Poland is part of the EU and has one of the world's best passports.
More than 9 million Americans have Polish ancestry, with a large concentration of them in the Chicago area.
Polish citizenship by ancestry is very open. But not all ethnic Poles could claim Polish citizenship; those whose ancestors left before the independence in 1918 would have had to be able to trace their address in local registries.
Your ancestor could have also lost their Polish citizenship if they became a citizen of another country before 1951. If your ancestors are still alive, they can apply for restoration of citizenship in order for you to apply.
Poland ancestry-based citizenship
Italy deploys a principle called Jure Sanguinis when it comes to citizenship. Simply put, this law ensures that anyone with legitimate ancestral ties to Italy can be entitled to Italian citizenship through descent.
The Polish Citizenship Act indicates the basic principle of acquiring Polish citizenship by birth, i.e. based on the principle of the law of blood (ius sanguinis).
There are roughly 20,000,000 people of Polish ancestry living outside Poland, making the Polish diaspora one of the largest in the world.
There are roughly 8.2 MIllion Americans in the US with Polish ancestry.
Polish citizenship and nationality law is set out in the Polish Citizenship Act of 2009, which was published on 14 February 2012, and became law in its entirety on 15 August 2012. To qualify for Polish Nationality by Descent (called Confirmation of Polish Citizenship), an applicant must have a direct Polish ancestor. This can be a parent, grandparent or great grandparent born in Poland. The act indicates the basic principle of acquiring Polish citizenship by birth, i.e. based on the principle of the law of blood (ius sanguinis).
Individuals with parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents born in Poland may be eligible for Polish citizenship. The intriguing aspect is that there are no constraints on the number of generations you can trace back to establish your Polish ancestry, provided you possess Polish records validating that your ancestor held Polish citizenship after 1920.
Poland deploys a principle called Jure Sanguinis when it comes to citizenship. Simply put, this law ensures that anyone with legitimate ancestral ties to Poland can be entitled to Polish citizenship through descent. However, it is crucial to be aware of circumstances that, as determined by the law, might lead to the loss of citizenship along the ancestral journey.
You need to have at least one ancestor who:
To qualify you must confirm that the chain of Polish citizenship has never been severed across generations in order to qualify. The Polish citizenship of your ancestor must have been passed down through the family before it reached you.
None of your ancestors should have lost their Polish citizenship before transferring it to the following generation. Therefore, the Polish Citizenship By Ancestry program just serves to prove that you have been a Polish citizen all along, even if you and your parents were unaware of this.
Requires the applicant to hold a Slovakian residence permit (hyperlink to Slovak Residency requirement), which is an unusual requirement for citizenship by ancestry programs. However, this allows for more extensive vetting of potential applicants. There is no set time for how long an applicant must hold their residency, and the residency application process is simplified for the purposes of the citizenship by descent program. Additionally, there is no physical residence card issued. In practice, you can apply for both residence and citizenship at the same time at your nearest Slovak embassy, without needing to come to Slovakia for any part of the process.
Alternatively, you can obtain a "Slovak Living Abroad" (hyperlink to SLA section/def )certificate, also known as "semi-citizenship," which grants you a residence permit and a physical residency card.
(SEE SLA Requirements- hyperlink)
The duration of the entire process is currently unknown, but it is certain that you will not be required to demonstrate proficiency in Slovak or renounce your other citizenship upon obtaining Slovak citizenship.
Regarding your family members, your spouse will not receive any special treatment. If your children were born before you became a Slovak citizen, they would need to have a qualifying Slovak ancestor to be eligible for citizenship (hyperlink to children FAQ).
For example, if you are qualifying through your Slovak great-grandfather (3rd generation), your children, who are four generations removed, would not be eligible. However, any children born to you after you become a Slovak citizen would automatically inherit Slovak citizenship at birth.
How would my ancestors have lost their Polish Citizenship?
There are many ways your Polish ancestors could have lost citizenship, for example: If your male ancestor:
…then he would have lost his Polish citizenship. (These dates and ages have to do with compulsory military service in Poland at the time)
For women,
Documents Required to Confirm the Possession of Polish Citizenship by Descent are divided into 3 groups:
It is necessary to prove that there was no loss of Polish citizenship as a result of emigration and naturalization in another country. Relevant documents produced by the country in which your ancestor lived and finally settled are:
Usually the most easily obtainable documents are those proving the family line from your ancestors that emigrated from Poland to you. These are:
Children born to at least one Polish parent acquire Polish citizenship irrespective of place of birth.
