Learn how long it takes to confirm Polish citizenship by descent and obtain a passport. Discover tips on how you can speed up the process.
More than 20 million people worldwide, born or living permanently outside of Poland, have Polish ancestry, giving them the opportunity to confirm their heritage and obtain Polish citizenship by descent. This presents a unique chance to reconnect with their ancestral homeland and take advantage of the numerous benefits of being a citizen of the European Union.
Although the Polish citizenship application process can take several months, with the right preparation and expert support, it can be made more efficient and streamlined.
In this article, we will explain the process, the key criteria, costs of polish citizenship and how to make the most of your time to smoothly navigate all the necessary steps.
Key Takeaways
- Who can apply for Polish citizenship by descent?
- How long does the process of confirming Polish citizenship by descent take?
- Is there anything I can do to speed up the process?
- How can we help you?
Understanding Polish citizenship by descent
According to Polish law, individuals of Polish descent who meet certain criteria are recognized as Polish citizens from birth.
As a result, the application process mainly focuses on proving these criteria.
This includes having at least one ancestor who:
- Was a Polish citizen
- Lived in Poland at some point after 1920
- Did not formally renounce or lose their Polish citizenship
For more information on these criteria, read the article Who is eligible for Polish citizenship.
Check if you qualify for polish citizenship by descent
How long does the process of confirming Polish citizenship by descent take?
When obtaining Polish citizenship, several factors can impact the duration of the process.
According to the current processing times by the Polish government, the entire procedure can take between 12 to 18 months.
This timeline is influenced by multiple factors, including gathering the necessary documents, preparing a correct application, and the high demand for Polish citizenship, which increases the workload of the authorities.
It is important to remember that the procedure depends not only on the response time from Polish authorities but also on any relevant foreign bodies, such as those in your own country of birth, meaning some aspects may be out of your control.
The more complex your case, the longer the process might take.
Steps to confirming Polish citizenship by descent
Here’s a general overview of the process, where the main challenges lie, and where the most time might be spent.
1. Eligibility Validation
First, it is important to check if you meet the criteria for confirming Polish citizenship by descent. Under current Polish citizenship laws, anyone with a Polish ancestor who lived in Poland after 1920 and did not renounce or lose their citizenship may be considered a Polish citizen by birth.
The best way to do this is by contacting experts who understand the basic requirements.
You can do this by filling out a free eligibility quiz to determine if you meet the criteria.
After completing the quiz, a Lexmotion expert will contact you within 24 hours to assess your situation.
2. Document Search and Collection
If you pass the eligibility check, you can begin searching for your ancestors’ documents, ask other family members for any available records or personal documents, and locate the necessary materials in your country.
This includes:
- Birth records: These are essential documents needed to prove the relationship between you and your Polish ancestor, including each direct relative between you on the family tree.
- Marriage records: These can help establish name changes and confirm if someone was born within marriage, thus inheriting their father’s citizenship.
- Polish identity card or passport: In some cases, your ancestor’s identity document may help further prove their Polish citizenship.
If you know the names and details of each relative in your direct line of ancestry, this part of the document search might be quicker. You may even find original Polish documents, and in rare cases, everything you need right away.
However, in most cases, you will need to search for these specific documents.
Depending on your ancestor’s history, Lexmotion experts will help identify the key documents required for your specific case.
What if I don’t have the necessary documents?
Of course, finding Polish documents that confirm citizenship can sometimes be challenging on your own.
In such cases, the best option is to use the assistance of Lexmotion experts, who can handle this process in Poland.
In some situations, where there is less information or significant gaps in your documents, our experts will search for supporting documents in local archives.
Since this involves direct contact with local authorities in Poland, using expert help can streamline the process and allow you to gather the required documents without needing to travel to Poland.
From our experience, this process can take between 3 to 6 months, depending on the complexity of the case.
3. Preparing and Submitting the Application
Once you’ve gathered all the documents – including official translations if any are not in Polish – you will need to complete the application.
Keep in mind that the application must be submitted in Polish. This is where we can assist you, helping to manage the complexities of Polish legal language.
4. Application Review and Decision
After your application is submitted to the Polish authorities, it can take several months for it to be reviewed.
During this time, the Polish office verifies all aspects of your application. In addition to reviewing original documents from Poland, they may contact the local consulate in your country – or countries where your ancestors lived, if necessary – to confirm the information in your application or obtain additional documents.
