If you have Polish ancestry or Polish parents or grandparents, you may be eligible to obtain Polish citizenship by descent and apply for a Polish passport.
In the process of Polish citizenship confirmation, you need to prove you are of Polish descent with formal and legally valid evidence, confirm kinship towards his or her Polish ancestor and prove that Polish citizenship was not lost by any of his family members and passed down the line all the way to you via ‘the right of blood’.
This step is essential, as a Polish passport can only be issued to confirmed Polish citizens.
What do you need to apply for Polish passport
To apply for a Polish passport, you must be a Polish citizen and prove that with either an expired Polish passport, or with a document confirming your Polish citizenship.
If you do not yet have proof of Polish citizenship, you must first complete the citizenship confirmation procedure.
You can get Polish citizenship based on Polish descent – in such cases you need to go through the Polish citizenship confirmation process, via naturalization or recognition as a Polish citizen.
Citizenship by descent differs from naturalization and does not require residence in Poland or knowledge of the Polish language.
The Polish by descent option requires proving your Polish ancestry by submitting evidence documenting lineage, and Polish citizenship.
This process does not require living in Poland or speaking the language, unless the naturalization process.
Before you can apply for your Polish passport, it is also necessary to register your birth certificate in Poland, and marriage, in case you are married.
These registrations result in Polish civil status documents issued by Polish authorities.
Polish citizenship confirmation is a separate process from Polish passport application, it is the step you need to take before you apply for your Polish passport and there are additional costs associated with it.
These costs depend on document collection, archival research, sworn translations, and possible professional assistance.
To apply for your Polish passport, you will need the following:
- Polish citizenship confirmation: An official document issued by the respective Voivodeship Office in Poland. You will receive this when you apply for citizenship by descent.
- Birth certificate: In case you were born outside Poland, you need to register your birth within the Polish Civil Registry Office. Based on that you will receive a Polish birth certificate.
- Marriage certificate: In case you are married, and the marriage took place outside of Poland, you need to register your marriage in Poland within the Polish Civil Registry Office. Based on that you will receive a Polish marriage certificate.
- PESEL: It is a Polish social security number used to identify Polish citizens. It will be assigned to you by a Polish Consul on the day you lodge your Polish passport application.
- Passport photo: (photo requirements
https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/zdjecie-do-dowodu-lub-paszportu )
All documents must be presented in original form at the time of application.
Keep in mind that you need to apply for your Polish passport in person at the nearest Polish Consulate General as you are required to leave your fingerprints, since passports are biometric and present originals of your Polish documents listed above.
Personal appearance is mandatory due to biometric data collection.
Getting a Polish passport - cost
The cost will vary depending on whether your Polish passport is expiring, and you need to renew it, or if you must first confirm your Polish citizenship and register your vital records in Poland.
First-time applicants usually incur higher overall costs than those renewing an existing passport.
This will mean you have to obtain legal documents needed to support your claim, organize sworn translations and in case you use help of an expert specializing in Polish citizenship by descent.
These additional expenses are separate from the official passport fee.
When it comes to the actual passport fee, it may vary based on your location so please contact the nearest Polish Consulate General for details or the one you plan to use for your Polish passport appointment.
Passport fees are set by consular regulations and differ slightly between countries.
Here is the list of most popular countries with links to their official websites with fees.
- United States of America: There are five consulates in the US, in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and the Polish embassy in Washington. Consular fees can be found online link.
- In Canada there are Polish Consulates in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and the Polish embassy in Ottawa. Consular fees can be found online link
- United Kingdom has four consulates –in Belfast, Edinburgh, Manchester and the Polish Embassy in London. Consular fees can be found online link
- Australia has a consulate in Sydney and an embassy in Canberra. Consular fees can be found online link
Polish Consuls organize consular appointments in various cities across the listed countries and for details, visit the embassy website in your country.
This allows applicants to apply closer to their place of residence.
This way you will have an opportunity to apply closer to your place of residence, and you can have your passport posted to you, without a need of picking it up in person.
Delivery options depend on local consular procedures.
In special circumstances, the Polish Consul can issue you with a temporary passport, which will be valid till your regular passport valid for 10 years is issued.
Temporary passports are issued only in justified and urgent cases.
Polish passport characteristics
The Polish passport is an official document issued to Polish citizens by the government of Poland, enabling international travel and serving as proof of Polish nationality.
It is recognized worldwide and provides extensive travel freedom.
It grants holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to numerous countries around the world, making it one of the most powerful passports globally.
In 2023, Polish citizens could travel to 184 countries without a visa or with a visa on arrival.
The passport is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors.
Validity periods are fixed and cannot be extended.
It can be used not only for travel but also for identification purposes within the European Union, where Polish citizens can move freely thanks to Poland’s membership in the EU.
Additionally, Polish citizens with a valid passport can reside, work, and study in any other EU country without needing a visa or permit.
Applying for a Polish passport involves submitting an application at a passport office in Poland or a Polish consulate abroad, providing necessary documents such as a birth certificate and national ID, and paying the required fee.
The procedure is formal but predictable when documentation is complete.
The process is straightforward but involves biometric data collection, which is required for the issuance of the passport.
FAQ: Cost of Getting a Polish Passport
How much does it cost to get a Polish passport?
The passport fee itself depends on the country and consulate where you apply, so exact amounts vary. Additional costs may apply if you first need to confirm Polish citizenship, register civil records, or obtain sworn translations.
Do I need to confirm Polish citizenship before applying for a Polish passport?
Yes. If you do not already have proof of Polish citizenship, for example an expired Polish passport, or Polish national id, you must first complete the Polish citizenship confirmation process, which is a separate step with its own procedures and costs.
What documents are required to apply for a Polish passport?
You need proof of Polish citizenship, a Polish birth certificate, a Polish marriage certificate (if applicable), a PESEL number (which in case you do not have one, will be assigned to you by a Polish consulate while applying for your first Polish passport), and a passport photo. All documents must be presented in original form at the consulate.
Do I have to apply for a Polish passport in person?
Yes. Applications must be submitted in person at a Polish consulate because biometric data, including fingerprints, are required for the passport issuance.
If you need help, contact us for a FREE consultation:
If you are not sure if the evidence you have is enough to support your Polish citizenship claim, please contact us for a free consultation. Our friendly Polish Citizenship Experts will assess your situation and case and advise on the best next steps for you. If you are interested in our services, we will be able to issue you a non-obligatory quote for our assistance.
Check if you qualify and contact us for a FREE consultation of your case. You can fill in our Contact form on our website, send us an email at contact@fivetoeurope.com or give us a call phone / WhatsApp / Signal + 48 509 374 209
