Former New York City mayor Eric Adams has officially been granted citizenship of Albania, complete with an Albanian passport, adding an interesting international chapter to his post-mayoral life.
The decision was officially approved through a special decree issued by the President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj. According to the decree, Adams actually obtained citizenship upon his own request.
While no further details have yet been made public regarding the specific reasons or exact procedures behind the granting of his new citizenship, Adams has been laying the groundwork for this connection for a while. Notably, he visited Albania in October 2025, where he met directly with Prime Minister Edi Rama.
To many, the former leader of America’s largest city becoming an Albanian citizen might seem a bit out of left field. But for those who closely followed Adams’ political career, from his days as the Brooklyn Borough President all the way to his tenure at City Hall, this is a natural culmination of a long-standing relationship.
New York City, particularly the Bronx and parts of Brooklyn, is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Albanian diasporas in the world. Throughout his time in public office, Adams was a frequent and vocal ally of the community, consistently expressing his deep admiration for Albania and its people.
Whether he was raising the Albanian flag in lower Manhattan to celebrate their Independence Day, frequenting local Albanian-owned businesses, or championing the cultural footprint of the diaspora, Adams made it a point to show up.
The decision by the Albanian government to officially grant him citizenship serves as a high-level gesture of gratitude for his years of steadfast advocacy and friendship. It is a prime example of how local politics in a melting pot like New York City can create global ripple effects.
While Adams hasn’t yet announced any grand plans to permanently move his home base overseas, this new dual-citizenship status gives him plenty of options.
