With over 20 million people around the world with Polish ancestors, the process for Polish citizenship application is a very common one. Once completed, this step not only grants citizenship and a national identity, but also enables you to apply for a Polish passport and the additional benefits that come with it.

Here, we want to explore the criteria for claiming citizenship by descent, as well as an overview of the process. This includes a broad guide to the various steps and how long the process takes, from initial assessment to citizenship confirmation.

Understanding Polish Citizenship by Descent

Under Polish law, Polish descendents with certain criteria are already considered Polish by birth. Therefore, the application process is primarily focused around proving this criteria. This includes having at least one ancestor that:

  • Was a recognized Polish citizen
  • Lived in Poland at some point after 1920.
  • Did not renounce or lose their citizenship

How Long Does it Take to Get Polish Citizenship by Descent?

When applying for Polish citizenship, there are many factors that can influence the process. In our estimates, the entire process can take 9 to 14 months.

This is a combination of multiple steps, including the collecting of the documents needed and the application itself. However, since the procedure relies on response times of not only Polish authorities, but also potential bodies in other countries, note that there are some areas out of your control. The more complex your case is, the longer it may take.

The Steps to Obtain Polish Citizenship by Descent

Here’s how the process broadly looks like, where the key challenges lie and where the most time can be spent.

Initial consultation and eligibility check

First, it is vital to check if you meet the criteria to acquire Polish citizenship. Current Polish citizenship laws state that anyone with a Polish ancestor that lived in Poland after 1920, and did not renounce or otherwise lose their citizenship, could be considered Polish by birth.

The best way to do this is to get in touch with experts that understand the core requirements. You can take our quiz to find out if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Gathering necessary documents

Here, you can start with your own ancestral and personal documents, asking other family members for any documents and finding the relevant materials from your own country. This includes:

  • Birth records: These are essential documents for proving blood relations between yourself and your Polish ancestor, including every direct relative inbetween.
  • Marriage records: These can help show when names have changed and confirm if someone is born in wedlock and thus inherits their father’s citizenship.
  • Polish ID or passport: In some cases, your ancestor’s ID can help further prove their original Polish identity.

Assuming you know the name and details of every relative in your direct ancestry, this can often be the quicker part of your document search. You may even find original Polish documents and, in rare cases, everything you need right away.

Yet in most instances, you will often need to look for those specific documents. In our experience, there are usually a few documents missing and, for a successful application, it’s best to be thorough. 

Searching for documents by experts

When it comes to looking for Polish documents confirming citizenship, it can be a very difficult task to undertake on your own. The best option is to opt for the assistance of experts that take care of the process in Poland. In some instances, when there is less information to go on or significant gaps in your own records, we look into local archives and find the supporting documents. Since this involves directly liaising with local Polish bodies, opting for the assistance of experts can help you make this more streamlined – whilst also enabling you to gather the required assets without having to travel to Poland. In our experience, this process can take 3 to 6 months, due to the complexity of most cases. 

Submitting the application

Once you have everything collected – including official translations from a sworn translator, if the documents are not in English or Polish – you can fill out the application.

However, this application must be made in the Polish language. This is an area we can help you with, as we understand the application and can help manage the nuances of Polish legalese.

Processing by the Polish authorities

Once the Polish government receives your application, it can take a number of months to review and approve your application. During this time, the Polish government confirms all the aspects of your application. In addition to reviewing original documents from Poland, they will typically contact the local consulate of your own country – or countries, if necessary – to confirm the additional documents.

This means that the time it takes to review your Polish ancestry and approve your claim is dependent on both the Polish government and any local bodies they also need to work with.

Receiving the decision

If successful, you will receive an official notification confirming your Polish citizenship. From this point on, you are considered a Polish citizen and, in most cases, hold dual citizenship with your original country.

From start to finish, we estimate and advice that this process can take between 10 and 14 months in total, depending on the nature of your case and various other influencing factors.

What about applying for a Polish passport?

