Polish passport and citizenship confirmation

What is confirmation of Polish citizenship?

To be eligible for Polish citizenship you first must be able to prove your Polish heritage (or your Polish ancestry in Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania between 1917 and 1939). If you are able to prove your descent then generally you are already a Citizen of Poland, but you must confirm it with the Polish authorities. This process shouldn't be confused with applying for Polish citizenship.

How does confirmation of Polish citizenship work?

Once eligibility is confirmed by Polaron European Solutions, a file containing personal documents such as naturalization certificates, travel documents, birth certificates and other documents proving applicants ancestry is prepared by Polaron in the Polish language and sent to Poland for assessment by the Authorities. Most applications are processed within 12 to 24 months from the day of lodgment, though some do take longer.

What benefits are there to being a Polish citizen?

As a Polish citizen you can live and work in any of the European Union countries and enjoy access to free public health care and public education without any restrictions. As an EU citizen, you may also have access to preferential investment loans, employment schemes and you don't have to stand in the "Others" queue at the airports!

What is "jure sanguinis"?

"Jure sanguinis" is a Latin term for "law of ancestry" or "law of blood". This essentially means one's right to Polish citizenship through ancestry or bloodline, usually a parent or grandparent.

How do I know whether I am eligible under this legislation?

You can test your eligibility by conducting an Eligibility Assessment Report with Polaron. This is a low-risk, low-cost way of checking your chances of a successful outcome, should you decide to proceed with your Polish citizenship confirmation.

Once I know that I am eligible, what do I do?

You can submit your application to be assessed by the Polish government. Your file needs to contain documentary evidence of your Polish ancestry and your relationship to them. The application needs to be submitted in the Polish language.

My grandmother was born in Poland. I have her Polish Birth Certificate to prove it. Can I apply for a Polish passport?

No. Being born in Poland or having a Polish Birth Certificate alone does not prove one's citizenship. You will also need to provide evidence of her citizenship in the form of documents issued by the Polish government to show that nothing happened over the years to affect her citizenship.

How do I go about preparing my application?

You can leave it in Polaron's capable hands or prepare the application yourself, lodging it with the Polish Consulate. If you do go on your own, be prepared for a substantial amount of gathering of documentation, information and records, genealogical research, translation of documentation and bureaucracy. Or you can let the experts at Polaron handle it all!

Do I need to speak Polish to be eligible?

No, you do not. Currently there is no requirement to speak Polish to have your citizenship confirmed, however should you decide to prepare the application on your own, advanced level of the Polish language will be necessary.

How much does it cost?

This is a difficult question to answer without considering your specific circumstances. However, as an indication, lodgment with Polaron will cost you around the price of a plane ticket to Europe. Whilst lodgment via the Consulate may seem like a cheaper option initially, our experience is that without Polish language skills, knowledge of the Polish law and regulations, it may cost you a lot more than you initially anticipated, not to mention the frustration and delays that commonly occur.

What documents do I need to apply for a Polish passport?

To apply for a Polish passport, you need to obtain a Confirmation of your Polish Citizenship and a Polish Birth Certificate, even if you were born outside of Poland.

How do I get my Polish birth certificate if I was born outside of Poland?

You can apply to the Civil Registry Office in Warsaw to register your birth, irrespectively of where you were born.

Why do I need to apply for Polish Citizenship Confirmation if my whole family is Polish?

Even though Polish citizenship is passed on from a parent to a child, each person intending to apply for a Polish passport needs to have a formal, official document issued in his or her name that recognises their Polish ancestry.

What documents do I need to include in my application to be considered Polish on the basis of my ancestry?

As the onus is on you to prove your Polish citizenship, your application should include as many documents issued to your ancestors by the Polish authorities as possible. Examples include a Polish passport, Polish army records, school certificates, business registration documentation, confirmation of residential address in Poland.

My grandma was Polish and I would like to go ahead, but my mother is reluctant to get involved. Does she have to be included in the application?

Yes. Whilst she does not need to apply for a passport, she will need her Polish citizenship confirmed for you to be able to proceed.

How long does it take to conclude my application?

Since Poland joined the EU in 2004, having a Polish passport has become extremely attractive. There are millions of people of Polish descent eligible for the citizenship confirmation all over the world. The number of applications is disproportionate to resources designated to process them. Each case is reviewed on an individual basis and delays may be caused by incomplete or incorrectly certified documents. Whilst we have had applications processed within a few months, please allow no less than 24 months for processing and do not commit to job offers or other specific plans you may have in advance.

I am travelling to Europe in 6 months. Are there any ways of speeding the process up?

Yes there are. Please contact us for more information.

Will my current citizenship be affected once I get my Polish citizenship?

If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom, your citizenship will not be affected. If you are a citizen of any other country, you should seek advice from your consulate, as there are some countries where dual citizenship is disallowed.

Once I get my passport, will I have to serve in the Polish army?

No. You will be excluded from the compulsory national army as a dual citizen.

Is my spouse eligible?

Not unless she or he is of Polish decent as well or you married before 1951.