Polish citizenship is passed by “the right of blood”.
This legal principle means that citizenship is inherited from parents, not determined by the place of birth.
If one of the parents holds Polish citizenship (or is a person of Polish descent), it is passed to the child irrespective of whether the child was born in Poland or abroad.
This applies equally to children born outside Poland.
It also applies to people born in countries with the “right of soil” e.g. USA.
Being born in a country that grants citizenship by birth does not exclude holding Polish citizenship at the same time.
If you were born in the USA to at least one Polish parent (or a parent of Polish descent – to your Polish grandparents), you can claim Polish citizenship despite the fact you acquired US citizenship at your birth.
Poland allows dual citizenship, so acquiring another nationality does not cancel Polish citizenship.
In any case it is necessary to go through the official process of Polish citizenship confirmation via the Polish Government, and you can lodge such an application either directly at the Voivodeship Office in Poland or the nearest Polish Consulate General.
Both options lead to the same administrative decision issued by Polish authorities.
The process in some cases may be complex and overwhelming, and it requires knowledge of Polish language and most of all, Polish citizenship acts which are applicable to each case.
Each application is assessed based on the citizenship law in force at the time of relevant events in your family history.
If you need to involve a proxy in Poland, who will manage your case and the entire process on your behalf, do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation of your case.
A proxy can represent you before Polish authorities and significantly simplify the procedure.
How do you know if you qualify for Polish citizenship by descent?
If at least one of your ancestors was born in Poland or one of the former territories of Poland, and resided there till after 1920, likely she or he was a Polish citizen and so you are. The year 1920 is particularly important due to the introduction of modern Polish citizenship law. We just need to prove that Polish citizenship was not lost by any of your family members and was passed to you. Loss of citizenship in earlier generations must be carefully analysed under historical regulations.
If you have any Polish documents of your ancestors, such as expired Polish passports, Polish birth certificates, Polish marriage certificates, documents proving military service in the Polish army in case of male ancestors, this is already a good base to claim your Polish citizenship by descent. Such documents are often crucial evidence in citizenship confirmation proceedings.
Is a Polish birth certificate enough to prove someone is Polish?
Being born in Poland does not make one a Polish citizen.
Polish law follows the rule of blood, not the rule of land.
Therefore, a Polish birth certificate only proves the fact that someone was born in Poland, but it does not confirm he or she was a Polish citizen.
Additional documentation is required to confirm citizenship status.
A birth certificate is tied to the ‘rule of land’, not the rule of blood and that means it is needed to provide plenty of alternative documents proving that your ancestor held Polish citizenship.
These may include identity documents, residence records, or military service records.
It is necessary to additionally prove that a person resided in Poland, held Polish IDs, etc.
If you have a Polish birth certificate of your parent or grandparent, this is already a good starting point to find further documents and evidence.
There is a chance that the family lived there for a period, and it will be possible to track further records from the area.
Local archives often hold valuable documentation supporting citizenship claims.
We can extract a lot of valuable information from a Polish birth certificate, which will enable us to search for the right documents confirming the Polish citizenship of your ancestors.
This information often determines the success of the application.
How do I apply for a Polish passport once I am confirmed Polish citizen?
Once your Polish citizenship application is complete, and your vital records (such as birth and marriage, in case you are married) are registered in Poland, you can apply for your Polish passport at any Polish Consulate General. Registration of civil status records in Poland is a mandatory step before passport application. You can find the closest one to you on the following website https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl/
Passport application fee is payable directly at the Polish consulate at the day of passport appointment.
Fees may vary slightly depending on the country of application.
It needs to be lodged in person as you are required to leave your fingerprints, since passports are biometric.
Personal appearance is mandatory.
After a couple of weeks, your passport will be ready for pick up and you can enjoy full rights as a Polish / European Union citizen.
This includes freedom of movement, work, and residence throughout the European Union.
FAQ - Becoming a Polish citizen by right of blood
Does Polish citizenship by descent apply even if I was born outside Poland?
Yes. Polish citizenship is passed by the right of blood, which means it can be inherited regardless of the place of birth, including countries such as the United States.
Do I automatically become a Polish citizen if my parent was Polish?
In legal terms, citizenship may be inherited at birth, but in practice it must be officially confirmed through a formal procedure before Polish authorities.
Can Polish citizenship be lost in earlier generations?
Yes. In some historical cases, Polish citizenship could be lost due to events such as foreign military service or naturalization, which must be carefully analysed during the confirmation process.
Is it possible to hold Polish citizenship together with another nationality?
Yes. Poland allows dual citizenship, so holding another nationality does not require giving up Polish citizenship.
If you need help, contact us for a FREE consultation:
The process of Polish citizenship confirmation can be complex, so having accurate and complete documentation is crucial. If you are not sure if the evidence you have is enough, 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.
We also offer research services in case you don’t have any or enough evidence. What we do, we take care of your application from the very beginning till the very end, until you hold your Polish passport in your hand.
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
