Polish Citizenship

Information for Foreigners

Polish law allows foreigners who have lived within the territory of Poland for an extended period of time and meet certain criteria to become citizens of Poland. To obtain Polish citizenship a foreigner must file an application to that effect.

Polish citizenship is conferred by the President of Poland. Applications should be filed with the Voivodship Office relevant to the place of foreigner’s residence in Poland or with a consulate if the foreigner lives permanently abroad. To file the application in Poland the foreigner must be staying in Poland legally.

On becoming a Polish citizen the foreigner acquires full civic rights in Poland (e.g. the right to vote), may file for a Polish passport and enjoy certain facilitations in travelling abroad; however, Polish citizenship also confers certain obligations, such as tax duty. By acquiring Polish citizenship a foreigner simultaneously becomes a citizen of the European Union. Who may apply? Polish Citizenship for Children

No “Right” to Obtain Polish Facilitations for Spouses Polish Citizenship If the parents do not agree on the Citizenship of Polish Citizens for Stateless Persons choice of citizenship for the child each parent may turn to court to resolve the Legal provisions stipulate an option A foreigner who is married to According to the Law on Polish matter. and not the right of foreigners to acquire a Polish citizen may receive Polish Citizenship, the application to Polish citizenship. Hence, in each case citizenship through a simplified become a citizen may also be filed by Citizenship Grant the President of Poland may but is not procedure, by filing an affidavit stating stateless persons who are also offered If both parents of a child are foreigners obligated to grant Polish citizenship to a willingness to become a citizen. The a simplified procedure. Eligible for and one of them obtains Polish citizenship foreigner. simplified procedure is only available obtaining citizenship under that conferred by the President of Poland the if at least three years have elapsed procedure is the foreigner who has children will also become Polish citizens On the one hand, the President since the date of marriage with a no citizenship and has lived in Poland if: of Poland may therefore grant Polish Polish citizen, provided that the on the basis of a permit to settle, a citizenship to a person who does not foreigner holds the right of permanent residence permit for a long-term EC ●● they remain solely in parental meet the requirements set forth in the residency in Poland. resident or the right of permanent custody of the parent who obtained Law on Citizenship. On the other hand, residency for at least five years. Polish citizenship, the President may deny citizenship to The above procedure for obtaining Applications to that effect should be or someone who meets those requirements. citizenship is available to spouses of filed with and the decisions are made The President may also require the Polish citizens within six months from by the Voivod (Governor of Province) ●● if the other parent has given his/her foreigner to renounce previous citizenship the day on which the person concerned relevant to the foreigner’s registered consent before the relevant Voivod before becoming a citizen of Poland. meets jointly the two conditions: has domicile. or Consul to the child becoming a a permit to settle or another form of Polish citizen. permanent residency and has been Who may apply for Polish Polish Citizenship An affidavit to that effect is filed by the Citizenship? married for at least three years to a Polish citizen. for Children parent with the Voivodship Office (if the A foreigner may be granted Polish parent resides permanently in the area Citizenship Acquisition citizenship if he/she has lived in Poland Once the above six months expire of Poland) or with a consul (if the parent for at least five years on the basis of: the foreigner forfeits the right to When one of the parents is a resides permanently abroad). submit the affidavit as described foreigner and the other one a Polish ●● a permit to settle, above. However, he/she may apply for citizen then the child becomes a If both parents who are foreigners obtain Polish citizenship (conferred by ●● a residence permit for a long-term Polish citizenship on general terms. Polish citizen by birth. The parents the President of Poland) then also the EC resident, may choose a different citizenship for To acquire Polish citizenship the the child within three months from children remaining in their custody ●● the right of permanent residency. spouse files an affidavit expressing the child’s date of birth provided that become Polish citizens. In that situation, willingness to become a Polish citizen however, children over 18 do not receive The application may be filed by a the law of the country of origin of the with the Voivodship Office relevant Polish citizenship. non-Polish citizen or a stateless person foreign parent so permits. to the place of his/her registered (having no citizenship). domicile. If the parents do not file Polish citizenship may be conferred According to the Law on Citizenship, an affidavit choosing a foreign on children over 16 only subject to their in particularly justified cases a foreigner citizenship for the child the child written consent. may be granted Polish citizenship even if will retain Polish citizenship. he/she does not meet the requirement of a five year stay in Poland. Renunciation of citizenship Applications and attachments

