Do you need a permit for the Peaks of the Balkans? Border permits explained
Short answer
Yes. Because the trail crosses borders on mountain paths away from official checkpoints, you need a border-crossing permit from Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro. Apply about 15 days before you start, by email to each border police or through a local agency that bundles all three. Fees are low (a few euros) if you apply yourself; agencies charge roughly €25–45 per person. Carry printed copies and your passport.
The permit is not a hiking fee: it is permission from each country’s border police to cross the border outside an official border post. Without it, patrols can fine you or send you back, and the rules are enforced more often than many hikers expect.
Which permits do you need?
| Crossing | Where | Permit from |
|---|---|---|
| Albania → Kosovo | Dobërdol – Milishevc ridge (stage 4) | Albania and Kosovo |
| Kosovo → Montenegro | Drelaj – Babino Polje (stage 7) | Kosovo and Montenegro |
| Montenegro → Albania | Vusanje – Theth over the Peja Pass (stage 10) | Montenegro and Albania |
In practice you request a permit from each of the three countries, covering your entry and exit dates.
How to apply
- Decide your dates and direction. The permit lists the dates and places where you cross.
- Gather your details: full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and the crossing dates.
- Apply to each country, either yourself by email to the border police or through an agency.
- Wait about 10–15 days. Apply at least 15 days ahead; in July and August longer is safer.
- Print the permits and carry them with your passport on the trail.
Doing it yourself or through an agency?
| Yourself | Through an agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | a few euros in fees (Montenegro charges a small fee) | about €25–45 per person for all three (2026) |
| Effort | three separate applications and follow-ups | one form |
| Risk | missing answers, language barriers | low |
Prices are indicative for 2026 and differ per agency. Fines for crossing without a permit have been reported between €50 and €500.
Common mistakes
- Applying too late. Answers can take two weeks.
- Changing your dates without updating the permit.
- Carrying a different document. Bring the passport whose number is on the permit.
- Kosovo stamps. Serbia does not recognise Kosovo’s borders; if you travel on to Serbia afterwards, check the current entry rules.
Skipping the paperwork
If you would rather not deal with three border police offices, organised trips include the permits. The Balkan Trail arranges the cross-border permits and national park fees for you as part of the trip.
