Polish citizenship provides both access to full rights in one of the European Union countries and the opportunity to travel, work and study freely throughout the community. For many people around the world, especially those with Polish roots, acquiring Polish citizenship is a goal that gives a sense of belonging and opens up new perspectives.
However, it is worth being aware that the process of obtaining a Polish passport requires meeting a number of specific criteria and going through formalities. Therefore, below we will discuss the most important issues concerning the rules for obtaining Polish citizenship and try to help you if you have any doubts.
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Legal basis for obtaining Polish citizenship
Polish citizenship is primarily regulated by the Act of 2 April 2009 on Polish citizenship. It is a key legal act that clearly defines the rules of acquiring, losing and restoring citizenship in Poland. The Act takes into account both traditional mechanisms, such as the law of blood, and procedures adapted to contemporary international realities, such as naturalisation or granting citizenship by the President of the Republic of Poland.
The Polish Citizenship Act distinguishes three main paths to citizenship:
- Blood law (ius sanguinis) – The most common form, based on descent. The child acquires the citizenship of his or her parents, regardless of the place of birth, making this principle one of the cornerstones of Polish citizenship law.
- law of the land (ius soli) – In Poland used to a limited scope, mainly to prevent statelessness of children born on the territory of the Republic of Poland who cannot acquire the citizenship of their parents.
- Naturalization – A procedure that allows foreigners to obtain Polish citizenship based on certain criteria, such as length of legal residence, knowledge of the Polish language, or stable living situation in Poland.
Each of these paths is distinguished by different requirements and the presentation of documents that must be submitted for the process to be successful. In addition, the law also allows citizenship to be granted exceptionally by the President of the Republic of Poland, which can be done in particularly justified cases, irrespective of the standard requirements. You can find out more about each of the ways below, but if you need help, you can certainly find that help at https://fivetoeurope.com/.
1. Citizenship by descent (ius sanguinis)
The law of blood, or the ius sanguinis principle, is the main way of acquiring Polish citizenship. According to it, a child acquires the citizenship of his/her parents, regardless of the place of birth. For such acquisition of citizenship to occur, two conditions must first be met:
- Parents are Polish citizens – A child is automatically granted Polish citizenship if at least one of the parents is a Polish citizen at the time of birth.
- Proof of descent – In the case of persons who are not the children of Polish citizens but have Polish roots, a genealogical line leading to ancestors who are Polish citizens must be documented.
This can be done through:
- Birth certificate of parents or grandparents.
- Documents confirming the Polish nationality of your ancestors (e.g. passport, identity card).
- Documents related to Polish cultural identity, such as school certificates, baptismal certificates or confirmations of membership of Polish organisations.
2. Citizenship by place of birth (ius soli)
It is worth being aware that in Poland the principle of the law of the land is applied to a limited scope. A child born on the territory of Poland automatically acquires citizenship if:
- Parents unknown,
- Parents are stateless,
- Parents cannot pass on their nationality to their child (e.g. for legal reasons).
This mechanism ensures that every child born in Poland is entitled to citizenship if his or her status is not regulated by other international law.
3. Naturalisation – citizenship upon application
For those who do not meet the criteria of origin or place of birth, a naturalisation route is still available. It constitutes an administrative process that requires several basic conditions to be met.
Qualification criteria:
- legal residence in Poland
- The minimum period of residence depends on the applicant’s case. For example:
- 3 years – for holders of a Permanent Residence Card (Permanent Residence Card).
- 2 years – in case of marriage to a Polish citizen (with at least three years of relationship).
- 1 year – for those with refugee status.
- Knowledge of the Polish language
- It is necessary to provide a certificate confirming knowledge of Polish at a level of at least B1. This certificate is issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language.
- No criminal record
- The candidate must not have a criminal record in Poland or in his/her country of origin.
- Stable financial position
- The applicant must demonstrate that they have a regular source of income and a place of residence in Poland.
In the case of naturalisation, the process begins with the submission of an application to the relevant provincial governor. The decision to grant citizenship is then made by the President of the Republic of Poland and, very importantly, is irrevocable.
Exceptional cases granting Polish citizenship
Polish law provides for the possibility of granting citizenship in special situations. It applies to repatriates, i.e. persons of Polish origin who were forced to leave the country as a result of war or political actions. They may apply for citizenship in a simplified procedure.
The second group are those who have a Pole’s Card. It is provided for persons of Polish origin residing abroad. Obtaining the Card of the Pole in such a case is a significant step on the way to obtaining citizenship.
Benefits of acquiring Polish citizenship
Polish citizenship is not only a document confirming belonging to a state, but also a number of benefits. These include:
- Free access to work and education in the EU – Poland is a member of the European Union, which allows for the exercise of full citizenship rights within the Community.
- Right to vote – you can participate in elections and referendums.
- Possibility of dual citizenship – Poland recognize dual citizenship, which means that you do not have to renounce your primary citizenship.
The most common challenges on the path to Polish citizenship
The process of applying for Polish citizenship is unfortunately often time-consuming and complicated. Among the most common difficulties involved is the lack of the necessary documentation required to establish ancestry. The language barrier can also be an issue, as knowledge of the Polish language is a key requirement, but may be a challenge for many people. Finally, we cannot forget about the long waiting time – decisions on granting citizenship may take many months or even years.
