Eligibility quiz
Was one of your parents a Polish citizen when you were born?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Polish passport and ID
Polish citizens can get a passport and identity card.
A normal passport lasts 10 years, or 5 years for some children.
A temporary passport lasts for the period stated on it, up to 12 months.
Live in Poland for life
Polish citizens can live in Poland permanently, choose where to live and move within the country.
They cannot be expelled from Poland or refused return.
Study in Poland
Polish citizens can use public education on the same terms as other Polish citizens.
Full-time study at public universities and other higher-education institutions is generally free of tuition on those terms.
Work in Poland
Polish citizens can work or run a business in Poland without a foreigner's work permit.
Get help abroad
Polish citizens can get help from Poland abroad, including passport assistance and emergency help.
If Poland has no representative in a country outside the EU, another EU country's consulate can help on the same terms as for its own citizens.
Vote in elections
Polish citizens can generally vote from age 18 in presidential, parliamentary and local elections and referendums.
Some people lose this right through a final court judgment.
Rules for voting abroad differ, and registration with the consul may be needed.
Use public healthcare
Public healthcare normally depends on insurance, though some uninsured citizens living in Poland qualify based on income and other conditions.
Children under 18 and pregnant women who are Polish citizens living in Poland have access to specified care.
In other EU countries, coverage depends on national systems and rules that can include work, insurance and residence.
Get social support
Polish citizens who live and stay in Poland can seek social assistance, with help depending on need, income and other conditions.
Pensions and benefits for sickness, unemployment and families have separate payment and eligibility rules.
How to apply
Applying at a consulateApplying at a consulate
Find your consulate
Find the Polish consulate that serves the place where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Polish consulate serves your city for confirmation of Polish citizenship?”
Download the application form
Download the form for confirmation of possession or loss of Polish citizenship.
Find the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the Polish citizenship confirmation application form?”
Fill in the form
Complete the form in Polish with your details, your family’s details and the facts relevant to your citizenship, then sign it. Write NIEZNANE for information you do not know or NIE DOTYCZY where a question does not apply.
Find form guidanceSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Polish citizenship confirmation application form?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the consulate.
See required documentsPay the fee
Pay the consular fee using the payment method your consulate gives you. Keep the proof of payment for your application.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the fee for Polish citizenship confirmation at the Polish consulate serving your city?”
Book an appointment
Book an appointment with your consulate if it requires one for handing in your application.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book an appointment for Polish citizenship confirmation at the Polish consulate serving your city?”
Hand in your application
Give your signed form and supporting documents to your consulate, following its instructions for submitting them in person or by mail. The consulate will forward your application to the Polish regional office that makes the decision.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Polish citizenship confirmation application at the Polish consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Reply if the office asks for more documents or an explanation. You can ask the consulate about the progress of your application.
Check your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I check the status of a Polish citizenship confirmation application submitted through a consulate?”
Receive your decision
Receive the decision from the Polish regional office. If it confirms your citizenship, you can then apply for a Polish passport.
Find passport instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I apply for a Polish passport after confirmation of Polish citizenship?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your full birth certificate showing your parents, and the birth records of your parent, grandparent and Polish great-grandparent. Use originals or certified copies from the offices that issued them; if you were adopted, add the adoption decision.
Family citizenship records
Provide records showing your Polish great-grandparent's citizenship and your grandparent's and parent's citizenship at the relevant births. These can include Polish citizenship certificates or decisions, passports, identity cards, military books, registry or archive records and records of residence in Poland. If the records raise a question about citizenship being lost, add relevant decisions, naturalisation, military, residence or archive records; use originals or certified copies where available.
Marriage certificates *
Get the marriage certificates needed to connect your records with those of your parent, grandparent and Polish great-grandparent. Use originals or certified copies, and add divorce or name-change records if needed to explain a change of name or family status.
* Only if a marriage record is needed to connect your family records.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationDeath certificates *
Get the death certificates needed to establish the identity or family status of your parent, grandparent or Polish great-grandparent. Use originals or certified copies from the offices that issued them.
* Only if a death record is needed to connect your family records.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Treatment as Polish
If you have another citizenship, Polish authorities treat you as a Polish citizen.
You cannot use your other citizenship to avoid Polish rights or duties.
Defence and military service
Citizens from age 18 through the year they turn 60, or 63 for some ranks, may be called for defence duties.
Permanent medical unfitness and some pregnancy or childcare cases are exempt; so are dual citizens living permanently abroad.
Foreign military service needs permission, except for dual citizens living permanently in their other country and serving its forces; breaking this rule can be a crime.
Citizenship can be lost
Polish citizenship can be given up voluntarily only with the President's consent.
It ends 30 days after the decision, unless an earlier date is specified.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Polish Citizenship Discussion Group
English Facebook group for people interested in Polish citizenship
Request to joinr/prawokrwi
English Reddit group for people interested in Polish citizenship
Join on RedditPolish citizenship & passport
English Facebook group for people interested in Polish citizenship
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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