MAPPING OF THE POPULATION AT RISK OF STATELESSNESS IN ALBANIA Republic of Albania can acquire Albanian citizenship with the consent of both parents. In that case, the procedure is the same as any birth from Albanian parents in the territory: the civil status office asks for a proof of legal residency of the parents and the birth certificate from the hospital. According to Albanian legislation, nationality is based on both a blood relationship and on birth within the territory of Albania, so jus sanguinis and jus soli. Albanian nationality is granted pursuant to the registration of birth. In the application of the jus sanguinis rule, the child will be registered as an Albanian citizen, provided that the connection with the Albanian parent is proven through his/her ID or birth certificate. Foreign citizens, whose children are born in the Republic of Albania, must present themselves to the civil status office in order to claim nationality for their child via the jus soli provision in the law.35 4.2.2. Acquisition of citizenship through naturalization Albanian citizenship legislation provides for regular, facilitated and exceptional naturalisation in Article 9 of the Law on Albanian Citizenship. In cases of regular naturalisation, a foreigner who has submitted an application for acquisition of Albanian citizenship by naturalisation shall acquire Albanian citizenship if he or she fulfils the following six requirements: is over 18 years of age, has been in lawful and continuous residence for at least five years; has sufficient income and a habitation; absence of criminal offence record; elementary knowledge of the Albanian language; and no threat to security and defence of Republic of Albania.36 Article 11 adds that if both parents acquire Albanian citizenship by naturalisation, their children under the age of 18 can also become Albanian citizens at the request of the parents and with the consent of the child, if he or she is over fourteen. Refugees are not part of the facilitated categories for naturalization. They may acquire Albanian nationality based on general rules that apply to foreigners in Albania, with the same documentation requirements. This constitutes a real obstacle for refugees since they often cannot obtain the required documentation from their country of origin. Additionally, in Albania the act of naturalisation must be ratified by a decree of the President of the Republic.37 The person concerned must complete the necessary documentation required and the Min35 See Gezim Krasniqi, Albanian Citizenship Configurations in the Balkans, in Central and Eastern European Migration Review, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2017, pp. 49-64 36 Article 9 of the Law “On Albanian Citizenship” provides that a foreigner who has submitted an application for acquisition of Albanian citizenship by naturalisation shall acquire Albanian citizenship if he or she fulfils the six following requirements: (i) age of 18; (ii) lawful and continuous residence for at least five years; (iii) sufficient income and a dwelling; (iv) absence of criminal offence records; (v) elementary knowledge of the Albanian language, and (vi) no threat to security and defence of Republic of Albania. 37 Articles 17-23 of Law no. 8389 “On Albanian Citizenship”, dated 05.08.1998 as amended by Law no. 8442 “On Some Changes in Law No. 8389 dated 5 August 1998 “On Albanian Citizenship” – define the procedure. 34 UNHCR - TLAS / May 2018