If you are British citizen, you may wonder how to keep European Union citizenship after Brexit and have easy access to the EU job market, freedom of travel across the Schengen Zone. If you have Polish roots, your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in Poland, there is a chance you too have acquired Polish citizenship.
Did you know that holding Polish citizenship grants you all the rights and benefits of European Union (EU) citizenship? As a member state of the EU, Poland extends these privileges to all its citizens, opening a world of opportunities across Europe. Here’s what having Polish (and therefore EU) citizenship means and how it can enrich your personal and professional life.
Polish ancestry represents a rich cultural and historical legacy that has left an indelible mark on global history. For millions of people around the world, tracing their Polish roots offers an opportunity to reconnect with a deep heritage and understand the journey of their ancestors. Whether you’re looking to explore your family history or reclaim Polish citizenship, learning about Polish ancestry opens the door to a fascinating exploration of tradition, resilience, and identity.
For many individuals with Polish ancestry, obtaining Polish citizenship by descent offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with their heritage, enjoy the benefits of European Union (EU) membership, and explore new personal and professional horizons.
In an increasingly globalized world, the ability to move across borders with ease has become an asset. For citizens of Poland, holding a Polish passport opens doors to a myriad of opportunities abroad within European Union and not only.
Polish citizenship follows the “right of blood” rule which means that a Polish parent passes it to his or her child at birth. If you have Polish ancestry, you know that someone from your family came from Poland or what used to be Polish territory, likely you are eligible for Polish citizenship by descent. It is also necessary to prove that your Polish ancestor left Poland after 1920, or provide an official and legal document issued by the Polish Government after 1920.
Obtaining a Polish passport based on descent involves a process known as “confirmation of Polish citizenship.” If you have Polish ancestry and can prove your descent from Polish citizens, you may be eligible to apply for confirmation of citizenship, which can then lead to obtaining a Polish passport.
The term “Polish origin” typically refers to an individual’s ancestral or familial connection to Poland. It implies that a person’s ancestors, parents, or family has roots or heritage in Poland. This connection may be through direct descent (e.g., having Polish parents or grandparents), and it signifies a cultural, historical, and often a linguistic link to Poland.
European Union (EU) citizenship comes with several benefits, although it’s important to note that EU citizenship is derived from the citizenship of a specific EU member state. This means that the citizens of individual member states, such as Poland, automatically become citizens of the European Union upon acquiring national citizenship.
Polish citizenship by descent, also known as jus sanguinis, can be claimed if you can prove that you have Polish ancestry and meet certain eligibility criteria. During the assessment process it is important to first establish that your Polish ancestor was a Polish citizen and that he or she passed Polish citizenship to his or her descendants including you.
Being a dual citizen and having an option to possess two passports bring a person many benefits such as freedom to use the one which is better in a particular situation, e.g. visa free entry to a country, or freedom of residence. If you are of Polish descent and know that someone from your family was a Polish citizen, you are likely eligible to confirm your Polish citizenship and get a Polish passport.
Polish passport holders get lots of privileges and benefits along with it. Apart from having free access to over 180 countries around the world, you get free and unlimited access to the European Union. In other words, you and your family can live in Europe without any time limits and work here without a need for a visa.
If you have Polish ancestry and think about getting your Polish citizenship and Polish passport, think no further!
Read about five reasons you should do it!
If you have Polish ancestry, you may want to consider applying for Polish citizenship by descent and subsequently obtain a Polish passport. To get a Polish citizenship certificate, you first need to go through the Polish citizenship confirmation process. You may wonder how easy it is. Well, the answer may be controversial, because it really depends on your circumstances, on your family history and events that took place in their life.
The Act on Polish Citizenship creates the competence of declaratory decisions in cases of confirmation or loss of Polish citizenship. They are unilateral and authoritative statements of the competent public administration body, which in these cases is a governor, in the form of an administrative decision whose object is to state whether the person defined in the decision holds Polish citizenship or has lost it.
Discover endless possibilities working, studying and living in Europe with European Citizenship.
We have vast experience, education and most of all knowledge about Polish citizenship law and regulations so we can assure you, you will be in good and professional hands.
Barbara Cebula
Polish Citizenship Specialist
