Guidance

Country bulletin: human trafficking, Albania, August 2026 (accessible)

Updated 20 August 2026

Reference: ALB-001-08-26

August 2026

Summary: Updated guidance on claims from both Albanian male and female victims of trafficking following the Country Guidance case of LR (trafficked males)

Summary

The Country Guidance (CG) case of LR (Male VOTs) (CG) [2026] UKUT 00315 was promulgated on 13 August 2026. It replaces previous country guidance for Albanian male victims of trafficking (VoTs). Decision makers must refer to the relevant paragraphs when considering claims and can refer to the background material, as set out in the list of sources in the determination.

The position of female VoTs remains unchanged. Decision makers must refer to the assessment and country information as set out in the archived version of the Albania: Human trafficking CPIN (version 16.0) (which will be published on ecoi.net shortly) and continue to have regard to the country guidance in TD and AD.

The Tribunal found that Albanian male VoTs constitute a Particular Social Group (PSG), both before and after the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. However, a person must still demonstrate a causal link between the feared persecution and their membership of that PSG.

The Tribunal found that there is no typical profile of an Albanian male VoT, but that certain factors may increase vulnerability to trafficking. Decision makers should assess vulnerability on the facts of each individual case.

In relation to risk on return, the Tribunal found that former male VoTs may face a risk of re-trafficking and/or reprisals, but that risk is not universal and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Decision makers will need to consider risk both in relation to the original traffickers and other traffickers.

The Tribunal also found that the Albanian government has made significant efforts to improve its response to trafficking and that Albania generally provides a sufficiency of protection for adult male VoTs, although this will not be effective in every case, and each person’s particular circumstances must be considered.

On internal relocation, the Tribunal found that, in general, the support available to adult male VoTs who are not at risk of reprisal or re-trafficking suggests that internal relocation will not be unduly harsh, but the ‘reasonableness’ analysis must take into account all relevant vulnerabilities and mitigations in the place of relocation. 

However, an adult male VoT who requires a shelter to be safe in his home area is unlikely to be safe anywhere else. Where an adult male VoT is not at such risk as to require a shelter but is nevertheless being sought by his traffickers, internal relocation to anywhere other than the bigger cities is unlikely to be safe; the circumstances of each case must be considered.

The Tribunal found that there is an institutional and policy framework in place to provide for reintegration assistance, and that state/NGO support includes help with accommodation, health, employment and finances. The Tribunal further identified certain obstacles to reintegration, which must be considered in each case.

All cases must be considered on their individual facts, with the onus on the person to demonstrate they face persecution or serious harm.

Country information

About this bulletin

This bulletin is designed to provide guidance for decision makers considering asylum and human rights claims from both male and female victims of trafficking (VoTs) from Albania following the Country Guidance (CG) case of LR (Male VOTs) (CG) [2026] UKUT 00315, which was heard on 9 to 3 March,18 to 20 March and 27 July 2026 and promulgated on 13 August 2026. Paragraph numbers in square brackets in this Bulletin refer directly to those in the determination of LR.

For details on how CPIT makes its assessments, gathers and presents country information, its research methodology and disclaimers and explainers on coverage, source selection, maps, translations and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in developing CPIT products, see About country policy and information notes.

1. Scope of cases for LR

1.1.1 The CG case of LR replaces previous country guidance insofar as it relates to Albanian male VoTs. The position of female VoTs remains unchanged (see Female victims of trafficking).

1.1.2 Decision makers must have regard to the findings in LR, including the Tribunal’s assessment of the background material (paragraphs 65 to 103), the relevant paragraphs of country guidance and the source material, set out in the list of sources in the determination.

2. Male victims of trafficking

2.1 Profiles of, and risk factors that may create, Albanian male VoTs

2.1.1 The UT found that there is no typical profile of an Albanian male VoT [363(1)]. However, vulnerability to trafficking may increase based on the following, non-exhaustive list of factors:

• Lower socio-economic status, including homelessness
• Lower levels of education and difficulty in securing legitimate employment
• Ill health, whether physical or mental, including addiction
• Originating from Northern Albania or a rural area
• Age, with younger men and teenagers being more vulnerable
• A lack of a family or other support network, whether by reference to blood feud, criminality or adverse childhood experiences
• Belonging to a minority ethnic group or having an LGBT identity [363(2)]

2.1.2 Decision makers should assess vulnerability on the facts of the individual case and note that a single risk factor may be sufficient to increase vulnerability to trafficking [363(3)].

