erasmus Mundus.

See the Erasmus+ web portal’s Resources section for information about linguistic support, documents for applicants and the management of proposals.