Vendbanimi

Vendbanimi is the Albanian term for the place where a person lives, i.e., a residence or dwelling. The word is formed from vend (place) and banim (dwelling or living), and in everyday usage it refers to the location where someone maintains their habitual residence.

In civil and administrative contexts, vendbanimi denotes the registered address or habitual residence used for official purposes. It is relevant for population registers, census data, taxation, voting, education enrollment, and access to public services. While the concept can overlap with the idea of domicile, many systems distinguish between a temporary stay and the place considered as one’s primary residence, which is commonly identified as the vendbanimi.

From a geographical and urban planning perspective, vendbanimi also describes the built environment in which people live. It encompasses settlements—rural villages, suburban areas, and urban neighborhoods—as well as the housing stock, infrastructure, and land use within a defined locality. Changes in demographic patterns, internal migration, and urbanization can influence how a community’s vendbanimi evolves over time.

The term is used broadly across Albanian law, administration, and geography, and its exact scope can vary by jurisdiction and regulatory framework. In practice, it functions as a practical reference for where people are considered to reside for official purposes, distinct from temporary stays or other forms of occupancy.

See also: residence, housing, census, domicile, population registry, administrative units.