2.1.3 The Tribunal found that male VoTs may be enticed or forced into trafficking in a variety of ways [363(4)] and that social media is increasingly likely to be involved in recruitment for trafficking, and organised criminal networks are more likely to be involved in such cases. However, it is not common for a person to be abducted for the purpose of trafficking [363(5)].

2.1.4 Vulnerability to re-trafficking similarly depends on a range of factors. However, given the support provided by the NGOs, together with the institutional framework, it will generally be reasonable for an adult male VoT to engage with the identification process, which then enables them to access the protective and rehabilitative support available [363(18)] (see also Reintegration and support on return for Albanian male VoTs).

2.2 Convention reason(s) for Albanian male VoTs

2.2.1 The Tribunal found that Albanian male VoTs constitute a Particular Social Group (PSG), both before and after the Nationality and Borders Act 2022. However, a person must still demonstrate a causal link between the feared persecution and their membership of that PSG [363(25)].

2.3 Risk on return for Albanian male VoTs

2.3.1 Male VoTs may face a risk of re-trafficking and/or reprisals, but that risk is not universal and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

2.3.2 Decision makers must consider a range of factors [363(6)], [363(8)] and [363(9)], including the extent to which past treatment may be indicative of future fear, in line with paragraph 339K of the Immigration Rules [363(7)].

2.4 Sufficiency of protection for Albanian male VoTs

2.4.1 The Tribunal found that the Albanian government has made significant efforts to improve its response to trafficking and that Albania generally provides a sufficiency of protection for adult male VoTs [363(16)].

2.4.2 The UT did not define ‘generally’, therefore decision makers should apply its literal meaning of ‘mostly’, ‘usually’ or ‘typically’.

2.4.3 The Tribunal did add that this general sufficiency of protection will not be effective in every* case, and a person’s particular circumstances must be considered (*emphasis added) [363(16) and 363(17)].

2.5 Internal relocation for Albanian male VoTs

2.5.1 The Tribunal found that, although a person’s specific circumstances must be considered, in general, the support available to adult male VoTs who are not at risk of reprisal or re-trafficking suggests that internal relocation will not be unduly harsh, but the ‘reasonableness’ analysis must take into account all relevant vulnerabilities and mitigations in the place of relocation [363(20)].

2.5.2 However, an adult male VoT who requires a shelter to be safe in his home area is unlikely to be safe anywhere else [363(21)].

2.5.3 In addition, where an adult male VoT is not at such risk as to require a shelter, but is still being sought by his traffickers, internal relocation to anywhere outside the bigger cities is unlikely to be safe. Whether a person would be safe from their trafficker in Tirana or one of the other bigger cities will depend on how actively a person is being sought, the reach and intent of the traffickers, their connections, if any, with the authorities in that area, and the person’s vulnerabilities [363(22)].

2.6 Reintegration and support on return for Albanian male VoTs

2.6.1 The Tribunal accepted there is no specific shelter for adult male VoTs, although rented accommodation can be provided with the assistance of NGOs [363(10)].

2.6.2 Reintegration assistance for male VoTs does, however, include:

• the institutional and policy framework [363(13)] (see also [233-235]);
• reintegration programmes provided by NGOs [363(11)] (see also [236]);
• the UK’s targeted support for reintegration provision, plus a comprehensive support programme provided by the Medaille Trust (see [237]);
• accommodation [363(11)] (see also [238] and [242]);
• support from the state, including support with health and employment and financial support [363(12)] (see also [243-247]);
• awareness-raising (see [248]).

2.6.3 Though obstacles to reintegration include:

• Whether or not the person is identified/self-identifies as having been trafficked (see [258]);
• the person’s vulnerability and willingness to engage with services available (see [262]);
• social stigma attached to being a male VoT (see [264]);
• fear of an organised criminal gang from which the person may have escaped (see [269]);
• economic climate (see [270]);
• capacity, resourcing and bureaucracy in relation to assistance for male VoTs (see [271]).

3. Female victims of trafficking

3.1.1 The position of female VoTs remains unchanged.

3.1.2 Decision makers must refer to the assessment and country information as set out in the archived version of the Albania: Human trafficking CPIN (version 16.0) (which will be published on ecoi.net shortly) and continue to have regard to the Country Guidance case of TD and AD (Trafficked women)(CG) [2016] UKUT 92 (IAC) (9 February 2016), heard on 30 April, 6 May and 3 June 2015 and promulgated on 9 February 2016.

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