diff --git a/apps/server/src/routes/auth.ts b/apps/server/src/routes/auth.ts
index a61501d..9272cd6 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/routes/auth.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/routes/auth.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ interface LoginBody {
   password: string;
 }
 
+const LANGS = ["sq", "en"] as const;
+type Lang = (typeof LANGS)[number];
+interface LanguageBody {
+  language: Lang;
+}
+
 export async function authRoutes(app: FastifyInstance, db: Db): Promise<void> {
   app.post<{ Body: LoginBody }>("/api/auth/login", async (req, reply) => {
     const { username, password } = req.body ?? {};
@@ -41,7 +47,9 @@ export async function authRoutes(app: FastifyInstance, db: Db): Promise<void> {
       csrf,
     });
     setAuthCookies(reply, token, csrf);
-    return { id: user.id, username: user.username, role: user.role };
+    // `language` is NOT in the JWT (identity/role only) — it's a mutable preference
+    // read from the DB, so changing it needs no token refresh.
+    return { id: user.id, username: user.username, role: user.role, language: user.language };
   });
 
   app.post("/api/auth/logout", async (_req, reply) => {
@@ -49,13 +57,30 @@ export async function authRoutes(app: FastifyInstance, db: Db): Promise<void> {
     return { ok: true };
   });
 
