When people learn about the heritage, it brings up a lot of questions. For people with Polish heritage, it often brings up questions of identity and citizenship. What does it mean to be a Polish citizen, does it apply to you, and what are the key benefits of it?
From claiming a Polish passport to traveling and working as an EU citizen, let’s explore the biggest advantages to acquiring Polish citizenship.
Polish Citizens are EU Citizens
First off, it’s important to recognize that Polish citizenship is synonymous to EU citizenship. As members of the European Union, Polish citizens are able to access any EU country to work, travel or live. Many of the benefits of obtaining Polish citizenship stem from this fact, so it’s important to recognize the value of a Polish passport in the European continent.
Visa Free Access and Travel
In addition to being able to access any EU countries, Polish passports are also some of the most desirable when it comes to wider global access. According to VisaGuide, Polish passports are amongst the 20 strongest, offering visa free travel to around 155 countries.
On top of this, many countries offer eVisas or even visas on arrival for Polish passport holders, further strengthening the global advantages of being a Polish citizen.
Wide Educational Opportunities
There are many Universities across Europe that offer affordable or even free educational opportunities for EU citizens. This includes not only educational facilities in Poland, but also the likes of France, Italy, Germany and more.
Language is also not an issue, as there are many courses offered completely in English. With Polish citizenship, you’re free to learn and live abroad, as well as choose from a wider range of top class universities.
Work and Business Opportunities
Similarly, since Polish citizenship is akin to EU citizenship, Poles are free to work in any EU country, providing a wide range of potential job prospects.
Thanks to the single market of the European Union, EU citizens are also free to start their own businesses and operate throughout the EU. Poland in particular is an enviable country to start a business, thanks to its favorable business environment, close proximity to key markets and barrier-free trade within the EU. It’s also an enviable location for people under 26 years old, as they are exempt from income tax in Poland, helping them to earn even more.
For many, these factors ensure plenty of opportunities, keeping options open both in Poland and the European Union.
Access to European Healthcare Systems
Polish citizens living in Poland can of course access the national health system but, additionally, they can also gain a European Health Insurance Card. Like all members of the European Union, this covers them for basic and essential access to healthcare facilities when visiting another EU country.
Legal Protection
The European Union has many legal protections in place for its members, including the right to equal treatment and protection from discrimination. When visiting or living in any EU country, you have the same rights as a national of that country, but you also have the protection of the EU legal framework. This includes the likes of healthcare, but also protection during disasters and other surprise incidents.
A Recognition of Your Ancestry
Finally, for many people, Polish citizenship is an important step in embracing their Polish ancestry. Alongside the ability to apply for a Polish passport, Polish citizenship is an official recognition of one’s historical nationality and cultural heritage from the Polish government.
In fact, the Polish government considers Polish citizenship as a de facto birthright, even if the person in question is not aware of it. What’s more, with over 20 million such Polish descendents estimated to be living throughout the world, there are many that have yet to take the first steps in obtaining Polish citizenship and enjoying the greater opportunities that come with it.
In this way, Polish citizenship offers a sense of belonging, a connection with another culture and a greater recognition of one’s family history. It’s an official proof of one’s Polish roots.
How Do You Get Polish Citizenship?
You can obtain Polish citizenship based on a number of rights, such as being born in Poland or another Polish territory, or through naturalization. However, for the 20 million people of Polish ancestry living around the world, the most common option is to pursue Polish citizenship by descent.
This is the process of recognizing your Polish birthright and proving your Polish heritage. Specifically, the Polish government requires that you prove a direct blood relation to someone that:
- Was already a Polish citizen and lived in Poland at some point after 1918. This is when the Second Polish Republic was established. While the borders have changed since then, this is the earliest recognition of modern Polish identity for the purposes of legal citizenship.
- Did not renounce or otherwise lose their status as a Polish citizen.
This process is the most agreeable, as it does not require you to live in Poland, learn the Polish language or otherwise impact your life. In return, you gain all the benefits of Polish citizenship, as mentioned here, as well as the ability to acquire a Polish passport.
Polish Citizenship and Passport FAQ
While the benefits of Polish citizenship are clear, we also hear a lot of questions that we’ve summarized here for your convenience.
Is dual citizenship allowed for a Polish citizen?
In most cases, Polish citizenship is compatible with other nationalities. The process for becoming a Polish citizen does not require you to renounce any previous identities so, as long as your original citizenship does not require exclusivity, you can readily hold dual citizenship status.
Can my family members also receive the same benefits of Polish citizenship?
Polish citizenship by descent applies to direct blood relations. As such, family members such as children and their future generations can receive the same benefits of Polish citizenship as they can also be recognized as such.
Your wife or husband, however, does not automatically get Polish citizenship. However, they are able to enjoy many of the same benefits. As your legal spouse, they can apply for a visa to travel with you for up to 90 days and, if you reside in the EU, they can apply for a residence card. As the wife or husband of an EU citizen, this will grant them the right to both live and work in the same country as you, greatly enhancing your family’s life opportunities.
How do I apply for Polish citizenship by descent?
In order to claim Polish citizenship, you need to prove your right of blood. Specifically, this means all significant documents proving your relation to a Polish ancestor that meets the government’s criteria. Often, this means collecting birth records, marriage records and other documents that prove this lineage.
Often this means collecting the necessary documents to prove this blood connection, which includes the likes of passports, population censuses, voter lists, land deeds, army records and more.
This process can be complicated, requiring both the collection of documentation and an application process that itself must be in Polish. For these reasons, working with a trusted legal team can help you in not only applying, but also finding documents from local Polish towns and regions to trace your Polish ancestors.
Would you like to check if you qualify for Polish citizenship? Find out if you are eligible for Polish citizenship by taking the test below: