Foreigners can acquire Polish citizenship in many ways:
- A child acquires Polish citizenship if at least one parent is a Polish citizen.
- If a child is born on Polish soil and both parents are unknown or their citizenship is unknown, or they have no citizenship a child acquires by law Polish citizenship.
- A minor foreigner adopted by a Polish citizen acquires Polish citizenship if the full adoption had been completed before the child turned 16 years.
- Polish citizenship can be granted by the President of the Republic of Poland.
- Polish citizenship can be restored by the Minister of Interior.
- A foreigner living in Poland can receive Polish citizenship by naturalization. The decision is issued by a proper Provincial Governor (wojewoda).
- Application for the Polish citizenship to the President of the Republic of Poland is being submitted through a Provincial Governor (wojewoda) or a Consul (for applicants residing abroad), or by post with an officially certified signature. A foreigner with a parental custody over children under 18, additionally includes personal data of the latter in the application.
Citizenship may be also granted to:
- Foreigners who have lived without interruptions for at least 2 years in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU-resident permit, have been married to a Polish citizen or hold no citizenship.
- Foreigners who have lived without interruptions for at least 2 years in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit granted to a refugee.
- Foreigners who have lived without interruptions for at least 3 years in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU-resident permit. They should have a stable source of income and are entitled to the occupied dwelling.
- Foreigners who have lived without interruptions and legally for at least 10 years in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU-resident permit. They must have a stable source of income and are entitled to the occupied dwelling.
- Foreigners who are minors residing in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU-resident permit, whose one parent is a Polish citizen and the other parent has consented to the recognition.
- Foreigners who are minors residing in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU-resident permit, whose parent’s citizenship has been restored and the other parent has consented to the recognition.
- Foreigners who have resided without interruptions for at least 2 years in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit issued on the grounds of Polish ancestry.
Foreigners need to pass a C1 certificate of proficiency in the Polish language except for minors mentioned above.
How to apply for Polish citizenship?
Application should be submitted in Polish and original documents should be presented at the Consulate. Foreign documents should be translated into Polish and the translation should be certified by a Consul.
The foreigner should submit the following documents:
- application to the President of Poland for granting Polish citizenship
- documents proving identity and citizenship;
- photographs (no more than 6-months old, passport size) of the person concerned in the application.
- documents confirming the data provided in the application form, e.g.: documents confirming identity and citizenship of minor children included in the application, applicant's marriage certificate or other document proving civil status, documents confirming identity and citizenship of the spouse, documents confirming Polish citizenship of ancestors or descendants.
More information you will find on the website www.msz.gov.pl.