How to choose help you can trust

In short

Moving abroad is also a place where some try to take advantage of people who are in difficulty or in a hurry. It is normal to fear trusting the wrong person: it is one of the first things that stops anyone thinking about Albania.

This guide does not point the finger at anyone. It explains, positively, how to recognise help you can trust: who does what, what it really costs, and which questions to ask before handing over your documents or your money to anyone. It is not distrust of everyone: it is the simplest way to move with peace of mind.

The official notice, in short

The Italian Embassy in Tirana has published a notice inviting citizens to be wary of unrecognised intermediaries who ask for high fees for services that are often free or at a standard rate, and to use the official channels. You can read it in full among the sources at the foot of the page.

The useful message, for you, is simple: part of the help you really need costs little or nothing. Knowing that is already a protection.

Who does what: the honest map

Much of the confusion comes from not knowing whose job a thing is. Here is the split, as it really works:

• Pensions and welfare: the patronati (for example INCA, ACLI, ITAL) assist free of charge. For the pension, they are the starting point.
• Tax: a commercialista.
• Legal and citizenship matters: a lawyer.
• Consular acts (AIRE, passport, ID card, legalisations): the consular section of the Embassy and the Consulate.
• Orientation and information: guides like this one, and trusted people who have already walked the path.

Someone who asks you for a lot of money for something a patronato does for free is not necessarily dishonest, but it is the first sign that it is worth stopping and asking a few questions.

What to check before you trust

You do not need to become an expert. A few questions are enough, and the answers tell you almost everything:

• Is whoever is behind it openly declared? A name, an organisation, a face.
• Is the price clear and fixed, or is it always a "it depends, get in touch"?
• Do they promise a sure or certain result? No one can truly promise that: cases depend on the offices.
• Do they also point you to the free routes, like the patronati, when they exist, or pretend they do not exist?
• Do they push you to avoid the official channels, or accompany you towards them?
• Do they also tell you when you do NOT need their help?

The more honest answers you gather, the more at ease you can be. Trustworthy help does not fear these questions: it welcomes them.

Our position, by the same measure

It would be unfair to ask you to apply this measure to everyone except us. So: Approdo Adriatico is independent and is run by the Resinaro team, and we say so openly. We are not a public office and we are not affiliated with any authority. We make no promises. We point you to the free patronati and to professionals when they are the right route. And if we think you do not need us, we tell you. The day we offer a paid service, the price will be stated in the open, not hidden behind a quote.

If something does not convince you

If an offer makes you uneasy, stop. Compare with a free patronato, with a professional, or write to us for an opinion with no obligation. For official acts, the reference remains the Embassy and the Consulate, and the Embassy's own notice invites you to report unpleasant situations.

This guide offers general information and is not legal advice. For your case, turn to the professionals and channels indicated. If you simply want to understand where to begin, write to us: sometimes the most useful thing is to know which questions to ask.