Children of Stateless Parents extended. If the foreigner does not take Citizenship Applications and the original, then the copies will be avail of the promissory citizenship the certified true by the official receiving the Polish citizenship is acquired by birth WA citizenship application may by the children born in the area of Poland promise expires. The foreigner may application. then file a new citizenship application only be filed by the foreigner who to foreigners if the citizenship of both Vital records (birth or marriage and the process resumes from the resides lawfully in Poland (if the parents is unknown or if the parents have certificates) should be filed in original. beginning. application is filed in Poland). All no citizenship. the documents used by the applicant They cannot be more than three months’ old. They must be domiciled, that is Parentless Children Renunciation of Polish (passport, travel document, residency card) must be valid. entered in Polish vital records registers. A child becomes a Polish citizen if he/ Citizenship she is born in the area of Poland and his/ The application must be filed by Documents issued in a foreign Polish citizenship may be her parents are unknown. the foreigner in person. language must be translated into Polish renounced based on the consent of the by a sworn translator. There may be no President of Poland. The person who In the procedures for granting Polish When document copies are discrepancies in personal details (e.g. wishes to renounce Polish citizenship citizenship to a child remaining in Poland enclosed with the application, the spelling of the name, place of birth). without parents or custodians the child must file an application to that effect foreigner must provide notarized is represented by a legal guardian (or with the President of Poland via the copies or at the moment of filing The application should be drawn up guardians) appointed by the court. The Voivod or a consul. the application, present both a copy in the applicant’s own hand (in Polish) court usually defines in the judgment the and autographed in the official form. A consent for Polish citizenship scope of guardians’ rights, including the Enclosed with the application should be renunciation granted to one parent Fees right to apply for citizenship for the child a passport format photograph. extends over the children in that on his/her behalf. Applications for granting parent’s custody if the other parent Enclosures with the application or renunciation of Polish has no parental rights or is not a citizenship or for acceptance of Each application for citizenship must Renunciation of Previous Polish citizen, or if the other parent an affidavit expressing a choice be accompanied by: Citizenship is a Polish citizen and consents to the of foreign citizenship for the loss of Polish citizenship by his/her 1. a copy of a valid passport or travel The grant of Polish citizenship may child of parents having different children document, be made conditional on the provision of citizenships will be considered a proof of forfeiture or release from prior The President of Poland will without a fee. 2. a copy of a valid Polish residency citizenship. The decision to that effect not consent to Polish citizenship card, The fee for an application is made by the President of Poland. A renunciation by the person who has no for recognition of a stateless 3. a copy of the decision under which foreigner may ask for the right to retain other citizenship or has not obtained person as a Polish citizen or the the residency card was issued, previous citizenship and the President a promise thereof. Renunciation fee for acceptance of an affidavit may but is not required to consent. of Polish citizenship cannot result 4. a detailed curriculum vitae, written expressing willingness to in the person concerned having no in Polish and autographed by the The President may grant to a foreigner acquire Polish citizenship by a citizenship. applicant, a so-called promise of citizenship, foreign spouse of a Polish citizen 5. the original current copy of birth that is an assurance of granting Polish is PLN 219. The amount should certificate issued by a Polish vital citizenship once the foreigner submits be paid by a bank transfer and records registry, a document evidencing renunciation the proof of payment should be of previous citizenship. The promise is enclosed with the application. 