Would you like to know whether you are eligible for Polish citizenship by descent? First of all, you need to prove your roots and indicate that your relatives have not lost citizenship on the way. Based on that, it is required to lodge a motion at the appropriate institution and apply for a Polish passport. Before you start the whole process, there are a few aspects you should know more about. Check how to get citizenship in Poland, and what requirements need to be met!
Who Can Apply For Citizenship Through Ancestry?
The Polish legal regulations provide the possibility to have dual citizenship. As the Act on Polish citizenship says, to become a citizen of Poland, an individual must fulfill several conditions. That means, you do not only have a chance to acquire citizenship by the right of blood (which applies to a child born to fully-fledged citizens) or by the right of soil (which applies to a child found on the territory of Poland and, at the same time, whose parents are unknown).
According to Polish law, a few more ways of becoming a citizen of Poland can be distinguished. Here they are!
- Citizenship by adoption – only applies to children under 16.
- Grant of Polish Citizenship – applies to foreigners who can confirm their strong links to Poland and its nation. In such a case, Polish origin is not needed.
- Citizenship by descent – applies to an individual who has Polish ancestors but still has not confirmed his state.
The process of citizenship by descent is also well known as a confirmation of Polish citizenship and that’s what we would like to focus on. As we mentioned before, it is needed to have at least one direct Polish ancestor and prove the citizenship was not lost.
How do you know if you are eligible for citizenship confirmation? So, if your relatives were born in Poland or its former territories and resided there after the 20th of January 1920, you probably qualify for the whole process. The main point is you need to prove it first. Check FAQs about Polish citizenship to find more info. The Expert will assess your case individually and point out to you the steps you should take to finally become a citizen of Poland.
How To Confirm Citizenship By Descent?
The confirmation of an individual’s citizenship may extend in time especially when it is crucial to conduct research. Once you get in touch with the Experts, you should pass on any information you might have. It would be great, if you had any evidence on your ancestry, such as old vital records or a family tree. The documentation we just mentioned may be helpful. If you own nothing that could confirm your eligibility for Polish citizenship, then do not worry. The Citizenship Expert will do his best to make the process as smooth as possible and, based on the indicated information, conduct research across archives in Poland and not only.
Once the outcome is positive, you are ready to lodge a motion at the Voivodeship Office. As you may probably know, the Voivode has the power to confirm an individual’s citizenship based on the evidence stated in the request. At the time he gives a positive decision, you will be issued Polish Citizenship Confirmation and Polish vital records.
What Is The Next Step After Confirming Citizenship In Poland?
To have dual citizenship seems to be great, for sure! Did you know that you should apply for a Polish passport once you become a fully-fledged citizen of Poland? Unlike the above-mentioned process, you must appear in person at the Polish Consulate General or Polish Embassy with the consular section. The Polish passport is biometric which means it is required to leave your fingerprints.
A valid Polish passport will be issued soon and, as a result, you will get a right to live, work or travel within the European Union without any visa restrictions!