Prof. Adamski knows all there is to know about Polish citizenship, passports and genealogy. He works around the clock to give you detailed and personalised answers to your questions. Want to know more about your family and their journey from Poland? Leave your questions down below and you might be surprised about what he can uncover!
Prof. Adamski
Got a question about EU citizenship?
Hello, my great-grandparents were born in Poland and then immigrated to Chicago in 1910. In 1920 they moved back to Poland and then back to USA in 1923 (with their 2 children, one of which was my grandmother). I have birth records for my great-grandfather and baptismal records for my great-grandmother. I understand that my grandmother (being married in 1950) would’ve automatically given up her Polish citizenship. Is it possible to obtain Polish citizenship from my great-grandmother?
Not if your grandmother was already an adult in the time frames above. In other words, she may have potentially lost her Polish citizenship by marrying your grandfather, but this wasn’t always the case because it depends on the jurisdiction of the place where the marriage was solemnised. Please contact Eva at eva.h@polaron.com.au for more information.
Can I obtain a Czech passport if my wife is a Czech national
No. You cannot obtain citizenship through marriage in Czechia.
My great-grandfather emigrated to the US from Danzig (Germany) in 1898. I’m wondering if that would qualify me for Polish citizenship as Danzig is now part of Poland?
Most likely not, if he considered himself German, not Polish. Also, he left too early (prior to 1918).
My 3rd great grand parents were both born in Germany and Poland in 1845 they both left Hamburg on the ship Terpsichore on 15th November 1875 to New Zealand am I eligible for citizenship in either Germany or Poland?
Unfortunately, not very likely through descent as there was no Poland prior to 1918 for over a century. You could potentially apply for citizenship through grant (Poland or Germany). Here is more information
Greetings,
I am trying to figure out if I am eligible for Polish Citizenship and I have received conflicting information. My Grandfather was definitely a Polish Citizen when he left Poland in 1928 and emigrated to the United States.
He naturalized as a US Citizen sometime between 1937 and 1940. He served in the US Navy during WW2.
My father was born in 1939.
I am trying to understand if my Grandfather’s Naturalization and subsequent military service has a negative effect on my eligibility. I would very much appreciate your insight into this.
Thank You,
Jacob
No, you should still be eligible because your grandfather was of conscription age in Poland (17-50) when he naturalised and this protected him from losing his Polish citizenship.
Good afternoon Professor
I wold like to pursue Polish citizenship/passport for myself and my daughter through my maternal lineage.
My Great-Grandparents came from Poland to Swedesburg, Pennsylvania USA in the early 1900s. Their respective surnames are Chanko and Zoltowski. My great grandmother was Alice Chanko and my grandfather was Joseph Zoltowski. My maternal grandfather (Joesph Zoltowski) served in the US army during WW2, along with his brother, Michael Zoltowski. My maternal Grandmother was Claire Zoltowski (nee Chanko) and they had 3 chidren together: Alicia, Carol and Joseph Jr.
I am 50% Polish (mother is 100% Polish). I would like to pursue my polish Citizenship/passport. Can you help me with this information and next steps?
Thank you
Alena
Sure! Here is some more information about the presidential grant option: https://polaron.com.au/services/eu-services/eu-citizenship/polish-citizenship/polish-citizenship-grant/
Hi,
If my maternal grandmother (Nonna) was born in Italy and moved to the States is it possibility to seek citizenship/passport or no? On the site it only lists grandfather.
Hello! My grandfather was born in Borsylaw, former Galicia before WW11. He emigrated to the U.S as a young man. If he was born in what was then Poland, would my siblings and I be able to claim EU citizenry?
Or, if you know another resource where this information would be available, that would be great.
Thank you so much!
Grace
It all depends when he immigrated: if after 1918, then you stand a good chance.
In pursuit of verifying Polish ancestry by way of descent, and because my mother and father are ruled out, my grandmother would be the only relative that may be possible to trace back to Polish roots. The only issue is that my grandparents emigrated to the US before 1920 but returned to Poland around 1920. However, my grandmother returned to the US after WW II and remained as a Chicago resident until her death in 1980, without ever giving up her citizenship or being naturalized. Would she still qualify for proof of lineage, as well as my grandfather, despite not having any records other than a 1920 census and US marriage documentation?
Potentially, but we would need to know what year she married.
Dear Prof. Adamski
My grandfather was born in Berlin in 1927. His parents were both born in Poland but they were german citizens. They all had to flee Berlin in 1938 on the night of Kristallnacht. They walked on foot from Cologne to Holland and on to Antwerp. They had papers to come to the US from my great grandfathers sister. They were trying to get to Spain to be able to travel by boat to America. From Antwerp they made it to France where they lived in hiding for a short time. They were diverted to two different concentration camps in between their travels before they made it to Spain and made it on to the boat. They arrived finally in the US in 1942 where they became naturalized citizens. I have scans of the german passports of my great grandparents, and i found many geneological records online showing that they were citizens of Germany and lived in Berlin. Is it possible that I could be eligible for German Citizenship through descent? Thank you!
Yes, most likely, if you can prove that they were persecuted in Germany. Please feel free to reach out to our German citizenship specialist, Nadja Schmidt, at germany@polaron.com.au
Hello professor,
I know this might be a long shot but my maternal great grandparents were born in Germany. They moved to the states around 1932. My grandmother was born in the US. Neither my grandmother or Mother is a German citizen. I know my grandmother is eligible for citizenship, but then could my mother get it and then me? I appreciate your response.