-  // Who am I — used by the SPA to bootstrap session state on load.
+  // Who am I — used by the SPA to bootstrap session state on load. Reads the live
+  // `language` preference from the DB (not the token).
   app.get(
     "/api/auth/me",
     { preHandler: requireRole("admin", "operator", "cashier", "readonly") },
     async (req) => {
       const { sub, username, role } = req.user;
-      return { id: sub, username, role };
+      const row = await db.select().from(users).where(eq(users.id, sub)).get();
+      return { id: sub, username, role, language: row?.language ?? "sq" };
+    },
+  );
+
+  // Change MY own UI language preference (any signed-in user). Persisted to the
+  // users row so it's restored on the next login, from any booth. See i18n.md.
+  app.put<{ Body: LanguageBody }>(
+    "/api/auth/language",
+    { preHandler: requireRole("admin", "operator", "cashier", "readonly") },
+    async (req, reply) => {
+      const language = req.body?.language;
+      if (!language || !LANGS.includes(language)) {
+        return reply.code(400).send({ error: `language must be one of: ${LANGS.join(", ")}` });
+      }
+      await db.update(users).set({ language }).where(eq(users.id, req.user.sub)).run();
+      return { language };
     },
   );
 }
diff --git a/packages/db/drizzle/0003_early_hawkeye.sql b/packages/db/drizzle/0003_early_hawkeye.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..425c0a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/db/drizzle/0003_early_hawkeye.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE `users` ADD `language` text DEFAULT 'sq' NOT NULL;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/db/drizzle/meta/0003_snapshot.json b/packages/db/drizzle/meta/0003_snapshot.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18eafb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/db/drizzle/meta/0003_snapshot.json
@@ -0,0 +1,813 @@
+{
+  "version": "6",
+  "dialect": "sqlite",
+  "id": "620eba1b-2c7e-4bd4-8b3e-c779a69e87b9",
+  "prevId": "dbee8e05-0b49-4af7-962c-9aab53b36eb7",
+  "tables": {
+    "blocklist": {
+      "name": "blocklist",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "kind": {
+          "name": "kind",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "value": {
+          "name": "value",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "reason": {
+          "name": "reason",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "active": {
+          "name": "active",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": true
+        },
+        "added_by": {
+          "name": "added_by",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "added_at": {
+          "name": "added_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "(current_timestamp)"
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "device_events": {
+      "name": "device_events",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "device_id": {
+          "name": "device_id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "category": {
+          "name": "category",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "kind": {
+          "name": "kind",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "detail": {
+          "name": "detail",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "occurred_at": {
+          "name": "occurred_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "(current_timestamp)"
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "devices": {
+      "name": "devices",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "category": {
+          "name": "category",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "driver_id": {
+          "name": "driver_id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "config": {
+          "name": "config",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "enabled": {
+          "name": "enabled",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": true
+        },
+        "created_at": {
+          "name": "created_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "(current_timestamp)"
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "ledger_events": {
+      "name": "ledger_events",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "index": {
+          "name": "index",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "type": {
+          "name": "type",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "direction": {
+          "name": "direction",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "source": {
+          "name": "source",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "identity": {
+          "name": "identity",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "payload": {
+          "name": "payload",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "occurred_at": {
+          "name": "occurred_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "prev_hash": {
+          "name": "prev_hash",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "signature": {
+          "name": "signature",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "key_id": {
+          "name": "key_id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {
+        "ledger_events_index_unique": {
+          "name": "ledger_events_index_unique",
+          "columns": [
+            "index"
+          ],
+          "isUnique": true
+        }
+      },
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "permit_credentials": {
+      "name": "permit_credentials",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "permit_id": {
+          "name": "permit_id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "kind": {
+          "name": "kind",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "value": {
+          "name": "value",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "permit_plates": {
+      "name": "permit_plates",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "permit_id": {
+          "name": "permit_id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "plate": {
+          "name": "plate",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "permits": {
+      "name": "permits",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "holder_name": {
+          "name": "holder_name",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "contact": {
+          "name": "contact",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "max_concurrent": {
+          "name": "max_concurrent",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": 1
+        },
+        "valid_from": {
+          "name": "valid_from",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "valid_to": {
+          "name": "valid_to",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "status": {
+          "name": "status",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "'active'"
+        },
+        "created_at": {
+          "name": "created_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "(current_timestamp)"
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "sessions": {
+      "name": "sessions",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "identity": {
+          "name": "identity",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "source": {
+          "name": "source",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "permit_id": {
+          "name": "permit_id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "entered_at": {
+          "name": "entered_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "exited_at": {
+          "name": "exited_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "state": {
+          "name": "state",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "'open'"
+        },
+        "last_event_index": {
+          "name": "last_event_index",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "setup_state": {
+      "name": "setup_state",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "completed_at": {
+          "name": "completed_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "site_config": {
+      "name": "site_config",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "capacity": {
+          "name": "capacity",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "park_name": {
+          "name": "park_name",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "operator_name": {
+          "name": "operator_name",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "nius": {
+          "name": "nius",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "address": {
+          "name": "address",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "phone": {
+          "name": "phone",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "email": {
+          "name": "email",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "exit_voucher_default": {
+          "name": "exit_voucher_default",
+          "type": "integer",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": false
+        },
+        "updated_at": {
+          "name": "updated_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "(current_timestamp)"
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "snapshots": {
+      "name": "snapshots",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "direction": {
+          "name": "direction",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "device_id": {
+          "name": "device_id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "identity": {
+          "name": "identity",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "content_type": {
+          "name": "content_type",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "bytes": {
+          "name": "bytes",
+          "type": "blob",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "captured_at": {
+          "name": "captured_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "tariff_versions": {
+      "name": "tariff_versions",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "tariff_id": {
+          "name": "tariff_id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "effective_from": {
+          "name": "effective_from",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "currency": {
+          "name": "currency",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "structure": {
+          "name": "structure",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "created_by": {
+          "name": "created_by",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": false,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "created_at": {
+          "name": "created_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "(current_timestamp)"
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "tariffs": {
+      "name": "tariffs",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "scope": {
+          "name": "scope",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "'site'"
+        },
+        "name": {
+          "name": "name",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "created_at": {
+          "name": "created_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "(current_timestamp)"
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {},
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    },
+    "users": {
+      "name": "users",
+      "columns": {
+        "id": {
+          "name": "id",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": true,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "username": {
+          "name": "username",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "password_hash": {
+          "name": "password_hash",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "role": {
+          "name": "role",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false
+        },
+        "language": {
+          "name": "language",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "'sq'"
+        },
+        "created_at": {
+          "name": "created_at",
+          "type": "text",
+          "primaryKey": false,
+          "notNull": true,
+          "autoincrement": false,
+          "default": "(current_timestamp)"
+        }
+      },
+      "indexes": {
+        "users_username_unique": {
+          "name": "users_username_unique",
+          "columns": [
+            "username"
+          ],
+          "isUnique": true
+        }
+      },
+      "foreignKeys": {},
+      "compositePrimaryKeys": {},
+      "uniqueConstraints": {},
+      "checkConstraints": {}
+    }
+  },
+  "views": {},
+  "enums": {},
+  "_meta": {
+    "schemas": {},
+    "tables": {},
+    "columns": {}
+  },
+  "internal": {
+    "indexes": {}
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/db/drizzle/meta/_journal.json b/packages/db/drizzle/meta/_journal.json
index abe9850..97cd9da 100644
--- a/packages/db/drizzle/meta/_journal.json
+++ b/packages/db/drizzle/meta/_journal.json
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@
       "when": 1781713560438,
       "tag": "0002_panoramic_tiger_shark",
       "breakpoints": true
+    },
+    {
+      "idx": 3,
+      "version": "6",
+      "when": 1781774228086,
+      "tag": "0003_early_hawkeye",
+      "breakpoints": true
     }
   ]
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/db/src/schema.ts b/packages/db/src/schema.ts
index 4a49c3d..3403689 100644
--- a/packages/db/src/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/db/src/schema.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ export const users = sqliteTable("users", {
   role: text("role", {
     enum: ["admin", "operator", "cashier", "readonly"],
   }).notNull(),
+  // Preferred UI language for this user (operator-facing). Loaded on login and
+  // restored from any booth. Albanian is the default. Printed tickets are NOT
+  // governed by this — they're always Albanian (customer-facing). See i18n.md.
+  language: text("language", { enum: ["sq", "en"] })
+    .notNull()
+    .default("sq"),
   createdAt: text("created_at")
     .notNull()
     .default(sql`(current_timestamp)`),