Between 1918 and 1951, acquisition of another citizenship caused the loss of Polish citizenship. Living in the territories lost by Poland after World War 2 and being of Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, or German nationality. Please note that your eligibility for the confirmation of your Polish citizenship depends on a much more complicated set of laws that were changing several times during the last 100 years. So far we were helping people in getting documents and confirming their Polish citizenship. In 2019, Polish citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 172 countries and territories, ranking the Polish passport 16th in the world according to the [Henley Visa Requirements Index]. 1) obtaining another country's citizenship, If a marriage certificate does not exist, then it is necessary to prove that the father recognized his child within 1 year from the date of child's birth, which is often quite complicated due to fundamental differences in Polish and other countries' legislation. ] The new act also amends procedures for confirmation or loss of Polish citizenship. A completely new institution of acquiring Polish citizenship that was previously unknown to Polish law is the restoration of citizenship. when were your parents born? Before submitting any official applications to the Polish government our experts would assess your concrete case. Bulgaria Bulgaria recently made changes to its citizenship law, and now you can apply for citizenship by descent up to The other three did not, to my knowledge. Before that, there was neither Once permanent Polish residence based on marriage is obtained, you need to stay married to the Polish citizen for 3 years and have stayed in Poland legally and uninterrupted for 2 years before you can apply for Polish citizenship based on marriage. WebThe required documents to confirm Polish citizenship and obtain a Polish passport are divided into three groups: 1. I was born in the US in 1950. If you cant communicate in Polish, you must attend your application meeting with a translator. Ive read that even submitting ones name for potential military service in a foreign country nulls the military paradox rule for Polish citizenship, but Ive also read that WWII is specifically exempt. The application must be submitted in Polish. This means that, in such a case, the provisions of the Polish Citizenship Act were not applied. No. Dads mother was born in Posen (Poznan) in 1878 and immigrated to America in 1886. Recognition as a Polish citizen. Polish citizenship can be granted in no case, however, for persons who have been penalized by Polish courts for an offense that entails a restriction of rights, or for persons who are in state of insolvency. WebHow does it work? The entire family fled to Canada in 1924 due to religious persecution. Some of the most common routes include naturalisation by residence. Its a relatively simple process, but its made harder by the fact that Polands borders have changed so much in the last 150 years. Legal guardians may represent minors and other dependents who wish to apply for Polish citizenship. After learning more details from Mary Ann and consulting the case with Kasia (author of this article) we have more information which might be useful for all (Mary Ann already received this information). Nationality and the right to hold a British Passport. Polish nationality law is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis. My grandfather was born in Ulanov in 1907. Six of my great grandparents were born in Poland, the other two were born in a village in Slovakia about 4 kilometers from the Polish border. I have a question regarding the section There should be no event of loss of Polish citizenship header Until 1951 and 1951-1962. We have a Certificate of Birth issued by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in a parish in Heidenau, Germany in 1947 which stated his birth date, but not birth location. The new act widely provides for acquiring Polish citizenship by recognition as a Polish citizen. If your ancestors are still alive, they can apply for restoration of citizenship in order for you to apply. My great-great grandparents were born in Galicia (Dabrowa Tarnowska), present-day Poland, in the late 1850s/early 1860s to parents also born in Galicia/Tarnow in the early 1800s. Dear commenters, for more detailed inquiries, we encourage you to contact us through our research request form https://polishorigins.com/research-request, which will allow us to analyze your case better. If you are not sure if you qualify for Polish citizenship by Descent, take our short quiz. You dont qualify for confirming Polish citizenship. I was born in 1993 in England would I qualify for Polish citizenship? His parents were Ukrainian. His family had lived in this area for more than 3 generations. My parents were both born in Illinois. The problems resulting for members of the Polish diaspora, Polonia, from being treated by Poland solely as Polish citizens are compounded by the difficulty to renounce Polish citizenship (see above). It would be important to know: Below are presented major events that would result in the loss of Polish citizenship: Until 1951 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; orLeft Poland before 1920, but your ancestors' residential address can befound in the Polish, Prussian, Russian or Austro-Hungarian registers; and. Part 6What is the PolandPassport.com Process of Acquiring Polish Citizenship by Descent. In addition, such individuals are not entitled to consular protection of their home country