If you have Polish roots, i.e. your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in Poland, there is a good chance that you may also have Polish citizenship or may be able to apply for it without any obstacles. After all, the Polish passport is a great privilege that gives you many rights and benefits, such as freedom to travel and settle in the European Union, the right to vote and stand for election, or full consular protection. So how do we check whether we have Polish citizenship or whether we can apply for it with confidence that we will receive it? Below we take a look at the matter and give some hints as to where, if any, we should submit the necessary application together with other documents.
Confirmation of possession or loss of Polish citizenship
The confirmation of possession or loss of Polish citizenship is a document which states whether a person has or has had Polish citizenship at a certain time. It is indispensable if, for example, we wish to obtain a Polish passport, take up employment in Poland or abroad, apply for citizenship of another state, or simply confirm our identity.
Confirmation of having or losing Polish citizenship may be obtained at the request of an interested person or an entity that has a legal interest or obligation to obtain such a document.
To submit an application for confirmation of having or losing Polish citizenship, the following conditions must be met:
- Submit the application to the competent voivode or consul.
- Attach all necessary documents, such as birth certificate, identity card, certificate of marital status, certificate of foreign citizenship, and other documents confirming possession or loss of Polish citizenship, e.g. marriage certificate, decision to grant or lose citizenship, etc.
- Pay a stamp duty for the issuance of a decision to confirm possession or loss of Polish citizenship.
Polish citizenship confirmation proceedings
The process of confirmation of Polish citizenship is conducted by the competent voivode according to the applicant’s place of residence in the territory of the Republic of Poland, or by the Mazowieckie Voivode if the person has never resided in Poland. Alternatively, the application may also be submitted abroad through a Polish consul according to the current place of residence.
The form should contain personal data and information about the ancestors from whom Polish citizenship is derived. The required documents include civil status records, as well as the fee for the decision and possibly stamp duty if you are handling the entire case through an attorney. If you are not satisfied with the decision, it is possible to submit an appeal to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration through the Province Governor. We have up to 14 days from the delivery of the decision to do so.
How do I check the case for confirmation of possession or loss of Polish citizenship?
If we have submitted an application to the provincial governor, we can then contact the provincial office that is handling our case and ask about its progress. We can do this by phone, email or in person. We should then quote the case number we received when we submitted our application.
If we have applied to the consul, we can also use the e-consulate system, which allows us to track the status of our case online. All you need to do is go to the e-konsulat website, select the “Check case status” option and enter the case number and access code that you received after submitting your application.
Recognition as a Polish citizen
Recognition as a Polish citizen is an administrative procedure which enables foreigners who meet specific criteria and conditions to acquire Polish citizenship. This is possible if the foreigner has been legally residing in Poland for a certain period of time, has a stable and regular source of income, the right to occupy a dwelling, knowledge of the Polish language and does not pose a threat to state security.
If you are still unsure whether you can apply for Polish citizenship and whether you have Polish roots, please visit polish citizenship consultations, where you can check this and have a completely free consultation.
