Polish law allows descendants of Polish nationals to obtain Polish citizenship in procedure called „Confirmation of possesion of Polish citizenship”.
If one of your ancestors was Polish, you have a great chance to acquire Polish citizenship and receive a Polish passport.
Table of Contents
- Procedure of obtaining Polish citizenship by descent
- Acquiring Polish citizenship by descent – basic facts
- Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent – what kind of documents you will need?
- Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent – what if I don`t have appropriate documents?
- Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent – other obstacles
- How to submit an application to obtain Polish citizenship by descent?
- Stages of obtaining Polish citizenship by descent
- FAQ – Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent
Procedure of obtaining Polish citizenship by descent
To obtain Polish citizenship by descent, you must receive an administrative decision in proceeding conducted by the relevant voivode. This means that firstly you must submit the appropriate application and prove that your ancestors were Polish citizens and didn`t lose their Polish citizenship.
The current Polish Citizenship Act requires that most of the documentation confirming Polish citizenship must be submitted by the applicant.
Acquiring Polish citizenship by descent – basic facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Descendants of Polish nationals can apply to confirm possession of Polish citizenship if they can prove their ancestors were Polish citizens and did not lose their citizenship. |
| Procedure | To obtain Polish citizenship by descent, one must submit an application and required documents to the relevant voivode. This includes proving that ancestors held Polish citizenship and that there are no circumstances indicating they lost their citizenship. |
| Required Documents | Key documents include Polish passports or IDs. If unavailable, birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, military records, census records, passenger lists, notarial documents, and school reports might suffice. These documents should indirectly indicate Polish citizenship due to lack of explicit notes on citizenship status. |
| Process in Case of Lack of Documents | If necessary documents are not available, applicants can request them from municipal offices, relevant Registry Offices, or state archives. For ancestors from areas like west Ukraine, documents might be in Ukrainian archives, which Polish offices do not access. |
| Potential Obstacles | The primary obstacle is proving continuous Polish citizenship without acquisition of foreign citizenship or other acts that might lead to the loss of Polish citizenship. Applicants must demonstrate that their ancestor did not acquire foreign citizenship or perform duties (like military service) in foreign states without Polish consent up to 1951. |
| Application Submission | Applications can be submitted directly to the appropriate voivode, through a Polish consul, or via a professional proxy such as an attorney. Overseas residents must appoint an authorized representative in Poland to handle correspondence. |
| Fees and Processing Time | The fee for confirming the possession or loss of Polish citizenship is PLN 58, and for a power of attorney (if using a proxy) is PLN 17. The decision process typically takes about a year. All foreign documents must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator. |
| Appeal Process | If dissatisfied with the decision, one can appeal to the Minister of the Interior and Administration via the Mazowieckie Voivode within 14 days from the date of decision delivery. |
| Additional Information | It is crucial to conduct thorough research and gather all possible documentation before applying, as proper documentation significantly speeds up the process. |
Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent – what kind of documents you will need?
The most powerful document will be Polish passport or Polish ID. In most cases the applicant do not have any of it, because parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, left Poland during II World War or even before Poland gained independence (1918).
In such cases, each document can be a hint or valuable source of information, but it may not be sufficient as an evidence of Polish citizenship. Most of documents don`t contain explicit notes on Polish citizenship, but other details can indicate indirectly that a person was a Polish citizen.
Examples of the most useful documents:
| Type of Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Birth and/or Baptism Certificates | Documents confirming a person’s birth and/or baptism. |
| Marriage Certificates | Official records of marriage. |
| Death Certificates | Official confirmation of a person’s death. |
| Military Documents | Records of military service, draft cards, or discharge papers. |
| Certificates of Good Conduct | Documents confirming a person’s lack of a criminal record. |
| Excerpt from the Popular Census | Data from population censuses listing individuals and households. |
| Extracts from Registers | Official documents confirming specific registry entries. |
| Extracts from Church Books | Records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths kept by churches. |
| Voter Lists | Lists of individuals eligible to vote. |
| Ship Passenger Lists | Documents registering individuals traveling by sea. |
| Insurance Documents | Policies and other records confirming insurance coverage. |
| Extracts from Commercial Registers | Documents related to business activities and company records. |
| Notarized Documents | Legal documents certified by a notary public. |
| Police Records | Records related to law enforcement interactions. |
| Medical Records | Health history, medical certificates, and related documents. |
| School Reports | Documents confirming education and qualifications. |
Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent – what if I don`t have appropriate documents?
Any applicant claiming that his or her father, mother, grandfather or great-grandfather or all of them were Polish citizens, must provide documentation to prove it. That is why we find it necessary to do proper research before submitting an application for confirmation of possession of Polish citizenship to the voivode.
In the absence of your or your parents’ Polish documents, you can request them from the official offices, like municipal office competent for the place of last registered residence, the relevant Registry Office, archives, or the Institute of National Remembrance. This applies in particular to people who immigrated earlier than 1920 or who, due to the changes in borders, found themselves outside of Poland.
The cases of people originating from west Ukraine (which was once within the borders of Poland) are more difficult, as the documents are held in Ukrainian archives.