under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. staff Pondering the above mentioned issue it should be taken into consideration in cases of: From 2012 My grandfather was born near Lublin Poland in 1905. Application for "Confirmation of Possession or Loss of Polish Citizenship" can be made through Polish embassies or consulates abroad. By recognition. we have found that if you have a grandparent born in the UK, or if your mother is British Polish citizenship shall not be restored to a foreigner who: voluntarily joined the armies of the Axis or their allies during the period between 1 September 1939 and 8 May 1945; or accepted/held an official post in service of the Axis powers or their allies during the period between 1 September 1939 and 8 May 1945; or acted to the detriment of Your email address will not be published. He emigrated to the US in 1905 with his parents, both of whom were born in Poland (father in Wieliczka and mother in Bochnia). Starting in 1968, the former communist regime initiated an anti-Semitic campaign that forced out of Poland from 15,000 to 20,000 Polish Jews, who were stripped of their Polish citizenship.[9]. Article 10. Documents that prove or establish the family line. Many thanks in advance. This was done right after they were born. How do you know he was born in Biaystok? My father born. My grandmother married my US citizen grandfather in 1953. They immigrated to the US in 1904 and 1907. We need to be aware that until November 11th, 1918 there was no Poland on the map. [citation needed] The governments of the United States and Canada have issued travel warnings for Poland, still in effect in February 2007, to those "who are or can be claimed as Polish citizens"[14] that they are required to "enter and exit Poland on a Polish passport" and will not be "allowed to leave Poland until a new Polish passport has been obtained". Hi, Also, there can be no break in Polish citizenship between the emigrant ancestor and the descendant. Access to banking, personal and business loans, mortgages, investment incentives reserved for EU citizens. It is possible to obtain a permit for permanent or temporary residence in Poland, provided that the applicant intends to reside in Poland and not in another country. Unlike the US many other countries, being born in Poland is not enough to prove citizenship. : men who were over 50-years-old lost their Polish citizenship if they naturalized in a foreign country, as did their minor children). ] Part 12Are there genealogy tips for procuring documents to obtaining Polish citizenship? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My grandfather was born in Rycice in 1891. qualify for the UK Ancestry Visa based on holding a Commonwealth passport with a UK born grandmother or grandfather, However, a great weakness of this way is to prevent the applicants family from acquiring citizenship in the future. The issue of losing one's citizenship before 1962 is complex, and the different principles of the law governing it are the following: Polish law does not explicitly allow dual citizenship, but possession of another citizenship is tolerated since there are no penalties for its possession alone. service can assist to regularise your visa status. http://www.zhppgk.org/organizacja_harcerek/egazetka_5/Nasze%20Instruktorki/mydlarzowa.htm We outline all of the requirements. Naturalization in a foreign country with the exception of those who were in the age of military service in Poland. So, even if we would be able to prove that Mary Anns great-grandfather lived in Poland in 1920s, we do not have the continuity in all generations, all the way to Mary Ann. At the same time, the Polish borders were also changing. Part 6 A Look Back in Time. By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company. Because Polish citizenship is determined by the citizenship of a Polish parent without any explicit limitation for the number of generations elapsed abroad for descendants of Polish emigrants, which may create problems for individuals of Polish descent born abroad who, in spite of having no ties to Poland, are nevertheless subject to all obligations of Polish citizenship, formerly including military service (Poland suspended compulsory military service on December 5, 2008 by the order of the Minister of Defence and compulsory military service was formally abolished when the Polish parliament amended conscription law on January 9, 2009; the law came into effect on February 11). Please contact the American Citizen Services via e-mail at acswarsaw@state.gov or by calling (48) 22 504 2784 to schedule an appointment. As the loss of the Polish citizenship due to marriage was in force only till January 1951, Anna kept her Polish citizenship and she passed it on to her children Polish citizenship is acquired by: No need to be discouraged though if you cant find these documents for your case: at Lexmotion, we know exactly where to look and we can point you in the right direction. The Polish Citizenship Act of 8 January 1951 was in force until 22 August 1962. rules set out in the Repatriation Act of 9 November 2000 This act was amended not registered their marriage cert and still got a passport? 