By establishing Permanent Residency in Italy, on the basis of being eligible for Citizenship by Descent, you can obtain citizenship within 2-4 months. Minimal physical presence in Italy is required.
An applicant who has resided legally in Poland for a continuous period of at least 3 years on the basis of a permanent residence permit, an EU long-term residence permit or the right of permanent residence may for Naturalized Citizenship.
The process can take a year or more once your application is submitted. After citizenship confirmation, there are additional steps as new citizens must obtain Polish civil records certificates (birth and marriage if applicable) in order to actually apply for a passport.
How long does it take to get Polish Citizenship by Descent
The Do-It-Yourself Route (DIY): 24-36 months
After you have your Polish citizenship confirmed and are legally recognized as a Polish citizen, you can apply for the Polish European passport.
Anyone who wants to apply for a Polish passport must first book a visit to the Polish Consulate at their OFFICIAL WEBSITE. Without booking a visit first, it is not possible to apply. Everyone must apply in person. It is not possible to send the application and documents by mail or to be represented by anyone else, as today Polish passports are bio-metric and fingerprints must be taken at the Consulate.
To file an application for the Polish European passport after confirming your citizenship, it is necessary to attach your Polish birth and marriage certificates to your application. In the event that you were born and/or got married outside Poland, you must submit translated foreign certificates to the Polish Civil Registry Office and obtain Polish vital records. This procedure is called transcription and usually presents no problems or difficulties. Processing usually takes 3-4 weeks.
Due to the latest changes in the Polish PESEL and civil acts system, there is a new demand by some Polish Consulates to apply for a PESEL number before applying for a passport. In practice these two applications can and should be processed by the Consulate at the same time.
If you are in a hurry to receive your passport, you may apply for a temporary one. Consulates can usually issue temporary passports on the same day. Since Poland entered the EU and with the substantial improvement in the system of Polish passports, however, the regular 10-year passport is issued quite fast (1-2 months), so in most cases a temporary one is not necessary.
Passport photos must be taken at the most 6 months before applying for the passport. These and your signatures is actually the only things you need to do by yourself.
You only need to pay for the passport while applying at the Consulate.
Confirmation and Registering of your Polish Citizenship
Determine through Polish legislation if you qualify for the confirmation of Polish citizenship by descent.
Collect all relevant ancestral documents, meaning- issued by Polish Authorities in Poland after 1920. The most important issue for the confirmation of Polish citizenship are Polish documents. Pursuant to the POLISH CITIZENSHIP ACT OF 2011, an application not supported by Polish documents will not be even accepted for processing. This new Polish citizenship law almost completely transfers the burden of proof to the applicant.
All foreign documents must be translated into Polish and certified by a Polish Sworn Translator or by a Polish Consulate.
The official 11-page application effective in 2011 should be filed in Polish. Once the application is filed, it must be processed by a Head of Province relevant to the last place of residence in Poland. Direct contact with an inspector who handles the case at the Provincial Office ensures that we are able to closely follow the course of the entire procedure.
To file an application for a Polish European passport after confirming your Polish citizenship, it is necessary to attach the your birth and marriage certificates. In the event that you were born and/or got married outside of Poland, you must submit translated foreign certificates to the Polish Civil Registry Office and obtain Polish vital records. This procedure is called transcription and usually poses no problems or difficulties. It takes 3-4 weeks to process.
Each Polish citizen and permanent resident in Poland has a Polish Resident Identification Number PESEL. This number is required to receive a Polish passport, a Polish ID, or to open a bank account and perform other acts-in-law essential for Polish citizens. PESEL is granted via a consulate when the passport application is filed.
The entire process ends with preparing and filing an application for a Polish European passport and attaching all the aforementioned documents. You must personally submit the passport application to the nearest Polish consulate in your country of residence. To file the application, you must make an appointment via the OFFICIAL WEBSITE. If you fail to do so, the consulate may not accept the application.
