Restoration of Polish citizenship – What is the Process and Who can do it

Process for Restoration of Polish Citizenship – who can do it?

Restoration of Polish citizenship is a process open to people who lost or renounced Polish citizenship in the past and would like to get it back and become Polish citizens.

Starting from 15 May 2012, the process of restoration of Polish citizenship came into force and became available for a narrow group of people as a new way of acquiring Polish citizenship.

Restoration of Polish citizenship is available to people who between August 1962 and December 1998 acquired foreign citizenship and at the same time obtained permission from the Polish Consulate to change Polish citizenship into foreign citizenship, and because of that lost Polish citizenship.

The foreigners who held Polish citizenship in the past and lost it before 1 January 1999 may apply to the Minister of Interior for its restoration. The foreigner needs to fill in a special application for restoration of Polish citizenship and lodge it with the Polish Government.

Where can I apply for restoration of Polish citizenship and how long does it take?

The Minister of Interior issues the decision on restoration of Polish citizenship based on the Polish Citizenship Act and following the Code of Administrative Procedure.

In the case of a complete application, the decision can be expected within two months.

If in the past, in order to acquire foreign citizenship, you had to renounce Polish citizenship, this procedure is the easiest option for you to become a Polish citizen.

Can my family members have their Polish citizenship restored along with me?

Restoration of Polish citizenship does not cover your relatives and for example, children born when you were not a Polish citizen. The process only applies and is relevant to one and a specific person who has lost or renounced Polish citizenship.

You once again become Polish citizen, from the date of the decision on restoration of your Polish citizenship.

Picture of Barbara Cebula

Barbara Cebula

Polish Citizenship Specialist at Five to Europe. Supports clients throughout the process of Polish citizenship confirmation, managing citizenship applications from the beginning till the very end and conducts ancestry research to support Polish citizenship claim.

Understanding the “right of blood” (ius sanguinis) in Polish law

12 May 2026

The concept of Polish citizenship ius sanguinis (Latin for “right of blood”) is central to understanding how individuals with Polish ancestry can claim citizenship, even generations after their ancestors left Poland. According to Polish law, citizenship is transmitted through descent, not place of birth.

Why a free consultation is the best first step to your Polish citizenship

23 April 2026

A Free Polish citizenship consultation isn’t just a convenient starting point—it’s the smartest, most strategic move you can make when beginning your journey toward reclaiming or obtaining Polish citizenship. If you’re one of the millions with Polish ancestry or ties to Poland, you might qualify—yet the eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and application procedures can be complex and nuanced.

My grandfather’s Polish birth certificate: is it my golden ticket to citizenship?

18 March 2026

If you’ve been holding onto your Polish grandfather’s birth certificate and wondering whether it could be your golden ticket to citizenship, you’re not alone. For many descendants of Polish emigrants, particularly in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia, the phrase “Polish citizenship via grandfather’s Polish birth certificate” represents not just a piece of family history, but a potential pathway to reclaiming European citizenship.