Being able to call yourself a Polish citizen sounds great, doesn’t it? If you are looking for help with applying for a Polish passport or maybe you are still not sure if you could get it – stay with us for a moment. As you may probably know, we assist people with their special needs.
No matter if you are interested in getting a Polish passport or you would like to find out if your ancestors held Polish citizenship, we are here to help you. Thus, we have prepared a brief guide, in which you will find 6 things you should know about Polish passport.
1. Who is eligible for a Polish passport?
You are eligible for a Polish passport if at least one of your ancestors was born in Poland or one of the former territories of Poland and resided there after 1920. We just need to prove that Polish citizenship was not lost on the way by any of your family members.
2. Is a Polish passport a European Union passport?
Yes, it is! Poland has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and therefore, with Polish citizenship, you automatically become a European Union citizen and a Polish passport is equal to a European Union passport.
3. If I do decide on a Polish passport, what are the advantages?
- With a Polish passport, you can travel freely within Europe and not only. There are no border controls inside the EU and special gates for EU citizens at the airport if you enter Europe out of the Schengen zone.
- With a Polish passport, you can live everywhere within the EU. EU countries are open for you. What does it really mean? You can live everywhere without any limits or restrictions. This right extends to your family members e.g. spouse, children, even if they didn’t hold a Polish passport.
- With a Polish passport, you can work everywhere within the EU. The European Union job market will become open and widely available for you. Once you apply for Polish citizenship and get a Polish passport, you will not need any visa or permission to work in any of the EU countries. The same would apply to opening business in Poland or anywhere in the EU.
- With a Polish passport, you can study for free at many public universities or get reduced fees.
- With a Polish passport, you get the benefits of dual citizenship. You can use whichever passport is more convenient while applying for visas or entering countries outside Europe (e.g. Asia).
4. What documents do I need to get a Polish passport?
In order to apply for your Polish passport you need to be Polish citizen and possess the following documents:
- Polish Citizenship Confirmation,
- Polish birth certificate,
- Polish marriage certificate (if applicable),
- Passport and PESEL application filled in Polish,
- Passport photo.
5. How do I apply for a Polish passport?
Once you have your Polish citizenship confirmed, you would need to lodge your Polish passport application with the nearest Polish Consulate or General Polish Embassy with Consular services. We may assist you with that step as well! We will help you with preparing an application for your Polish passport. It usually takes around 2-3 months to have a Polish passport issued.
6. How strong is a Polish passport?
A Polish passport is an international travel document issued to nationals of Poland, and may also serve as proof of Polish citizenship. Besides enabling the bearer to travel internationally and serving as an indication of Polish citizenship, the Polish passport facilitates the process of securing assistance from Polish consular officials abroad or other European Union member states in case a Polish consular is absent.
According to the 2021 Visa Restrictions Index, Polish citizens can visit 183 countries without a visa or with a visa granted on arrival. This ranks Polish passport on 10th place in terms of travel freedom (according to Henley Passport Index). Polish citizenship will allow you to live and work in any country within the EU as a result of the right of free movement and residence granted in Article 21 of the EU Treaty.
What’s more, every Polish citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The Polish passport, along with the national identity card allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
