Peaks of the Balkans Permit: How to Get Border Permits
Peaks of the Balkans Permit: How to Get Border Permits was originally published in February 2026
If you’re hiking the Peaks of the Balkans Trail, you’ll need border permits for the international crossings that take you between Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro outside official border checkpoints.
The Peaks of the Balkans permit system can sound more complicated than it actually is. You need to provide your passport details, planned crossing dates, and border crossing points, then arrange permission with the relevant authorities before you set off. For the full route, there are typically three international border crossings requiring permits.
We hiked the Peaks of the Balkans ourselves and used Zbulo to arrange our permits. In this guide, I’ll explain exactly how the Peaks of the Balkans border permit works, how much it costs, what documents you need, when to apply, and whether you can arrange the permits yourself.
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Peaks of the Balkans Permit: Quick Facts
- Permit required: Yes, for green-border crossings outside official border checkpoints
- Countries: Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro
- Full trail: Typically requires 3 border-crossing permits
- Apply: Ideally at least 2 weeks before your trek
- Processing: Usually around 4–5 business days through Zbulo
- Zbulo fee: €5 per person per crossing, with its service fee capped at €50
- Montenegro fee: Additional charges apply
- Documents: Passport/ID details, planned crossing dates and locations
- How you receive it: Electronic confirmation/PDF by email
- Regular border crossings: No special Peaks of the Balkans permit required
Do You Need a Peaks of the Balkans Permit?
Yes, if your route crosses the international “green borders” between Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro outside an official border checkpoint.
The Peaks of the Balkans Trail crosses remote mountain borders where there is no conventional immigration checkpoint. The border-crossing permit system allows authorities to record these crossings in their border-control system.
You do not need a special Peaks of the Balkans permit when entering or leaving a country through an official border along a road, airport, or other official border checkpoint.
How to Get a Peaks of the Balkans Permit
How We Got Our Permits
We used Zbulo to arrange our Peaks of the Balkans border permits, and the process was surprisingly painless.
We submitted our passport information, planned crossing dates, and crossing points through their online application. Zbulo then handled the applications with the relevant border authorities and emailed the permits to us.
Their current guidance says applications take an average of 4–5 business days, although they recommend applying at least two weeks before your trip in case of delays. Applications can currently be submitted up to eight weeks before the intended crossing.
Why we used Zbulo:
- They regularly handle Peaks of the Balkans border permits.
- The application is completed online.
- You don’t have to figure out which police authority to contact in each country.
- Permits are sent electronically by email.
- Their fee is capped at €50 for a group of up to 20 people and/or six permits.
What Do You Need to Apply for a Peaks of the Balkans Permit?
You will generally need the following information for each person traveling:
- Full name
- Nationality
- Date and place of birth
- Passport or ID details
- Copy of your passport or other accepted travel document
- Planned border-crossing dates
- Planned border-crossing locations
- Contact information
Zbulo’s current application specifically asks for travel-document information and copies of the relevant documents for all participants.
Important: Your planned border-crossing dates matter. The police requires a specific date for each crossing, so don’t treat the permit as an open-ended authorization. Zbulo notes that hikers who are delayed by a day or two because of weather or other problems have generally not had issues, but you should still plan around your stated dates.
When Should You Apply for a Peaks of the Balkans Permit?
I recommend applying at least two weeks before your Peaks of the Balkans trek.
Zbulo currently accepts applications up to eight weeks before your planned crossing and says applications normally take around 4–5 business days. Public holidays, visa requirements, or a high volume of applications can cause delays, however, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
We received ours in about four days, but I wouldn’t use that as your planning timeline. Mountains have enough opportunities for chaos without adding border bureaucracy to the list.
Can You Get the Peaks of the Balkans Permit Yourself?
Yes. You can apply for the border permissions yourself through the relevant authorities, although the process is more complicated than using a service that handles the applications for you.
Albania and Kosovo currently grant permission electronically, while Montenegro has an additional payment and collection process. Zbulo’s current instructions explain that the Montenegrin fee must be paid through a local bank or post office in Montenegro before the permit can be collected from the border police station outside Plav.
For independent hikers, the DIY route can therefore involve more coordination, especially if you’re trying to arrange everything before arriving in the region.
If you want the simplest option, using a local permit service is considerably easier. If you’re traveling on a tight budget and don’t mind dealing with the authorities yourself, applying independently can save the service fee.
Cost of the Peaks of the Balkans Permit
Zbulo caps their price at €50 per permit, and up to 20 people can be listed on that permit. Even for two trekkers, it made sense for us to get the permit through Zbulo, which would have cost us €42 if we were to have registered with the police and done each formality ourselves, + headache and bureaucracy, and up to two weeks waiting time for each registration that we would have had to have done in person.
Cost of the Peaks of the Balkan Permit if Registering Independently
Each border crossing along the Peaks of the Balkans requires a permit at a fee of €5 per person. Completing the full Peaks of the Balkans circuit requires three border crossings. Also note that Montenegro levies an additional tax of €6 per application and another €3 per person, applied to each crossing from Montenegro to Albania or Montenegro to Kosovo.
So for one trekker taking on the Peaks of the Balkans, the registrations would amount to €24, for two trekkers €42, for three €60, and so on.
Do You Need to Carry Your Peaks of the Balkans Permit?
Yes. Carry a printed copy of your permit with you on the trail, and keep a digital copy on your phone as backup.
Keep the paperwork somewhere dry and accessible. A zip-top bag inside your backpack is a boring but very effective piece of trekking gear.
Border police and other authorities can check hikers along the route, particularly in areas where the trail crosses the green border. Zbulo reports that checks do occur, including patrols in Kosovo and Montenegro.
We were never asked to show ours during our trek, but that isn’t something I’d gamble on. You’re crossing international borders on foot, not sneaking between picnic tables at a national park.
Important: The fine, if caught hiking without the permit in a country you didn’t “officially” enter is €500.
Is the Peaks of the Balkans Permit a Visa?
No. The Peaks of the Balkans border permit is not a visa.
It is permission to cross certain international “green borders” outside official border checkpoints. If your nationality requires a visa to enter Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, or another country on your itinerary, you still need to obtain the appropriate visa separately.
Permits Sorted, Trails Await
Sorting out your Peaks of the Balkans border permits is a small but crucial step for prepping one of Europe’s most spectacular trekking routes. It keeps your journey stress-free, legal, and lets you focus on those misty valleys, the scent of mountain pines, and the honest smiles of villagers who still live much as they have for centuries.
Honestly, getting the permits through Zbulo made our Peaks of the Balkans trek feel like a breeze from the start. With that piece handled, you’re all set to enjoy life in high passes, turquoise glacial lakes, and hot coffee in wooden cabins with delicious meals.
Ready to lace up and head for the Peaks of the Balkans Trail?
Ask any of your questions about getting the Peaks of the Balkans permits in the comments section below. Trekked the Peaks of the Balkans already? Let us know your favorite parts below.