Polish passports are only available to recognized citizens of Poland. Consequently, you must first receive citizenship before your passport application can be sent off. This is part of the wider criteria:

  • The standard requirements for any passport, such as your photograph, name and date of birth.
  • A copy of your birth certificate in Polish. If you are born outside of Poland, this means you will need to have it transcribed into an official, Polish birth certificate, rather than a translation of the original foreign copy. This may sound complicated, but we can handle this for you!
  • Certification confirming the Polish government’s decision to grant your Polish citizenship.

It’s also important to note that this, like citizenship, does not require you to visit Poland. Passport’s are applied for via your local Polish consulate. This is where you will also pick up the passport as well.

Because of this, there is no clear timeline for processing. When applying, the consulate in question will inform you of the expected duration. Because of this, we advise that you plan significantly far ahead if a Polish passport is critical to your plans, such as traveling to the European Union.

How to Speed up the Process

As you can see, the process for acquiring a Polish passport is fairly dependent on your citizenship application. If you want to make this as quick as possible, there are a number of things you can do:

  • Understand the requirements. Applying for Polish citizenship means satisfying eligibility criteria set by the Polish government. Before you start, review your case to ensure you have a strong chance of success.
  • Do your research. Ask your family members and try to obtain as much knowledge as possible. In addition to names, it helps to know when your Polish ancestors emigrated, as well as what towns or cities they were originally from.
  • Gather original documents. Having as many documents from your side as possible will be a big benefit. It means you will spend less time looking for them later, and can better spend that time finding the missing details.

In our experience, the most common challenges lie in missing information and sourcing documents from local Polish bodies. In cases such as these, it’s best to utilize the expertise of professionals familiar with the process. Lexmotion can not only help you in acquiring Polish documents, acquiring translations and filling out the form. As seasoned professionals, we can identify all the potential challenges and ensure your application is well prepared.

Conclusion

In short, your Polish citizenship application is not a quick process. The application itself can take several months, but acquiring all the documents necessary to approve your Polish heritage is an equally time-consuming step. However, given the importance of the process, as well as the strict criteria of the application, these early steps are critical.

All in all, this can take up to a year, but working with legal experts to not only speed up the documentation step – but also help in the application and avoid any costly mistakes – can further help improve your application. Thorough preparation is the best approach.

FAQ Section

What documents do I need to apply for Polish citizenship by descent?

In order to acquire your Polish citizenship, you need all documents that prove your Polish ancestry. To start, you must first have a Polish ancestor that lived in Poland at any point after 1920 as a Polish citizen and did not renounce or lose their status.

After this, obtaining Polish citizenship required documents proving your connection. This includes birth records, marriage certificates and other documents proving a direct lineage of your Polish ancestor.

Such documents are always needed in Polish. For any other language, a sworn translation in the Polish language is required. 

Can I expedite the process of obtaining Polish citizenship?

There is no fast track option to obtain Polish citizenship. However, well prepared documents will go a great way to removing barriers that would slow down your application.

What happens if my application is rejected?

If your application is unsuccessful, it is typically not possible to reapply. An appeal, however, is possible. It is also possible to appeal directly to the President of Poland. However, this is a very long process and is an entirely arbitrary decision, not based on any set criteria or merit.

Will I need to go to Poland to become a Polish citizen?

You do not need to be in Poland when applying for Polish citizenship by descent. However, during the process you may need to contact local Polish government bodies to find documents or confirm aspects of your family tree. In these cases, having experts in Poland to assist you will be highly useful.

Can I apply for Polish citizenship by myself in English?

No. The application form for obtaining Polish citizenship by descent is in Polish, as it is the official language of Poland and used by many bodies of the Polish government.

Note however, that as an applicant claiming Polish descent, you do not need to speak Polish in order to be successful. Therefore, having experts assist you with the translation of your application form can be an effective solution.

Are you by any chance of Polish origin? Find out if you are eligible for EU citizenship by taking the test below: