Poland - Apply for Citizenship

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Procedure

The procedure in cases of Polish citizenship confirmation and obtaining Polish passport consists of 5 stages:

• Obtaining the required Polish and foreign documents.
• Translation of foreign documents into Polish.
• Preparing and filing the application for Polish citizenship confirmation.
• Obtaining Polish civil status acts.
• Preparing and submitting the application for the Polish passport.

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Required Documents

Documents to be submitted in cases of Polish citizenship confirmation are divided into 3 groups:

• Documents that prove the possession of Polish citizenship by those family members who emigrated at different times from Poland.

The most important are: Polish passport (travel document), Polish identity card, military booklet, excerpts from the permanent residents population lists, voters' lists, civil status acts (Polish birth and marriage certificates).

• Documents that prove that the continuity of citizenship in each generation was not interrupted.

The one and most important is a certificate issued by the appropriate military authorities of the Applicant's country about no military service record of the relevant family members till 18.01.1951. Another one is a document/s proving the job/public position of the Applicant's relevant ancestor till that date.

• Documents showing the family relations between each generation.

These are mainly foreign acts of civil status: birth & marriage/divorce certificates, name change certificates and death certificates. A foreign citizen who intends to apply for a Polish citizenship should submit:

• four completed application forms
• five passport size photographs (4.5 cm -3.5 cm)
• a valid passport
• documents certifying the required periods of uninterrupted stay in Poland
• certification of no tax arrears towards the State Treasury
• current certificate of temporary residence
• legal title to a rented or owned apartment/house and documents certifying this fact

The Consulate and the Ministry of Interior may require additional documents and/or an interview with the applicant.

One can search for documents in vital records offices (urz?dy stanu cywilnego) and archives. In case of problems with locating documents, one can address to the Head Office of the State Archives, the Central Unit of the Archival Information (00-950 Warsaw, ul. D?uga 6, skr. poczt. 1005, Poland).

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of the Interior
Address for correspondence:
Ministerstwo Spraw Wewn?trznych
Ul. Stefana Batorego 5, 02-591 Warszawa
Telephone: +48 22 601 44 27,
Fax: +48 22 622 79 73
E-mail address: [email protected]

PROVINCIAL (VOIVODESHIP) OFFICES
Dolno?l?ski Urz?d Wojewdzki we Wroc?awiu
Wojewdztwo Dolno?l?skie - Wroc?aw
http://www.duw.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreigners Department
pl. Powsta?cw Warszawy 1, 50-951 Wroc?aw
tel. 071 340 66 55; 071 340 67 02
fax: 71 340 66 85

Kujawsko-Pomorski Urz?d Wojewdzki
Wojewdztwo Kujawsko-Pomorskie - Bydgoszcz
http://www.bydgoszcz.uw.gov.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department
ul. Konarskiego 1-3, 85-950 Bydgoszcz
tel. 052 349 72 40
Fax: 52 349 72 42

Lubelski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Lublinie
Wojewdztwo Lubelskie- Lublin
http://www.lublin.uw.gov.pl
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department
ul. Spokojna 4, 20-914 Lublin
tel. 081 742 47 32
Fax: 81 742 44 32

Lubuski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Gorzowie Wielkopolskim
Wojewdztwo Lubuskie Gorzw Wielkopolski
http://www.wojewodalubuski.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreigners Department
ul. Jagiello?czyka 8, 66-400 Gorzw Wielkopolski
tel. 095 711 57 09; 095 711 55 54
fax: 95 711 53 61

?dzki Urz?d Wojewdzki w ?odzi
Wojewdztwo ?dzkie- ?d?
http://www.lodz.uw.gov.pl
Social Affairs and Foreigners Department
ul. Piotrkowska 103, 90-425 ?d?
tel. 042 664 17 04; 042 664 17 01; 042 664 17 02
fax: 42 664 17 03

Ma?opolski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Krakowie
Wojewdztwo Ma?opolskie Krakw
http://www.malopolska.uw.gov.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreigners Department
ul. Przy Rondzie 6, 31-547 Krakw
tel. 012 422 31 05
fax: 12 422 30 19

Mazowiecki Urz?d Wojewdzki w Warszawie
Wojewdztwo Mazowieckie Warszawa
http://www.mazowieckie.pl/
Foreigners Office
ul. D?uga 5, 00-263 Warszawa
tel. 022 695 65 75
fax: 22 695 66 03

Opolski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Opolu
Wojewdztwo Opolskie Opole
http://www.opole.uw.gov.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreigners Department
ul. Piastowska 14, 45-082 Opole
tel. 077 452 43 24; 077 452 46 10; 077 452 43 49

