Whether you want to travel to EU countries, live abroad or simply further recognize your family heritage, a Polish passport has a lot to offer. It’s also a very popular option for the 20 million people estimated to be of Polish descent, as Poland views these as citizens. As such, you may very well be eligible for a Polish passport!

In this guide, we’ll explore the potential for gaining a Polish passport, the benefits of such a second passport and the requirement of granted citizenship. As you’ll see, you need to get Polish citizenship first, but we can help you understand the whole process.

This information will not only help you, but also any family members that are also applicable. As you’ll soon see, the ability to receive a Polish passport is dependent on your family history, so we encourage you to share and help other family members, too!

Benefits of a Polish passport

Polish passports are one of the strongest passports in the world. First of all, since Poland is part of the European Union, they support the holder in their rights as an EU citizen. This includes the right of free movement, helping you to live, travel and work anywhere across the EU.

Outside of EU citizenship, however, Polish passports offer visa-free access to over 155 additional countries, helping to greatly enhance your travel opportunities and keep the world open to you.

Who is eligible for a Polish passport?

Like any country, Poland only grants passports to its own citizens. In other words, you must first obtain Polish citizenship before applying for a passport. You must first have your Polish citizenship confirmed, as the official confirmation is one of the required documents for your passport application.

What about dual citizenship?

If you already have an existing citizenship status, Poland does not require you to give it up. This also applies to any pre-existing passport.

However, upon acquiring Polish citizenship, it’s critical to note that the Polish authorities require you to use your Polish identification, including your Polish passport. For example, this means when entering or leaving Poland, or when dealing with the Polish government in further matters, you should use your Polish passport and not your pre-existing passport from another country.

How to become a Polish Citizen

If you are not already a Polish citizen, there are a number of ways to acquire it. Whilst there are more niche cases, such as adoption, refugee status and more, we will show the main options available:

  • Polish citizenship by naturalization: If you legally live and work in Poland with an official permit for over 3 years, have a stable source of income and are able to rent property, you can apply for Polish citizenship via the local voivodeship in Poland. Note, however, that you will also need an official document confirming that you speak B1 level Polish.
  • Polish citizenship by marriage: If you are married to a Polish citizen for at least 3 years, live in Poland for 2 or more years, and have a permanent residence permit, you can also become a Polish citizen. However, this also requires you to confirm your ability to speak the Polish language.
  • Polish citizenship by descent: If you are descended from a Polish citizen, and that individual did not lose their status, you may be eligible for citizenship. Under modern Polish citizenship law, the Polish government considers all such people as de facto citizens, so this is a process of proving your birthright.

For the 20 million people of Polish descent around the world, this last option is often the most viable. It does not require you to live in Poland, and neither does it require you to speak the Polish language. Instead, you are able to stay where you are and gain the full benefits and life options that Polish citizenship and a Polish passport provide.

How to obtain Polish Citizenship by descent

In order to be recognized as a Polish citizen, you need to prove your right of blood from a previous Polish citizen. If applicable, then the application process to acquire Polish citizenship consists of collecting the necessary documents to prove your blood relations, and submitting them alongside an application form.

Polish citizenship by descent requirements

Specifically, you must be a direct descendant of someone that:

  • Live in Poland at some point after 1920
  • Was legally recognized as a Polish citizenship
  • At no point renounced or lost their status as a Polish citizen

Fortunately, Polish law does not put any limit on the generational gap between your ancestor and you. It could be one of your parents, grandparents, great grandparents or more. The Polish government only cares that you are a direct relative, as they consider Polish citizenship to be your birthright.

What documents do you need to claim Polish citizenship?

Before you can submit your application, you need to prove your relation to your chosen Polish ancestor, including any people in between. This can include:

  • Birth certificates: Important for proving parentage and the passing of Polish citizenship status. Your own birth certificate is also required.
  • Marriage certificates: This helps confirm changes in names, as well as the legitimacy of children, which can impact Polish citizenship in previous legal eras.
  • Identity documents: Local records, such as census data, and state issued identification will go a great way in verifying your Polish ancestry.
  • Death and divorce records: In most cases, these documents can provide additional details that will help in your application.

However, it’s worth nothing that your entire application must be submitted in Polish. This includes all attached documents, so you will need official translations from a sworn translator. This is something we can help you with, and it’s good practice. Generally speaking, Polish is required when dealing with the Polish authorities: this will be no different when filling out your passport application.

How to get a Polish passport

Once you have your Polish citizenship confirmed, you can then apply for your passport. The process for Polish passports is similar to citizenship, in that you must submit everything in Polish and include some documentation, but it is much more of a formality than anything else.

The Polish passport application forms specifically ask for:

  • Confirmation of Polish citizenship: This can be the confirmation received in the previous process, or state-issued ID that proves you have citizenship.
  • Birth certificate: This needs to be an official Polish version, rather than a translation. However, you can use the sworn translations already submitted via your citizenship application to do so.
  • Marriage certificate: If you’re married, you will also need a Polish version for records. This is the exact same process as the birth certificate.
  • Passport photo: Unsurprisingly, your passport application also requires a photograph!

In addition to these, as a Polish citizen, you will also require a PESEL. This is Poland’s version of a social security number, which has been in use since 1979. During your passport application, this is something that will be generated and assigned to you through the Polish consulate.

Once again, however, you need to submit your application in Polish. You do not need to speak Polish officially, but it’s something to be aware of.

How to get started?

If you’re looking to gain a Polish passport, and first need to claim Polish citizenship, we can help! From understanding the finer details of Polish law, to finding, translating and generating Polish civil records certificates, we understand the entire process.

We can help with finding documents, filling out your application form and ensuring you have all the necessary information to make the process as successful as possible. So before starting on your passport application, why not see if your eligible? Our free quiz will let you know!

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