About Polish Passport
01
How do I apply for a Polish passport?
Once you have your Polish citizenship confirmed and you are issued with your Polish birth certificate and Polish marriage certificate in case you are married, the next step for you is to lodge your Polish passport application with the nearest Polish Consulate General. You need to apply for a Polish passport in person as you are required to leave your fingerprints since the passport is biometric. The passport application fee is payable directly at the Polish consulate either via bank transfer or on the day of the passport appointment. We may assist you with that step as well and help you prepare a passport application, fill in all the necessary forms, and advice on the list of original documents you need to take with you to the appointment. A Polish passport is valid for 10 years, and it takes around 2-3 months to have it issued, but in case of emergency, you can apply for a temporary Polish passport which can be issued in a couple of days, or even at the spot.
02
What documents do I need to apply for a Polish passport?
To apply for your Polish passport you need to be a Polish citizen and possess the following documents:
- Polish Citizenship Confirmation
- Polish birth certificate
- Polish marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Passport application and PESEL application filled in Polish (if needed, we can help you with filling them)
- Passport photo (as per Polish Government requirements)
We provide necessary support with Polish passport applications and required documents to our clients so in case you need any assistance, please do contact us for help.
03
Where do I apply for a Polish passport?
Once your Polish citizenship is confirmed and you become a Polish citizen, in case you reside abroad, you can apply for your Polish passport at the nearest Polish Consulate General or Polish Embassy with Consular services. It is worth mentioning that Polish Consulates around the world organize passport appointments at various locations so in case you do not have any in your city, please check on their website for any information related to their appointments in various locations. Once you apply for a Polish passport, it can then be posted to you, so you do not have to travel to the consulate to pick it up.
We can assist you with your Polish passport application as well, help you in filling your passport application form and PESEL application, book an appointment for you and give you all the necessary information and details to make it as smooth as possible.
04
How strong is a Polish passport? What are the benefits of a Polish passport?
A Polish passport is an international travel document issued to citizens 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 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 the Polish passport in 10th place in terms of travel freedom (according to the Henley Passport Index). Polish citizens can 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.
Every Polish citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The 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.
05
What are the rules to apply for a Polish passport?
To apply for a Polish passport, you will need to follow these general steps:
- Determine your eligibility: To be eligible for a Polish passport, you must be a Polish citizen. If you were born in Poland or have a parent or grandparent who was a Polish citizen, you probably qualify for passport application.
- Gather your documents: You will need to gather the required documents, including your birth certificate, proof of Polish citizenship or a valid Polish passport or ID, and a valid photo ID.
- Lodge Polish passport application: You will need to complete the passport application at the Polish consulate or Polish embassy in case you live abroad, or at the nearest Passport office in Poland. Please note, since a Polish passport is biometric, it is necessary to appear in person.
- Provide photos: You will need to provide passport-sized photos that meet the specific requirements for a Polish passport.
- Pay the fee: There is a fee for a passport, which can vary depending on where you are applying. The payment can be done online or at the spot.
- Wait for processing: Processing times can also vary, but it typically takes several weeks to have your new international travel document issued. You will receive your case reference number, and you can always check the status of your Polish passport application online.
It is important to note that there may be additional requirements or steps depending on your specific circumstances, so it is always best to check with the Polish consulate or Polish embassy in your country for the most up-to-date information.
06
Why should I confirm my Polish citizenship, become a Polish citizen and obtain a Polish passport?
If you have Polish ancestry, there is a chance you can confirm your Polish citizenship by descent, become Polish citizen and get a Polish passport. Why should you do that?
- You will become a Polish citizen, but in addition to that also a European Citizen. That gives you access to the entire European Union without any visa requirements or stay limits.
- You can travel freely within Europe (Schengen zone border-free area) and not only. Once you are in the Schengen zone; you are a European Union citizen and that gives you the right of free movement.
