7 questions and answers about polish citizenship

Do you dream of becoming a citizen of Poland? Or maybe you already are, but you don't know what rights and obligations you have? Maybe you want to hold dual citizenship? Therefore, below we will try to answer the most frequently asked questions about Polish citizenship and dispel all your doubts.

1. What is Polish citizenship and why should you have it?

Citizenship is nothing more than a formal affiliation of a person to a state, which gives rise to rights and obligations on the part of both the citizen and the state. The right to have citizenship is generally recognised as a fundamental right of every human being. Having citizenship gives us, among other things:

• the right to travel freely, including the right to cross state borders without a visa;
• The right to enjoy consular and diplomatic protection of the state of which we are a citizen;
• The right to vote and stand for election at various levels;
• The right to receive medical care, education, social assistance and other public benefits;
• The right to engage in work and business;
• The right to inherit property and marry.

2. How to acquire Polish citizenship?

Polish citizenship can be acquired in several ways. The most popular of these include:

• by birth - if at least one parent is a Polish citizen or if the child is born on the territory of Poland and has no other specific citizenship;
• by granting - at the request of a foreigner who meets certain conditions and presents strong current ties to Poland and its culture, business or/and nation, such as: doing business in Poland, playing sport for Polish National team, speaking the Polish language, being active in Polish community in Poland or abroad, loyalty to the Republic of Poland. Polish citizenship is granted by the President of the Republic of Poland;
• by recognition - at the request of a foreigner who meets certain conditions, such as: legal residence in Poland for at least 2 years on the basis of a permit to settle or a permanent residence card or for at least 3 years on the basis of a residence permit for a long-term EU resident or an EU family residence card. In this case, knowledge of the Polish language, having a permanent source of livelihood and place of residence, having no criminal record and loyalty to the Republic of Poland are required.
• by restoration - at the request of a person who lost Polish citizenship before 1 January 1999 or their descendants. Restoration of Polish citizenship is decided by the President of the Republic of Poland.

3. Can one have dual citizenship?

Yes, Polish law does not prohibit having dual or multiple citizenships. Thus, if we are citizens of Poland and another state, we are subject only to Polish law on the territory of Poland and cannot then invoke our other citizenship. Importantly, if we wish to obtain citizenship of another state as well, we do not have to renounce Polish citizenship unless the law of that state requires it.

4. How to prove Polish citizenship?

If we wish to prove that we have Polish citizenship, we may apply for a certificate of having or losing Polish citizenship. Such a certificate is issued by a Province Governor at the request of the person concerned or their legal representative. The application must also be accompanied by an identity card or passport, as well as documents confirming possession or loss of Polish citizenship, e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate or deed of assignment. The lodgement fee for the certificate is PLN 50.

5. How do I check my family tree?

If you want to find out more about your ancestors and their origins, you can always use various sources of information, such as:

• civil registration records - contain data on births, marriages and deaths of individuals;
• vital records - contain data on baptisms, marriages and funerals of individuals;
• parish records - contain data on members of a particular religious community;
• mortgage books - contain data on the ownership of real estate and its encumbrances;
• land registers - contain data on land and buildings and their owners;
• population censuses - contain data on the inhabitants of an area at a particular time;
• notarial records - contain data on contracts and legal transactions made by persons.

6. How to obtain a Polish passport?

The Polish passport is a travel document which confirms the identity and Polish citizenship of its holder. The Polish passport consequently entitles us to move and reside freely within the territory of the European Union countries and other countries with which Poland has agreements on the abolition or facilitation of border controls. In order to obtain a Polish passport, the following conditions must be met:

• have Polish citizenship
• report in person to the municipality office with jurisdiction over the place of registration or residence
• present an identity card or other document confirming identity and citizenship
• present two recent passport photos
• pay the passport fee

If the applicant is abroad, he/she may visit a Polish consulate to obtain a Polish passport.

7. How much does it cost to confirm Polish citizenship?

The fee for applying for Polish citizenship on the basis of ancestry depends on the documents provided confirming the Polish roots of the ancestors and the possible need for additional research in Polish archives. Along with the application for Polish citizenship, it is also necessary to provide proof that the ancestor was a Polish citizen, using certified and up-to-date legal acts that are accepted by the Polish government.

The cost of the service is usually accurately determined by the authorities dealing with these cases after an analysis of the case. However, the initial valuation is often free of charge. In addition, many companies also offer family discounts for siblings, children and other family members. The more family members apply together to obtain Polish citizenship, the more favorable the price we can receive.

We can find out even more about these types of services and about the possibilities of obtaining Polish citizenship at https://fivetoeurope.com/faqs/, which sets out in detail all the guidelines that qualify us to obtain Polish citizenship.

With extensive research and study, Shan passionately creates blogs on divergent topics. His writings are unique and utterly grasping owing to his dedication in researching for distinctive topics.