Who is Eligible for a Polish Citizenship?

If you have Polish ancestors who resided in Poland after 1920, you may be eligible to apply for Polish citizenship and a Polish passport. In fact, many individuals are already citizens of Poland without even being aware of it, and all that is needed in order to receive their Polish passport is to confirm their citizenship with the Polish government. There are several benefits to confirming your Polish-European Union citizenship and holding a Polish passport, which is why many people have recently started undergoing the process of confirming their already-held Polish citizenship. 

What are the eligibility criteria for Polish citizenship? Do descendants of Polish citizens also qualify for Polish citizenship today? What are the benefits of confirming Polish citizenship? How can you start your Polish citizenship confirmation process? Keep reading to find out how you can confirm your Polish citizenship.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR POLISH CITIZENSHIP

Since the Polish Citizenship Act of 2009, a child born to a Polish parent automatically becomes a Polish citizen at birth. If your direct ancestor held Polish citizenship after 1920, and it was passed down by inheritance without the loss of citizenship for one of the reasons put forth in the eligibility requirements, you are entitled to confirm your Polish citizenship. There are three main ways that Polish citizenship could have been revoked:

1. Polish citizens who departed Poland after 1920 must not have served in a foreign army or held public office in a foreign country before 1951 (an exception is made for those who served in Allied armies during the Second World War).
2. Polish citizens who left Poland after 1920 must not have obtained citizenship in another country outside of Poland before 1951 (exceptions are applicable to men born after 1901).
3. If a Polish citizen who departed Poland after 1920 is female, she must not have married a non-Polish citizen before 1951.

However, if you have documentation of a direct ancestor who held Polish citizenship after 1920, and the three conditions listed above are met, you might be a Polish citizen and may be eligible to confirm it with the Polish government.

THE PROCESS OF OBTAINING POLISH CITIZENSHIP

The general process of obtaining Polish citizenship involves obtaining and presenting relevant documentation proving the existence of a Polish ancestor, perhaps including a birth or marriage certificate. There are also many other official documents that can help prove Polish ancestry, such as emigration records or military documents. Once sufficient documentation has been gathered, you will fill out an application in Polish for confirmation of possession or loss of Polish citizenship. 

This application will be submitted to the office of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration in Poland. Once your application has been submitted, containing the documentation of your uninterrupted heritage of Polish citizenship, a decision will soon be returned. The consulate will examine whether the application meets the requirements of Polish citizenship law and will either opt to approve or reject the application.

HOW LONG DOES THE CITIZENSHIP PROCESS TAKE?

Every citizenship application is unique, and the time it takes for a decision to be reached and returned can vary. A provisional decision typically takes about six months, and a final confirmation can take about a year in most cases.

It is important to bear in mind that the process can be very different for each individual case, and we are here to help you work through the rewarding journey of confirming your Polish citizenship. 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO PROVE ELIGIBILITY FOR POLISH CITIZENSHIP

To improve your application’s chances of success, there are several documents you will need to include. First, you must prove your own identity, with a current passport as well as a birth certificate if you were not born in Poland. Any documents not in Polish must have a certified translation in order to be accepted. Next, you will need to provide the birth certificate of the Polish ancestor through whom you are confirming citizenship, as well as documents that prove the citizenship of your ancestor, such as an old passport, military documents, and notary documents, among other examples. Additionally, documents showing evidence of your ancestor’s residency in Poland, or the emigration of your ancestor from Poland, may be necessary. Other documents may be required for the citizenship application depending on your specific case.

DO YOU HAVE TO SURRENDER YOUR CITIZENSHIP TO OBTAIN A POLISH PASSPORT?

One of the major concerns for individuals seeking to obtain citizenship from a country of their ancestors is whether they will lose their own citizenship in the process, as some countries do not allow their citizens to hold multiple citizenships. However, Poland completely permits dual citizenship, and those applying to confirm their Polish citizenship need not worry about giving up their previous citizenship. In addition, Polish citizens enjoy the benefits of the European Union. For example, Polish citizens can live, work, and attend schools in all EU member countries without needing to get a work permit or a visa. If you confirm your Polish citizenship through the application, you will become eligible to receive these benefits, as well as enable your children and descendants to hold Polish citizenship.

In conclusion, many individuals already hold Polish citizenship thanks to their recent ancestral history, and providing the documentation to prove it and secure a Polish passport can be a highly beneficial and rewarding process. While the process of gathering documentation can be complex, we are here to help you along the journey.  Archival research is a crucial part of the application process, and having a qualified attorney can be invaluable in navigating this process effectively. Reach out to our office if you think you might be eligible to confirm Polish citizenship and are interested in pursuing it.

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03-3724722

055-9781688

office@lawoffice.org.il