It is good to know that people who have Polish roots, who do not have documents which prove the Polish citizenship (a Polish passport or ID) or whose personal data and citizenship cannot be ascertained, may apply for an official document which confirm their Polish citizenship – the confirmation of Polish citizenship.
The principles of Polish citizenship are governed by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Citizenship Act of February 15 1962.
Polish law of citizenship is based upon the principles of ius sanguinis. Children born by Polish parents (even one parent) usually obtain the Polish citizenship regardless of the place of birth. Persons born in Poland by foreign parents do not normally acquire Polish citizenship.
Polish law does not deal with the problem of dual citizenship, therefore Poland consider a person with dual citizenship as if he or she was only a Pole. Thus, Poland does not recognize the foreign citizenship of people when they are on Polish soil.
People, who do not possess documents which provide evidence of their Polish citizenship, and who would like to know whether they still possess this citizenship or have lost it, may apply for the confirmation of possession of Polish citizenship. In case of persons belonging to the second or subsequent generation of Polish emigrants, to decide whether the person has retained Polish citizenship it is indispensable, inter alia, to present some documents, beginning with a birth certificate issued in Poland belonging to a family member in direct line with descent who once in the past settled outside the borders of Poland.
To confirm the Polish citizenship, such documents are usually needed:
- An application letter filled in Polish.
- Birth certificate.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable).
- A detailed autobiography in Polish (including the details of Polish ancestry).
- Certified (by notary or embassy) copy of foreign passport or another ID.
- Certified (by notary or embassy) copy of naturalization certificate of the applicant, his or her parents or grandparents (whichever applicable).
- Document which prove that person changed his/her name or surname.
- Declaration (in Polish) what other citizenship(s) applicant hold (or held).
- Declaration (in Polish) if applicant or his/her parents or grandparents ever renounced Polish citizenship (it can be written in the application).
- Certified copies of any documents confirming Polish ancestry (e.g. your parents’ or grandparents’ birth, baptism or marriage certificates etc.).
All forms need to be completed in Polish and all documents need to be prepared in Polish (translations).
Confirmation of Polish citizenship or its loss is granted by a provincial governor.
Documents must be original or certified (by notary) with an aposttile on the back.
Consular fee must be also paid.
To obtain Polish passport each person needs to have:
- Polish citizenship.
- Polish birth certificate.
- Polish marriage certificate (if got married outside Poland).
Polish birth certificate and marriage certificate can be acquired in a proper office of vital records – the authorities which carry out the procedure called the transcription.
