How to apply for Polish citizenship?

Polish immigration has resulted in hundreds of thousands of people with Polish ancestry living outside of Poland. Large waves of migration occurred during the 19th and 20th centuries. The largest Polish diaspora communities can be found in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and Canada.

 

People of Polish descent who have never been citizens of Poland may be entitled to acquire citizenship under a simplified procedure, regardless of their current permanent residence. You can prove Polish descent by submitting documents that establish that one of your parents or grandparents is/was a Polish.

 

How do I know if I qualify?

• Your ancestor was a Polish citizen on or after January 20, 1920 (the date the Polish Citizenship Act of 1920 came into force), and did not lose their citizenship before passing it on to the next generation.

• You acquired dual citizenship at birth — for example, you were born abroad to a Polish citizen and obtained another citizenship automatically

• You were legally adopted by a Polish citizen before the age of 16 (in such cases, citizenship may be granted retroactively)

• You acquired Polish citizenship through naturalization, presidential grant in exceptional circumstances, or as a recognized refugee

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The process of claiming Polish dual citizenship

Before applying for Polish citizenship by descent, it is important to carefully review all documents that will be submitted in support of the application. Archival documents related to an applicant’s ancestor often contain contradictory or inconsistent information. Because the procedure for confirming Polish citizenship can be complex, even small details may affect the outcome of the application. One of the most common reasons for application failure is the absence of the correct documents from the beginning. Correcting such issues later can be both costly and time-consuming. In many cases, if the required documentation is incomplete or inconsistent, the application may be denied. For example, a frequent problem occurs when the birth year indicated on a birth certificate does not match the year recorded in other archival documents. Such discrepancies can create serious difficulties for the applicant, and resolving them may require initiating court proceedings.

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The preparation of documents for Polish dual citizenship in cases involving the reinstatement of Polish citizenship begins with collecting the required documents and searching for any missing ones. Such searches are often conducted in Polish archives. The search for documents in Polish archives may take from 5 to 30 working days. After the required documents have been collected, they must be certified in accordance with the procedures established by law. If the documents are issued in a language other than Polish, they must also be translated into Polish. Documents issued in foreign countries must be certified with an Apostille or legalized, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of Poland or by the legal provisions of the European Union.

 

The principal documents to be submitted for a reinstatement of citizenship of Poland

1. The application completed in Polish

2. The passport

3. The documents certifying that the person was a citizen of Poland

4. The evidences of the circumstances proving the person to be eligible for dual citizenship

5. The documents certifying the family connections

6. A document evidencing the change of name or surname where such personal data have been changed

 

What are the Benefits?

There are many benefits to obtaining Polish citizenship by descent and a Polish passport, especially if you are a non-EU citizen. And these benefits aren’t just for you—they extend to your entire family. You can pass Polish/EU citizenship on to your children, grandchildren, and future generations. Think about it: you will receive all the benefits of EU citizenship. Your children can study at universities across Europe, often with little or no tuition. You will have the right to work, study, retire, and reside in any EU country for as long as you wish, without restrictions. You will also have access to affordable healthcare, along with many other advantages. Here are some of our favorite benefits: Since Poland is a member of the European Union, all Polish citizens are automatically citizens of the European Union (EU). This means that once your Polish citizenship is confirmed, you will enjoy all the rights and benefits of EU citizenship. By obtaining Polish citizenship by descent, you can live, work, travel, study, buy property, and operate businesses in any of the EU member states without restrictions. Once you obtain Polish dual citizenship and a Polish passport, eligibility can also be passed on to your children and their descendants.

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How can Baltic Migration help me?

We offer a free and confidential eligibility assessment. If you are eligible, we can provide you with a no-obligation quote. Should you decide to proceed with us, we 'provide you with linguistic, administrative and legal support and navigate through regulations on your behalf.