Administering an application for granting a Polish citizenship including the delivery of a certificate of granting or denial of granting a Polish citizenship*
Administering an application for a restoration of Polish citizenship including the delivery of the decision on restoration of Polish citizenship*
Administering an application for a confirmation of Polish citizenship including the delivery of the decision
There have been four significant waves of immigration from Poland to the United States since the days of those first settlers—romantics, explorers, and individuals merely seeking a better economic existence. The first and smallest, brought on by Poland's split, lasted roughly from 1800 to 1860 and was primarily made up of political dissidents and individuals who left after the breakup of their national state. Between 1860 and World War I, a second, significantly larger wave occurred. During this time, immigrants sought a better quality of life economically and mostly belonged to the rural class, hence the term "za chleben emigrants" (for bread). A third wave of political refugees and dissidents arrived between the end of World War I and the end of the Cold War. A fourth wave of wakacjusze immigrants—those who enter the country on tourist visas but find work and remain there either illegally or legally—has occurred since the demise of the Soviet Union and Poland's political changes. Most of these economic immigrants want to make money so they can go back to Poland.
The establishment of Panna Maria, an agricultural settlement in Texas, by roughly 800 Polish Catholics from Silesia in 1854 marked the beginning of the second wave of immigration. The floodgates of immigration were also opened by this symbolic opening of America to Poles. The newcomers tended to congregate in industrial Midwest and Middle Atlantic States cities and towns including New York, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, and St. Louis, where they found employment as steelworkers, meatpackers, miners, and later autoworkers. These cities continue to have sizable Polish American populations. The crucial role that these Poles in America played in the expansion and development of the American labor movement—Joseph Yablonski of the United Mine Workers being just one example—remains as one of their most enduring legacies.
During this time, there is once more confusion over the precise number of Polish immigrants, and there is significant underreporting, particularly during the 1890s when immigration was at its peak. However, it is generally accepted that roughly 2.5 million Poles moved to the United States between the middle of the nineteenth century and World War I. This migratory wave can be further divided into two subsequent movements of Poles from various parts of their divided country.
It was anticipated that a significant number of Polish immigrants would return to their native country following the conclusion of World War I and the restoration of an independent Polish state. Although there was no such exodus, immigration over the following generation significantly decreased. This was greatly influenced by the Great Depression as well as the 1920s immigration quotas enforced by the United States. A extra 500,000 immigrants—many of them refugees—from Poland arrived between 1918 and the late 1980s and the fall of communism, however, due to political tyranny in interwar Europe, the displacement caused by World War II, and the exodus of dissidents.
Now beginning is the fourth wave of Polish immigration. This is primarily made up of younger individuals who experienced communism as children. The most recent wave of post-Cold War immigrants, whether they are long-term residents, wakacjusze, or short-term workers, continue to add new blood to Polish Americans, ensuring that the ethnic community continues to have foreign-born Poles among its contingent, despite their relatively small numbers due to immigration quotas. The number of Poles who were either born abroad or native-born people with at least one Polish parent was estimated to be close to three million according to the 1970 census. In the 1980 and 1990 censuses, about eight million people and 9.5 million people, respectively, stated they had Polish ancestry in their background.
The quality of life in Poland is generally considered to be good. The country has a strong economy, a stable political system, and a high standard of living. Poland is also a beautiful country with a rich history and culture.
Some of the factors that contribute to the high quality of life in Poland:
Strong economy
Poland has a strong economy with a low unemployment rate. The country's GDP has been growing steadily in recent years, and the standard of living has been improving.
Stable political system
Poland has a stable political system with a strong democratic tradition. The country has been a member of the European Union since 2004, and it is committed to upholding the rule of law and human rights.
High standard of living
The standard of living in Poland is high. The country has a well-developed healthcare system, a good education system, and a wide range of cultural and recreational amenities.
Beautiful country
Poland is a beautiful country with a rich history and culture. The country has a diverse landscape, including mountains, forests, and beaches. Poland is also home to many historical cities, such as Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk.
Unlike the majority of members in the European Union who adopted the Euro, Poland has the Polish zloty. Overall, the cost of living in Poland is very affordable, making it a great option for people looking to live in Europe on a budget.
Overall cost of living
Poland is a relatively affordable country to live in, with a cost of living that is significantly lower than in Western Europe or the United States.
Rent
Rent is the single most expensive cost of living in Poland, but it still varies significantly depending on the city. In Warsaw, rent for a one-bedroom apartment can range from 1,500 to 3,000 PLN per month. In smaller cities, rent can be much lower, starting at around 500 PLN per month.
Food
Food is another relatively affordable cost of living in Poland. Eating out can be as cheap as 15 PLN for a meal, and groceries are also very affordable.
Transportation
Public transportation is also very affordable in Poland. A monthly pass for the city of Warsaw costs around 100 PLN.