This means that the time needed to review your Polish descent and approve your application depends on both the Polish government and any local authorities with whom they need to collaborate.
5. Confirmation of Citizenship
If your application is approved, you will receive an official administrative decision confirming your Polish citizenship from birth. In most cases, this means you hold dual citizenship with your current country of residence.
From start to finish, we estimate that the entire process can take between 12 to 18 months, depending on the nature of your case and various other factors affecting the timeline.
What about applying for a Polish passport?
A Polish passport is only available to Polish citizens. Therefore, you must first confirm Polish citizenship before you can apply for a passport.
For your application, you will need:
- Standard passport requirements, such as a photo, your name, and date of birth.
- A certified copy of your Polish birth certificate. This must be issued by a Polish civil registry office: if you were born outside Poland, this means you must register your foreign birth certificate in Poland, not just translate it. This may sound complicated, but we can assist you!
- If you’re married/divorced/widowed, you will need a certified Polish marriage certificate (registered with a Polish civil registry office), with the appropriate notation – we can help you obtain this document!
- The decision confirming your Polish citizenship.
It’s also worth noting that, like confirming citizenship, applying for a passport does not require a visit to Poland. Passport applications are submitted through the local Polish consulate, where you will also collect your passport.
When submitting the application, the consulate will inform you of the expected waiting time for the passport, which typically should not exceed 90 days. Therefore, it’s advisable to plan ahead, especially if your Polish passport is crucial for future plans, such as traveling to any EU country.
For more information on the passport application process, see the article How to get a Polish passport
How to speed up the process
As you can see, the process of applying for a Polish passport heavily depends on confirming your Polish citizenship.
If you want to speed up the process, there are a few things you can do:
- Understand the requirements: Confirming Polish citizenship means satisfying eligibility criteria set set by Polish law. Before starting, review your case to ensure you have a good chance of success. You can do this quickly by filling out our free eligibility quiz.
- Conduct research: Ask your family members and try to gather as much information as possible. In addition to names, it helps to know the dates when your Polish ancestors emigrated, as well as the cities or towns they came from.
- Gather original documents: Having as many documents as possible on hand will be a big advantage. This means you’ll spend less time searching for them later and can focus on tracking down any missing details.
From our experience, the most common challenges are missing information and obtaining missing documents.
In such cases, it’s best to consult with experts who are familiar with the process.
Lexmotion can help you obtain Polish documents, guide you through the most efficient path to gather foreign documents, arrange translations, and complete the application form. As experienced legal experts, we can identify any potential challenges and ensure your application is well-prepared, making the entire process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Summary
Confirming Polish citizenship by descent is a process that, with due diligence and commitment, is within reach for anyone who meets the legal criteria.
The most important step is the initial verification to determine whether your Polish heritage qualifies you for citizenship confirmation.
At every subsequent stage, Lexmotion experts are available to assist, ensuring that the process runs smoothly and efficiently, with your application properly completed.
Although the entire process may take around a year, expert support ensures that every step is fully managed, and you, as the applicant, can have confidence that you will receive comprehensive assistance throughout the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents are needed to confirm Polish citizenship by descent?
To apply for Polish citizenship, you need all documents that prove your Polish ancestry. First, you must have a Polish ancestor who lived in Poland at any point after 1920 as a Polish citizen and who did not formally renounce or lose that status.
Next, to confirm Polish citizenship, you will need documents that verify your relationship to that ancestor. This includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other documents that establish a direct line of descent from your Polish ancestor.
These documents must always be in Polish. If they are in any other language, a sworn translation into Polish is required.
For more details on the documents and process, see What the Process of Polish Citizenship by Descent Looks Like.
Can I expedite the process of applying for Polish citizenship by descent?
There is no fast track to expedite the process of confirming Polish citizenship. However, well-prepared documents and a correctly filled-out application can significantly reduce obstacles and make the process more efficient.
What happens if my application is denied?
If your application is denied, there is typically no option to reapply. However, you can file an appeal to a higher authority. Alternatively, you can pursue a different procedure, such as obtaining citizenship directly from the President of Poland. This is a very long process and is entirely arbitrary, with no set criteria or merits.
Do I need to go to Poland to become a Polish citizen?
You do not need to be physically present in Poland to apply for Polish citizenship by descent. However, during the process, you may need to contact local Polish government offices to locate documents or confirm aspects of your genealogy. In such cases, the assistance of experts based in Poland can be very helpful.