Sean
Yes, probably, but there are many other factors at play. Please reach out to our German citizenship specialist, Nadja Schmidt, at germany@polaron.com.au
Greetings!
My mother was born in 1923 in Poland of mixed German Polish origin. When she was a child her family moved to Germany and took German citizenship. However, her own grandmother on her mother’s side, remained inside the borders of Poland until her death in 1930. We are currently researching documents to determine whether my great grandmother formally took Polish citizenship after WW 1. Assuming she had would there be a claim to citizenship?
Hello there,
Potentially, but bear in mind that if your ancestors were ethnically German there is a chance that you do not qualify for Polish citizenship.
Hi professor
My maternal great grandmother ( szwacyzk) and great grandfather ( Grabski) were born in Poland. I have birth certificates, marriage license, and towns where they were born. They immigrated to Chicago in 1909. I have the passport for maternal grandmother and the immigration documents. My grandmother was born in 1914 in Chicago.
My paternal great grandfather was born in nowa a Ruda and lived in what is now Czerwienczyce Poland. He immigrated circa 1889 to Chicago. While the town is Now in Poland, The surname is German, (Koehler).
Do I have enough to warrant an application for polish citizenship for myself and my son.
Thank you
Hi there,
Since your ancestors left Poland before 1918, it is not likely that your application for Polish citizenship through descent would be successful. There is another pathway, however, called presidential grant. Check out our Facebook page for more information: http://www.facebook.com/PassportsExperts/
My mother was born in Lviv which at the time was part of Poland but is now in Ukraine. Am I entitled to Polish or Ukrainian citizenship?
You are most likely eligible for Polish citizenship but it depends on a number of factors. Here is a video that explains this in more details: https://bit.ly/3mkyz3q
I found out that my grandmother and her father were born in Galicila in the Austria-Hungary Empire. My great grandfather was born 12/1880. Does that get me the right to obtain in EU passport?
Thank you for any information
Since your ancestors left Poland before 1918, it is not likely that your application for Polish citizenship through descent would be successful. There is another pathway, however, called presidential grant. Check out our Facebook page for more information: http://www.facebook.com/PassportsExperts/
Hello,
I might be a Polish citizen because my paternal grandfather’s parents (my great-grandparents) were born in Poland before 1900, moved to the United States in 1910, and never naturalized into United States citizens.
I obtained the birth certificate of my grandfather’s mother and I obtained her shortened birth certificate issued in 1956, by Poland. She was born in 1892, and in that time Poland didn’t exist as a state, but I am wondering if this shortened birth certificate can confirm her Polish citizenship because it is issued in 1956, (after 1918).
My paternal grandfather’s father was an orphan, so it is difficult to find the birth certificate, but I obtained the certificate of marriage between great-grandparents.
So, is it possible for me to apply for Polish citizenship, and what would his next step be?
Thank you so much!
Unfortunately, those whose ancestors left Poland prior to 1918 have a very small chance of success in pursuing citizenship through descent. This is because there was no Poland before 1918, and therefore no Polish citizenship. You can pursue your citizenship through presidential grant, however, this requires for you to learn Polish and provide evidence of links to Poland.
If my great grandfather was born in Austria, can I obtain citizenship in EU?
I am sorry but this question is far too general for me to be able to answer. I’d need to have more detail.
Hello Prof. Adamski,
I am wondering if I might have a claim to Polish Citizenship through my grand father. He and his father (my great grandfather) immigrated to Canada in 1912. His mother and siblings came later after the end of WWI in 1921. My grandfather lived in Toronto, Canada until his passing in 1976 (I was born in 1970). Additionally, my father passed away in 1999 – not sure if that affects my ability to claim Polish Citizenship if I qualify through my grandfather. My concern is that my grandfather left prior to 1920 but not sure if that impacts my ability to apply for Polish Citizenship. Please let me know your thoughts when you have a chance. Thank you.
Anyone whose ancestors left prior to 1918 would find claiming citizenship through descent very difficult. You could potentially consider presidential grant. Here is more information: https://bit.ly/3hsOsRF
Hello, Professor Adamski. I am the daughter of Polish immigrants. I reside in the United States and I am pursuing dual Polish citizenship for both myself and my sixteen year old son. I have a question to which I have not been able to locate a definitive answer.
Once dual citizenship is attained, could my son attend a university in Poland or another EU country at the residency rate or would he have to pay a higher rate because he resides in the United States? If you are unable to answer this question, where might I find an answer?
Thank you for consideration of my question. Have a wonderful day.
Sincerely,
Christina
Dear Christina,
Your son will be able to attend university in any of the EU countries at local rates once he gets his Polish citizenship.
Hello,
My great grandfather left Austria in 1909 and came to the United States to escape from Jewish persecution. My father is interested to know if he would be able to obtain Austrian citizenship as there was a male child born from my great grandfather down to my father.
You might potentially qualify under the new laws that were just introduced on 1 September 2020. You’d need to prove your great grandfather was persecuted.
Prof. Adamski,
My grandparents arrived in Brazil in the final of century XIX (1890). They entry in Brazil like russians.
I can get citizenship of Poland?
Thanks!
Carlos Golembiewski