Other costs
Other costs of living in Poland, such as utilities, clothing, and entertainment, are also relatively low.
Is there a Double-Tax Treaty between the US and Poland?
Yes, there is a bilateral tax treaty between Poland and the United States. The treaty was signed on February 13, 2013, and it entered into force on January 1, 2015. The treaty's main purpose is to avoid double taxation of income between the two countries.
What are the potential tax implications of becoming a dual citizen with Poland?
In accordance with citizenship-based taxation, U.S. citizens are taxed on their worldwide income by the U.S.government, and Polish citizens are taxed on their worldwide income by the Polish government under the parameters of residential taxation. This means that U.S. citizens who become dual citizens with Poland can be subject to double taxation on the same income.
To avoid this situation, the U.S. and Poland have a bilateral tax treaty in place that outlines the rules for determining which country has the right to tax certain types of income and provides for tax credits to be claimed in the country of residence. If a U.S. citizen becomes a resident of Poland, they will be taxed as a resident of Poland, however, they may be able to claim a foreign tax credit on their U.S. tax return for any Polish taxes paid on the same income.
Poland defines a tax resident as a person who either:
Has their center of vital interests (or center of personal or economic interests) in Poland; or
Spends more than 183 days in Poland in a calendar year.
The center of vital interests is a subjective concept, and it is determined on a case-by-case basis. However, factors that are considered include the person's family ties, employment, property ownership, and other factors that indicate that the person has a permanent home in Poland.
The 183-day rule is a more objective test, and it is based on the number of days that a person physically stays in Poland in a calendar year. If a person stays in Poland for more than 183 days in a calendar year, they are considered to be a tax resident of Poland, regardless of whether they have their center of vital interests in Poland.
Spouses of those who gain Polish citizenship by descent and live outside of Poland typically are ineligible for citizenship. However, a spouse of an EU citizen has many rights that are equivalent to their citizen spouse. Rules are different for non-Poles who live in Poland with their spouse. Naturalization is possible after a period of time but rules are complex.
Generally speaking children and grandchildren are eligible to apply subject to a few limitations. If your children are under the age of 18, they can be automatically included in your application for citizenship. They will need to individually apply for passports. If they are 18 or older and qualify, they will need to apply separately. Your grandchildren can also apply.
All living ancestors in the direct line between you and your Polish ancestor are eligible, including your children,.
Your spouse can get a residency permit to live with you
Your US citizenship is not affected by this in any way.
There is no exact reference to dual citizenship in Polish law. There are no published penalties for possessing dual citizenship. Hence, for practical purposes, dual citizenship is permitted. It is important to note that those who are citizens must use their Polish passport in cases involving Polish authorities. For example, on an international flight, you must use your Polish passport to enter and exit Poland.
Most people whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in Poland qualify for Polish citizenship through descent. In essence you need to have at least one ancestor who: Was born in Poland (or one of the former territories) and resided there after 1920.
If you have Polish ancestry, you are already technically a Polish citizen and you can apply to have your citizenship verified or by providing your heritage and by satisfying other specific eligibility criteria from the Polish government.
For citizenship by descent, the process can take a year or more. After citizenship confirmation, there are additional steps as new citizens must obtain Polish civil records certificates (birth and marriage if applicable) in order to actually apply for a passport.
Capital city
Warshaw
Visa free countries
179
Total area
312,696 km²
Languages
Polish
Currency
Złoty (PLN)
Population
38,179,800
Time zone
UTC+1 (CET)
Passport with
visa-free travel to 179 countries
Process
completed in
1 - 2 years
Freedom of movement in
the EU
No
residency requirement
Applicants may be eligible to one of the following:
Your ancestor was born in Poland (or one of the former territories) and
resided there after 1920; or
Left Poland before 1920, but your ancestors' residential address can be
found in the Polish, Prussian, Russian or Austro-Hungarian registers; and
Didn't lose their Polish citizenship
until the day of your birth.
Take a free eligibility test today! Your eligibility for ancestry-based citizenship will be determined within 48 hours by the internal genealogy team at Global RCG.
Week 1
Verify eligibility and onboarding with Global RCG.
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Week 2
Book an appointment at the Polish consulate
near you
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Week 3
We help you collect all the relevant documents
and fill the forms
Month 3
Go to your consulate appointment with
your documents and forms
Month 16
Receive your Polish
citizenship certificate
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