- You can live anywhere within the EU. A Polish passport gives you freedom to reside and live anywhere in Europe.
- You can work anywhere within the EU. Once you are a Polish passport holder, the European job market is widely open for you. You just need to apply for a job and get it. Your employer will not need to sponsor you or acquire a job permit, you as a Polish and European citizen can work without any visa.
- You can pass it to your children and grandchildren and so on. Yes, once you are eligible for Polish citizenship confirmation by descent, so are your children and your further descendants in the future. One day they will be grateful for a gift of Polish citizenship!
- Your spouse, despite not being a Polish citizen, gets equal rights to yours to work and reside in Europe. Polish citizenship cannot be passed via marriage. Once you are a Polish passport holder, your spouse gets the same rights as yours to reside and work in any European country.
Contact us for a free consultation and confirmation of your eligibility for Polish citizenship by descent!
07
What is a PESEL number in Poland?
PESEL (Polish: Powszechny Elektroniczny System Ewidencji Ludności, Universal Electronic System for Registration of the Population) is the national identification number in Poland. It consists of 11 digits that are unique for every registered person.
08
Do I need to have a PESEL number to apply for a Polish passport?
PESEL is needed for your Polish passport to be issued. It is requested at the same time as your Polish passport application in case you lodge it via the Polish Consulate.
09
Does a PESEL number confirm Polish citizenship?
A PESEL number does not prove Polish citizenship. It is also issued to foreigners who apply for residenecy in Poland. PESEL number is used for tax settlements in case you work in Poland.
10
How do I apply for my first Polish passport if I never had a Polish passport before?
You need to book an appointment with the nearest Polish Consulate general to lodge your passport application. Please remember to bring all the original Polish documents such as your Polish citizenship confirmation, Polish birth certificate and Polish marriage certificate in case you are married. You will receive all required and necessary documents from us and will be ready to apply for your Polish passport. While booking the appointment please choose option “FIRST 5 OR 10 YEAR PASSPORT – PESEL NOT ISSUED” from the list below:
The PESEL number application will be lodged for you by the Polish Consulate, it will be assigned to you in Poland and you will have it printed on a photo page of your Polish passport.
11
Polish Passport application – how to get it from the nearest Polish Consulate General?
Once you have your Polish citizenship confirmation issued and your vital record registered in Poland (your birth certificate and marriage certificate in case you are married), the last step for you is to lodge your Polish passport application at the nearest Polish Consulate General. You can book your appointment online via the following website: https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl/ We help our clients with booking the appointment and make sure they take everything with them to have a successful application and hassle-free experience.
It is important for you to bring your newly issued Polish documents in original with you, along with your valid id (e.g. Passport) and a photo that meets the Polish passport requirements which you can find here https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/zdjecie-do-dowodu-lub-paszportu
In most cases payment can be done at the spot on the day of your appointment, but best is to confirm it on the consulate’s websites.
If you never had a Polish passport issued in the past and was never issued with a PESEL number, the consular staff will apply for it for you on your behalf and it will be also printed on a photo page of your Polish passport. If you have all the documents sorted out and everything is in order, it’s a simple process and it is just a formality and the reason you must do it in person is that Polish passports are biometric, and you are required to leave your fingerprints. If you wish, you can have your Polish passport mailed to you at additional cost and that can save you some time and trouble of travelling to the Polish Consulate and pick it up in person.
Speak to our consultants about Your Polish Citizenship.
Live in Europe with no limits.
- Send us a query
Fill in a simple contact form with your and your family details and we will get back to you to book a FREE consultation.
- We guide and advise
We will help you pick the best strategy and manage your application on your behalf. You will be informed about every step in the process. You do not need to speak Polish. You do not need to travel to Poland.
- Enjoy Polish passport
Once you are a confirmed Polish citizen, you can apply for your Polish passport on your own! Do that at the nearest Polish Consulate General or Polish Embassy with Consular services, we’ll show you how.