Podkarpacki Urz?d Wojewdzki w Rzeszowie
Wojewdztwo Podkarpackie - Rzeszw
http://rzeszow.uw.gov.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department
ul. Grunwaldzka 15, 35-959 Rzeszw
tel. 017 867 19 15
fax: 17 867 19 50

Podlaski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Bia?ymstoku
Wojewdztwo Podlaskie Bia?ystok
http://www.bialystok.uw.gov.pl/puwmcms/
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department:
ul. Mickiewicza3, 15-213 Bia?ystok
tel. 085 743 93 80
fax: 85 743 94 44

Pomorski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Gda?sku
Wojewdztwo Pomorskie - Gda?sk
http://www.uw.gda.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department:
ul. Okopowa 21/27, 80-810 Gda?sk
tel. 058 307 74 27
fax: 58 307 72 14

?l?ski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Katowicach
Wojewdztwo ?l?skie - Katowice
http://www.katowice.uw.gov.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department:
ul. Jagiello?ska 25; 40-032 Katowice
tel. 032 207 73 26; 032 207 73 28; 032 207 72 99; 032 207 74 00
fax: 32 207 73 27

?wi?tokrzyski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Kielcach
Wojewdztwo ?wi?tokrzyskie Kielce
http://www.kielce.uw.gov.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department
al. IX Wiekw Kielc 3, 25-516 Kielce
tel. 041 342 15 02, 041 342 15 70
fax: 41 342 14 66

Warmi?sko-Mazurski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Olsztynie
Wojewdztwo Warmi?sko-Mazurskie - Olsztyn
http://www.uw.olsztyn.pl/
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department
al. Marsz. J. Pi?sudskiego 7/9, 10-575 Olsztyn
tel. 089 523 23 62, 089 523 73 12
fax: 89 523 65 30

Wielkopolski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Poznaniu
Wojewdztwo Wielkopolskie - Pozna?
http://www.poznan.uw.gov.pl
Social Affairs and Foreingers Department
pl. Wolno?ci 17, 61-739 Pozna?
tel. 061 854 17 21
Fax: 61 854 18 43

Zachodniopomorski Urz?d Wojewdzki w Szczecinie
Wojewdztwo Zachodniopomorskie - Szczecin
http://www.szczecin.uw.gov.pl<b

Eligibility

Acquisition and loss of Polish citizenship is regulated by the Law on Polish Citizenship of April 2nd, 2009 (Ustawa o obywatelstwie polskim z dnia 2 kwietnia 2009 r., z p?niejszymi zmianami, Dz. U. z dnia 14 lutego 2012 r.).

• By birth to a Polish citizen:

A child acquires Polish citizenship if at least one parent is a Polish citizen, irrespective of place of birth (art. 14 pkt 1 of the said Law) - the ius sanguinis rule.

• By birth/being found on Polish soil:

If a child is born or found on Polish soil and both parents are unknown or their citizenship is unknown, or they have no citizenship (art. 14 pkt 2 and art. 15 of the said Law), a child acquires by law Polish citizenship - the ius soli rule.

• By adoption:

A minor foreigner adopted by a Polish citizen (by Polish citizens) acquires Polish citizenship if the full adoption had been completed before the child turned 16 years. Thus, the child is considered as possessing Polish citizenship from the moment of his\her birth.

• By granting Polish citizenship:

Polish citizenship can be granted by the President of the Republic of Poland.

• By restoring Polish citizenship:

Polish citizenship can be restored by the Minister of Interior.

• By naturalization:

A foreigner living in Poland can receive Polish citizenship by naturalization. The decision is issued by a proper Provincial Governor (wojewoda). Consul does not accept petitions for naturalization.

Fees

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Validity

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e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Application for Polish citizenship pdf

The application form of a statement of uninterrupted stay

legal title to dwelling premises

Sample Documents

photograph -photo guidelines

Processing Time

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Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Instructions

Application for the Polish citizenship to the President of the Republic of Poland is submitted through a Provincial Governor (wojewoda) or a Consul (for applicants residing abroad), or by post with an officially certified signature. A foreigner with a parental custody over children under 18 additionally includes personal data of the latter in the application.

Required Information

Specimen application for Polish citizenship (in Polish)

Specimen application for recognition as a Polish citizen (in Polish)

Need for the Document

Polish citizenship can be obtained:

• By virtue of law
• By granting of Polish citizenship
• By recognizing the Polish citizen
• By restoring the Polish citizenship

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

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Others

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