President Begaj grants Eric Adams citizenship during visit

Eric Adams , who previously served as the Mayor of New York City, has been granted Albanian citizenship and issued a passport, Albanian media reported on Friday. The reports linked the decision to Adams’ visit to Albania in October, when he expressed strong appreciation for the country and discussed possible areas for cooperation.

According to the initial report, Albanian President Bajram Begaj approved Adams’ request for citizenship through a special decree. That account was later confirmed by Euronews Albania , which said the decision appeared in Albania’s official government journal.

The decree, signed by President Begaj, grants citizenship to “Eric Leroy Adams” . Albanian media said the measure took effect immediately upon publication, and that Adams was issued an Albanian passport as part of the process.

Adams’ October trip to Albania lasted four days and included meetings in Tirana, the capital. During the visit, he met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama , and the two discussed ways to deepen cooperation, with a focus on the tourism and technology sectors, according to the reports.

Adams also promoted the idea of establishing a direct flight connection between New York and Albania. In public remarks during the trip, he praised Tirana as a “thriving community and city moving in the right direction,” Albanian media reported.

The citizenship decision adds a formal dimension to the relationship Adams highlighted during his visit, which was framed around practical collaboration and connectivity. The reports did not provide additional details on the administrative steps beyond the decree’s publication and immediate effect.

Adams served as New York City Mayor from January 2022 until December 2025 . The available reporting does not specify whether any follow-up agreements, timelines, or institutional commitments were set during the October meetings, leaving open questions about what concrete initiatives—if any—will proceed from the discussions on tourism, technology, or air links.