shtetësi

Shtetësi, or citizenship, is the legal status by which a person is recognized as a member of a state or political community, with associated rights and duties. The term is used in Albanian-language legal and political discourse to denote a person’s formal belonging to a state. Etymologically, it derives from shtet, meaning state, with the suffix -ësi forming a noun that denotes the condition of belonging.

Acquisition of shtetësi is typically determined by constitutional and statutory rules and can occur through birth within a territory (jus soli) or by descent from citizen parents (jus sanguinis), as well as through naturalization after a period of residence, marriage to a citizen, or other special provisions. The exact pathways and the availability of dual or multiple citizenship vary by country and legal framework.

Rights and duties tied to shtetësi usually include protection by the state, access to civil and social benefits, and political rights such as participation in elections and eligibility for public office. Duties commonly encompass adherence to laws, taxation, and, in some jurisdictions, military or alternative national service. The balance between rights and duties is defined by national law and can evolve with reforms.

Loss or revocation of shtetësi may occur through voluntary renunciation or through legal mechanisms in cases such as fraud in the naturalization process or when acquiring another citizenship incompatible with current law. Statelessness, the condition of not being recognized as a citizen by any state, remains a related concern addressed by international conventions and national policies. In contemporary Albanian-speaking regions, discussions of shtetësi intersect with migration, diaspora rights, and evolving citizenship regimes.