Polish citizenship application – you should prepare these documents!
The Polish passport is a kind of pass to travel freely around the world. This is why many foreigners dream of obtaining Polish citizenship. When setting off on a trip abroad, whether it is a holiday or a business trip, a passport should be an indispensable element, i.e. a document which gives us access to practically the whole world. It authorizes us to legally cross borders and stay in other countries.
However, it is worth being aware that the Polish passport and Polish citizenship is not only a “ticket to see the world”, but also a number of other possibilities as well as obligations. There are currently four ways to obtain Polish citizenship. Which one will work best in your case and which documents will be necessary to submit your application? You can find out by reading the following article. If you would like to find out even more about the Polish passport, Polish citizenship, or simply about Polish culture, then you are cordially invited to visit the website https://fivetoeurope.com/.
Obtaining citizenship by virtue of being granted by the President
In order to obtain Polish citizenship by virtue of a decision of the President, the first step is to submit an application with appropriate justification. However, it should be borne in mind that such a procedure may be time-consuming and the waiting for the decision may be prolonged.
This is because the President of the Republic of Poland is the only person authorized to grant citizenship, and his decisions are not subject to strict criteria that the foreigner must meet. However, the President may, upon submission of an application, consult various institutions, bodies, or organizations in order to obtain additional information that may be relevant to the decision-making process.
Polish citizenship by operation of law
Although the phrase ‘obtain Polish citizenship’ is often used, it is worth noting that, by law, citizenship is ‘acquired’. This process applies to both children and repatriates. In the case of children, the principles of blood law apply, which means that a minor automatically acquires citizenship at birth if at least one parent is a Polish citizen. There is also the principle of the law of the land, according to which a minor born on the territory of Poland, when his/her parents are unknown, have no citizenship or their citizenship is undefined, also acquires Polish citizenship.
If a foreign minor is adopted by Poles before the age of 16, he or she is deemed to have acquired Polish citizenship from the day of birth. However, exceeding this age limit already requires the consent of the interested party himself to acquire citizenship. It is also important to note that in the case of repatriation, Polish citizenship is acquired by a minor subject to the repatriate’s parental authority. However, if only one of the parents is a repatriate, the minor acquires Polish citizenship only after obtaining the consent of the other parent, which should be confirmed by a statement made before a consul.
Polish citizenship through recognition
In order to acquire Polish citizenship through recognition, it is necessary for a foreigner to fulfill a number of criteria. However, this method of acquiring citizenship is currently the most popular among immigrants residing in Poland. In order to commence the process, a relevant application must be filed with a Province Governor, who exercises his/her duties in the province where the place of residence of the person applying for Polish citizenship status is located. What documents are necessary will be mentioned in the next paragraph.
Application and other documents to be submitted in order to obtain Polish citizenship
As we already know, in order to apply for Polish citizenship it is necessary to submit an application to the President of the Republic of Poland. However, it is worth remembering that the application itself is not everything. It is, in fact, necessary to enclose several other documents, which we have listed below.
- an application submitted to the President of the Republic of Poland formulated on an officially specified form, which can be found on the official website or at a passport point.
- a passport photograph measuring 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm.
- copy of birth certificate – originally issued by a Polish civil registry office.
- a document confirming marital status – also an original issued by a Polish register office, e.g. a current copy of a marriage certificate, or death certificate of a spouse.
- photocopies of documents related to residence in Poland – this is a photocopy of a temporary or permanent residence permit, a settlement permit or a residence permit for a long-term EU resident, a residence card, or a certificate of registration of residence of an EU citizen or their family member.
- documents proving identity and citizenship – officially certified copies of a valid document proving the identity and citizenship of both the applicant and the applicant’s spouse.
- documents confirming the foreigner’s sources of livelihood.
- a document confirming the legal title to the dwelling.
- documents confirming professional achievements – such as academic degrees and titles, creative works, awards, and projects, as well as conducted political and social activities.
- documents of parents and further ancestors.
- documents concerning past Polish citizenship – documents in possession of Polish citizenship, its loss, and the date of acquisition of foreign citizenship.
- additional documents – for example, letters of recommendation.
In the case of a foreigner exercising parental authority over a minor foreigner, the following should be additionally enclosed:
- a photograph of the minor meeting the requirements set out above.
- a copy of the minor’s birth certificate issued by a Polish registry office.
- photocopies of the minor’s identity documents.
- a photocopy of the minor’s residence card, if issued.
- statement of consent to the granting of citizenship:
- From the other parent by the voivode, if that parent resides in Poland.
- From a person residing abroad or staying in Poland on the basis of a visa or visa-free regime, by a Polish consul.
- declaration of a minor foreigner (if he/she is 16 years of age or older) on granting him/her Polish citizenship, accepted by a voivode in Poland or a Polish consul, depending on the place of residence of the minor. If the statement is made before another voivode or consul, a document confirming this information should be attached.