Your Path to Polish Citizenship by Descent
If you have Polish ancestry, you may already be entitled to Polish citizenship by descent and with it, the right to live, work, and travel freely across the European Union. Whether your parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was Polish, you could hold one of the world’s most powerful passports without ever moving to Poland.
What Is Polish Citizenship by Descent?
Polish citizenship by descent, also known as confirmation of citizenship, is the legal process of proving that your Polish heritage entitles you to citizenship today. If at least one of your ancestors was a Polish citizen after 1920 and did not lose their citizenship before your birth, you may qualify.
Once confirmed, you become a Polish and EU citizen. This opens the door to extraordinary opportunities for you and your family.
Benefits of Polish Citizenship (at a Glance)
Becoming a Polish citizen is more than paperwork. It’s a life-changing upgrade.
Live, Work, and Study Anywhere in the EU
Visa-Free Travel to 180+ Countries
Access Top Universities at Local Rates
Healthcare and Social Benefits Across Europe
Generational Advantages
Consular Protection Worldwide
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Why Choose Poland Passport?
We take care of the hard parts so you don’t have to.
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You Don’t Need to Learn Polish or Understand Legal Jargon
We handle every form, translation, and official letter in flawless Polish—so nothing gets lost in translation.
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You Don’t Need to Figure Out Which Documents Matter
We know exactly where to find your ancestors’ records and how to secure legally valid copies from Polish archives.
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You Don’t Need to Spend Months on Trial and Error
We prepare your application correctly the first time, avoiding costly rejections and delays.
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You Don’t Need to Manage Multiple Applications
Applying with family? We coordinate everything so you can share documents and move through the process together.
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You Don’t Need to Travel to Poland
We guide you from eligibility to passport—all remotely—so you can complete the process from anywhere in the world.
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You Don’t Need to Worry About Government Deadlines
We track every date, requirement, and follow-up so your application stays on schedule without you lifting a finger.
Every citizenship case is unique. Some are straightforward, others require deep research and complex document retrieval. That’s why we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all pricing.
Fixed, Transparent Fees — After your initial assessment, we’ll quote you a specific fixed price that will never change. No hidden fees, no surprises!
Family Discounts — We offer special rates when we process multiple applications from the same family.
Value for Peace of Mind — You’re investing in accuracy, speed, and stress-free success.
How Do I Apply?
To confirm Polish citizenship, you must provide evidence that your ancestor held Polish citizenship. Each applicant or family typically needs to conduct research in the Polish archives. There are several archives across the country. Some are regional, others contain immigration records or military service records. Managing these searches can be difficult if you live outside Poland or do not speak Polish.
Foreign documents are not considered proof of Polish citizenship. Only documents created originally in Poland are accepted. This is a common source of confusion. For example, a United States naturalization document that lists Poland as a birthplace has no legal weight in a Polish proceeding. There are limited exceptions for areas such as Ukraine or Belarus when the territory was once part of Poland.
The majority of our clients require additional original documents from the Polish archives beyond what they currently have. This research is part of the service we provide.
All foreign documents, including birth and marriage certificates, must be translated into Polish by a translator who has special approval from the Polish government. This requirement is often misunderstood. Only translators on the official list are accepted.
It is also required that you have a physical representative in Poland during the process.
Your citizenship application must be completed entirely in Polish and must prove a direct, unbroken line from your Polish ancestor to every applicant requesting citizenship by descent.
In most cases we defend the application before the Governor’s Office in Warsaw. The government must be satisfied that citizenship was never lost or renounced by anyone in the hereditary chain. There are multiple legal rules related to loss of citizenship and they can be complicated. Demonstrating that an ancestor never relinquished citizenship is often the longest part of the case, particularly for applicants from large countries such as the United States or Canada where records are held by many geographically dispersed consulates.
More complex cases may require meetings and additional legal motions at the Governor’s Office. The strongest approach is to prepare the application thoroughly and precisely so that follow-up questions are minimal. Incomplete or poorly prepared applications are a frequent cause of long delays.
When the process is successful, the applicant receives a formal citizenship declaration. This is a physical document issued by the Polish government.
Once citizenship is confirmed, each new citizen must obtain Polish civil records such as a Polish birth certificate and marriage certificate. This step is essential and often overlooked. Mistakes or inconsistencies in these documents can prevent you from obtaining your passport and may create an endless bureaucratic loop. Spelling errors are the most common issue we see.
You cannot apply for a Polish passport without Polish civil records.
We often speak with frustrated individuals who have been declared citizens but are unable to obtain their passports. Our experience in this specific area helps resolve these issues efficiently.
At the final stage, passport forms must be completed in Polish. You must appear in person at a Polish consulate with the application fee, preferably in cash in your local currency, to submit your passport request. The processing time typically takes another couple of months.