Polish citizenship is a legal institution strictly regulated by administrative law. That means any foreigner who has Polish roots or has lived in Poland for the past years and has strong connections with our community can apply for Polish citizenship and enjoy all the benefits coming along with it. Before you file a motion and submit it to the appropriate institution, you have to fulfill several basic conditions. Check a few common ways of acquiring citizenship and needed documents to make the whole process end successfully.
Who can apply for Polish citizenship?
Being able to call yourself a Polish citizen sounds great, for sure! It makes you a European citizen too and that means, you can work and travel freely without any visa restrictions. If you would like to study at a university in Poland, France, or Italy – feel free to do it. As you can see, holding dual citizenship is very beneficial and not only because of the fact you can work, study or live in any European country. Your family members get similar rights as you even though they do not hold the same citizenship.
The question is – who can apply for Polish citizenship? This institution is regulated by law. Based on the Act of 2nd of April 2009 on Polish citizenship, it can be issued to any foreigner who lodged a motion in an appropriate institution. No matter if you have Polish roots or run a business here, you can take part in the Polish citizenship acquisition process.
Here are a few ways of obtaining citizenship!
Polish citizenship by descent – confirmation of Polish citizenship
Still not sure if you are eligible for Polish citizenship? If your family members were born or resided in Poland or its former territories after 1920, there is a big chance you are a Polish citizen too. Contact Polish Citizenship Experts and let them check your eligibility. All you need to do is complete the necessary documentation. If you do not have any documents confirming your ancestry, do not worry. The researcher will do it on your behalf. Click here and find Polish citizenship requirements.
Grant of Polish citizenship – naturalization
The President of the Republic of Poland has almost unlimited power if it comes to granting citizenship to any foreigners who lodged a motion. The fact is there is no need for you to have a set of documents confirming your ancestry. If you speak the Polish language or work here, good for you. Naturalization applies mostly to foreigners connected somehow with Poland and its community. If you can prove your connection to Poland, do not worry about what’s next. Citizenship by naturalization is not the easiest way, but it does not mean it is impossible to get Polish citizenship.
Citizenship by adoption
An adopted child acquires the same citizenship as its parent or parents. It only applies to kids under 16.
What documents do you need to apply for Polish citizenship?
Confirming your eligibility makes the whole application process less complicated. The important thing is that there is no definitive list of formal requirements to be met by a foreigner, but the more evidence of your ancestry or connections with Poland you have, the better for you. Each case is assessed individually and that means, the list of needed documents should also be prepared individually. For example, if it comes to Polish citizenship by descent, you need vital records such as birth and marriage certificates linking you to your Polish ancestry. Having your ancestor’s expired Polish passport is a real treasure! The Experts may ask you many questions, so they can make the process as smooth as possible.
While applying for Polish citizenship via naturalization make sure you prepared:
- application to the President of the Republic of Poland filled in Polish,
- any documents facilitating the establishment of Polish citizenship such as documents confirming your and your parents or grandparents’ origin or documents proving your connections with Poland.
It is worth mentioning that the submitted documentation must be translated into Polish. What’s more, submitting a Polish citizenship application to a consulate requires a fee. After you fulfill these basic steps, there is nothing left to do but wait for the decision. Remember that the President of the Republic of Poland is not bound to any deadlines.