According to the Polish Constitution, the only way to lose Polish citizenship is to officially renounce it. The state and the state authorities do not have the right to deprive anyone of Polish citizenship, although in the past the situation was different, and there was such a possibility.
Therefore, to lose your Polish citizenship, you must independently and officially apply for the renunciation of Polish citizenship. Such an application is reviewed by the Ministry of Interior and Administration and then signed by the President of the Republic of Poland, who expresses his consent in writing. From the moment the decision is issued, a person is no longer considered a Polish citizen.
How can Polish citizenship be renounced?
To renounce Polish citizenship, you need to apply to the President of the Republic of Poland through the relevant Voivodeship Office, in accordance with the place of residence. If you reside abroad, your application needs to be forwarded to the nearest Polish Consulate appropriate to your place of residency. The application for renunciation of Polish citizenship can be submitted in person or via post. Please keep in mind that all the documents need to be officially signed by you and all the foreign documents need to be translated by a sworn translator. There is a set of documents that need to be attached along with the filled form, your photograph, and consent to renounce Polish citizenship. Please note, that you need to provide evidence of your other citizenship e.g. valid passport of another country (other than Poland) as you need to prove that by renouncing Polish citizenship you will not become stateless.
Does renunciation of Polish citizenship by the parents have any impact on children?
When the parent applies for renunciation of their citizenship, it automatically extends to the children as well. If the application for renunciation of Polish citizenship is submitted only by one of the parents, then it is also transferred to the minor child who remains under his/her permanent care, if parental responsibility is not vested in the other parent, or if the other parent agrees. In the case of a child over 16, it is necessary to obtain his/her consent to the renunciation of Polish citizenship.
Polish citizenship renunciation – what should you know?
In case you need to renounce your Polish citizenship due to various reasons, such as a plan to hold a public position in a government, involve in political activities or plan to take over any public position that does not allow dual citizenship, etc. – we can help you with preparing your Polish citizenship renunciation application for lodgement with the Polish Government.
There is a set of documents that you would need to have with you, and we will give you the necessary guidance in that matter. In most cases, you will first need to confirm your Polish citizenship and go through the process of Polish citizenship confirmation. In addition to that, you will need to register your vital records in Poland, such as your birth and marriage certificate, in case you are married. We take care of the process comprehensively, and we will make sure your Polish citizenship renunciation application is complete and finalized as soon as possible.