6. the original current copy of marriage usually valid for two years and cannot be certificate issued by a Polish vital records registry (if applicable) 13. a document confirming lack given in writing before a consul Timing or another document evidencing of Polish citizenship or release if the parent resides permanently The waiting time for consideration of marital status, from or renunciation of Polish abroad, or at the relevant an application for Polish citizenship is citizenship in the event the Provincial Office); 7. confirmation of registered domicile usually two to three years. applicant or his/her predecessors in the province in which the ●● a written consent of the child to had been Polish citizens in the Under the procedures offered to foreigner files the application (in receive Polish citizenship if the past. foreign spouses of Polish citizens the the case of regular citizenship child is over 16 (the consent is decision is issued within 60 days. applications permanent registered Additionally: written at the Provincial Office or domicile is required, temporary before a consul); Appeals Spouses of Polish citizens must registered domicile is only allowed enclose with the application: The decision on acceptance of an for foreign spouses), ●● if the child remains in Poland affidavit expressing willingness to acquire ●● an affidavit stating willingness to without his/her parents, the ap- 8. a proof of payment of the required Polish citizenship by a foreign spouse of a acquire Polish citizenship (it is plication must be accompanied fees, if applicable, Polish citizen or the decision recognizing drawn up at the moment of filing by a consent to the grant of Polish a stateless foreigner as a Polish citizen 9. if the foreigner has children who the application), citizenship to the child, given by may be appealed against with the Ministry are Polish citizens, it is necessary to the child’s legal guardian; ●● a copy of the identity card of the of Interior and Administration (via the enclose copies of birth certificates Polish citizen spouse. ●● if the child has a passport or Province Governor) within 14 days from of the children and copies of their another travel document, a copy the day of service of the decision. passports or other documents Stateless persons must enclose of that document; evidencing their Polish citizenship; with the application: The ruling/decision of the President ●● if Polish citizenship is applied of Poland on granting Polish citizenship 10. a statement on prior application (if ●● a release from prior citizenship, for by a child whose parents/ is not appealable. The President does not any) for the grant or recognition of with its translation into Polish parent have/s more than one justify the decision. Polish citizenship, and a note on made by a Polish sworn citizenship, the application must the outcome of the procedure (the translator, or another document be accompanied by documents statement to that effect is drawn confirming that the foreigner has showing which of the parents’ up at the moment of filing the no citizenship. citizenships the child has and application); which the child has not. If the application includes a child 11. a statement on the knowledge of below 18, the application must be provisions concerning current accompanied by: citizenship, drawn up in the applicant’s own hand in Polish ●● a current excerpt from the child’s (Note: some states do not allow their birth certificate, citizens to have a dual citizenship); ●● documents evidencing the child’s citizenship(s), 12. other documents evidencing Based on the provisions of: ties to Poland, e.g. a certificate ●● a document evidencing the other UThe Act on Polish Citizenship of 15 February 1962 (Journal of Laws 2000 No. 28, of employment, letters of parent’s consent to the child Item 353, 2001 No. 42, Item 475, 2003 No. 128, Item 1175, 2005 No. 94, Item 788, commendation, copies of diplomas; becoming a Polish citizen where 2006 No. 104, Item 708 and 711, 2007 No. 120, Item 818) the application is filed by one of Decree of the President of Poland on detailed procedures in matters of granting or the parents (the consent must be giving consent to renunciation of Polish citizenship, and on model forms of affidavits and applications, dated 14 March 2000 (Journal of Laws No. 18, Item 231). Information prepared by the Polish Migration Forum as part of the project entitled „Information Center for Foreigners”, in consultation with project partners.

Project co-financed by the The European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and the State budget.

Project partners:

Association for Legal Intervention www.interwencjaprawna.pl

Design & production: Studio Arian | www.studioarian.eu Mazowieckie Province Governor www.mazowieckie.pl

Polish Migration Forum www.forummigracyjne.org

The Polish Migration Forum is responsible for the published contents. Any opinions contained therein do not reflect any official positions of the European Union.