According to information provided by the Embassy of Albania in Washington, in July 2000, an Albanian birth certificate could be picked up by someone other than the person in whose name it was issued, if the person picking it up had authorization from the person in whose name the document was issued (Albania 19 July 2000; ibid. 8 Aug. 2005). Photographs could be attached to a birth certificate but were not mandatory for its validity (ibid. 19 July 2000; ibid. 14 Oct. 2005). Sometimes a photograph was attached to a birth certificate if the bearer had lost his or her identity document, and the birth certificate with a photograph could then serve as a substitute for the identity document pending replacement of the latter (ibid. 19 July 2000). In cases when a photograph was attached to a birth certificate, the photograph must have been provided by the bearer when he or she ordered the birth certificate (ibid.).

However, beginning in 2004, every Albanian birth certificate must be accompanied by a photograph of the person in whose name the document is issued (the bearer) (ibid. 22 August 2005), irrespective of whether the birth certificate is an original or a replacement (ibid. 14 Oct. 2005). Photographs are not printed as part of the actual documents but rather are later affixed to them (ibid.). Beginning in 2004, the bearer must provide recent photographs when he or she orders a birth certificate (ibid.). Birth certificates are 8.5 by 11 inches (216 millimetres (mm) by 279 mm) (A4 paper size according to European standards) (ibid. 22 Aug. 2005).

In a 6 September 2005 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a consular official at the Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Washington, DC stated that a person may obtain an Albanian birth certificate on behalf of another as long as the person obtaining it has written authorization (power of attorney) from the person in whose name the document is issued.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection.

Albania. 14 October 2005. Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Ottawa. Telephone interview with a counsellor.

_____. 22 August 2005. Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Ottawa. Correspondence sent by a counsellor.

_____. 6 September 2005. Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Washington, DC. Telephone interview with a consular official.

_____. 19 July 2000. Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Washington, DC. Telephone interview with an official.