When applicant does not have a proof of citizenship, but have other proofs (like proof of loss of citizenship by grandfather and birth certificate of father dating prior to that event) and is able to show significant difficulties to find other documents on their own, the Office then requests research to be carried out in the national archives via official channels. However, the office will not apply for the documents located in the Ukrainian archives.
Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent – other obstacles
The applicant must also prove that his or her ancestor didn`t acquire foreign citizenship, because due to 1920 Act on Citizenship of the State of Poland – Polish citizen may only have one citizenship. The same problem occurred when ancestors officially renounced their Polish citizenship.
Whats is important, citizenship could be lost without ancestors knowledge. Army service or performing public functions in foreign states without consent of the Polish government meant loss of Polish citizenship without any notice until 1951.
In this situation it is important to determine whether you were born before or after your ancestrs lost his or her citizenship.
How to submit an application to obtain Polish citizenship by descent?
The administrative procedure officially begins, when the applicant submits an application the local voivode followed by documents confirming that:
- the applicant’s ancestors held Polish citizenship,
- there are no circumstances indicating that they have lost their citizenship, and
- that Polish citizenship has been transferred to their descendants in the direct line.
You can submit your application, even when you are living outside of Poland, by Polish consul or by professional proxy, preferably an attorney or legal adviser – directly to the appropriate voivode. The regulations contained in the Administrative Procedure Code require persons residing in overseas to nominate an authorised representative to collect correspondence in Poland.
Administrative costs of the proceedings are PLN 58 for a decision confirming the possession or loss of Polish citizenship and PLN 17 for a power of attorney (if you act through a proxy and your proxy is not a spouse, ascendant, descendant or sibling).
All documents drawn up in a foreign language are submitted together with a translation into Polish made or certified by Polish sworn translator.
A decision is usually issued within about a year. However, properly filled application followed by relevant, properly collected documents can speed up the process.
If you are dissatisfied with the decision you receive, you can appeal. The appeal shall be submitted to the Minister of the Interior and Administration via the Mazowieckie Voivode within 14 days from the date of delivery of the decision.
Stages of obtaining Polish citizenship by descent
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| Procedure for obtaining Polish citizenship by descent | Requires an administrative decision issued by the relevant voivode. The applicant must submit an application and prove that their ancestors were Polish citizens and did not lose their citizenship. |
| Documents confirming Polish citizenship | The strongest evidence is a Polish passport or ID. In their absence, other documents may help, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, military records, census records, passenger lists, notarial documents, school reports, etc. |
| Lack of appropriate documents | Applicants can request documents from municipal offices, relevant Registry Offices, state archives, or the Institute of National Remembrance. Documents related to people from present-day Ukraine (formerly part of Poland) may be stored in Ukrainian archives, which Polish offices do not access. |
| Other obstacles | Citizenship could be lost by acquiring foreign citizenship, serving in a foreign army, or holding public office abroad without the consent of the Polish government. It is also crucial to determine whether the applicant was born before or after their ancestor lost Polish citizenship. |
| How to submit an application | The application must be submitted to the relevant voivode in person, through a Polish consul, or via a legal representative (e.g., attorney or legal advisor). Applicants living abroad must appoint a representative to receive correspondence in Poland. |
| Fees and processing time | The fee for the decision is PLN 58, and for power of attorney (if applicable) PLN 17. Foreign documents must be translated by a sworn Polish translator. The decision is usually issued within about a year. If denied, an appeal can be filed with the Minister of the Interior and Administration within 14 days. |
Do you need an assistance with obtaining Polish citizenship? Don’t hesitate and contact us! Our experts help you to prepare all the necessary documents and guide you step by step by the procedures.
FAQ – Obtaining Polish citizenship by descent
Who can apply for Polish citizenship by descent?
Anyone who has a Polish ancestor and can prove that their ancestor was a Polish citizen and did not lose their citizenship.
What is the procedure for obtaining Polish citizenship by descent?
The applicant must submit an application to the relevant voivode along with documents proving their ancestor’s Polish citizenship. An administrative decision is then issued.
What documents can confirm Polish citizenship?
The strongest evidence includes a Polish passport or ID. Other useful documents include birth, marriage, and death certificates, military records, census records, notarial documents, school reports, and voter lists.
What if I do not have my ancestor’s Polish documents?
You can request documents from municipal offices, relevant Registry Offices, state archives, or the Institute of National Remembrance. However, Polish offices do not request documents from Ukrainian archives.
What are the main obstacles in proving Polish citizenship?
Loss of Polish citizenship due to acquiring foreign citizenship, serving in a foreign military, or holding public office abroad without Polish government consent. It is also important to determine whether the applicant was born before or after their ancestor lost citizenship.
How can I submit my application?
The application can be submitted in person to the relevant voivode, through a Polish consul, or via a legal representative such as an attorney. Applicants residing abroad must appoint a representative to receive correspondence in Poland.
What are the fees and processing times?
The decision fee is PLN 58, and a power of attorney (if applicable) costs PLN 17. All foreign documents must be translated by a sworn Polish translator. The process takes about a year. If denied, an appeal can be filed within 14 days with the Minister of the Interior and Administration.