1) is settled in the territory of the Polish State, as far as it is not entitled to another countrys citizenship. The ancestor must have been born in Poland (or one of the former Polish Territories) and resided there after 1920. In other words: double citizenship is now tolerated under Polish law. ] That year, he emigrated to the USA and became a naturalized citizen in 1966. A woman acquires Polish citizenship by marriage to a Polish citizen. I have his prisoner documents that were issued by the Nazis as well. Applications can be made in any language but must be accompanied by a sworn translation into Polish. By origin, by naturalization, by residency, by option. when did your grandparents leave for the US? My grandfather was born in the US in 1911 when they immigrated to the US would I qualify? Part 5 Guests of PolishOrigins at Baucianka. 44) on Polish States citizenship came into force, that means before January 31, 1920 and Germans that held Polish citizenship had their passports cancelled and citizenship revoked unless they had a Polish citizen as a partner who was also living in Poland. [11], Travellers to Poland who have Polish ancestors are advised to obtain in writing a statement from a Polish Consulate as to whether or not they will face any obligations in Poland, such as military service, taxation, or the requirement to obtain a Polish passport. Serving in a foreign military does not require permission of Polish military authorities, if the person resides in that foreign country and has its citizenship.[12]. The previous act laid down that no Polish citizen could concurrently be a citizen of another country. Thanks. There should be no event of loss of Polish citizenship. If he or/and his parents were found, he would have been recognized as a Polish citizen. See also: Do you need Polish citizenship to live in Poland? Lived in Poland, legally, for the last 10 years, Lived in Poland for the last 2 years as apermanent resident. The Badass Polish Special Forces and GROM, Fat Thursday. Moreover, a Polish citizen cannot rely with a legal effect vis--vis the authorities of the Republic of Poland on a simultaneously held citizenship of another country and on the rights and obligations resulting thereof. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of participating countries* to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less, when they meet all requirements. Collect social benefits reserved only for EU citizens (social security, healthcare, unemployment, pension, retirement, housing credits, et al.). I and my partner are not married and we have 4 kids. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Those that had left Polish lands before the country became independent in 1918 are unable to become citizens. Is there any chance I may qualify for Polish citizenship by descent? Loss of citizenship happens by: [16] When in a non-EU country where there is no Polish embassy, Polish citizens have the right to get consular protection from the embassy of any other EU country present in that country. Polish citizenship is bestowed upon stateless children over sixteen years of age only with their consent. My great-grandfather was born in Michlkovice (Ostrava, Czechia) in 1903, but indicated in all subsequent documentation in the US that he was Polish and born in Michaowice. My Grandfather was born in Poland in 1921, and was naturalized as an Australia citizen in 1958. This means that the applicants children shall also acquire citizenship, but only when they were minor on the day of its granting. His Polish documents may no longer exist due to the destruction that occurred during the war, and his moving around to different refugee camps. [5] Thus, not all ethnic Poles could claim Polish citizenship if they had left Poland before the country became an independent state in 1918. I heard back from one of the Polish law firms I reached out to that I am not eligible because my grandmother, born in the US, reached the age of majority before 1951 and therefore lost her Polish citizenship. On the other hand justified is the opinion in the acts sentence: as far as it does not serve another countrys citizenship to the person concerns not only the age of persons but also minors especially in connection with the first sentence of article 2: We dont know much about his origins, even searches via internet havent turned up much info. Article 14. If loss of citizenship occurred due to regulations of citizenship laws of the past (1920, 1951, 1962) it is lost for all descendants of that person. (See Art. Do I have a chance to claim citizenship by descent? [ This is referred to as a 'military paradox'. Polish ancestors are obviously needed. In practice, this considerably obstructs proceedings as it requires the foreigner to conduct extremely time-consuming and painstaking searches for documents and to restore them. He was a salesman and did not enter military service in the US. All living family members in the direct line between you and your Polish ancestor are most likely eligible. Mary Anns grandfather left his family in Europe before 1920 when there was no Poland state on the world map. b) is entitled to homely surrounding in one of communes on the territory of the Polish State, which have made up a part of the Austrian State or the Hungarian State, The first reason is that a Polish passport equals an EU passport and having Polish citizenship and subsequently applying for a Polish passport means: open access to the EU work market However, Maria married in December 1950 an American citizen and, as a result, she lost her Polish citizenship. extensions. Some EU countries have free healthcare. If your grandparents were born before 1920, which is the case as far as I remember from the information you shared with us before, you are not eligible to confirm your citizenship by descent. Would my grandfather have to have registered as a Polish citizen in some way in the US? Hence, such children of only a Polish father (mother is not Polish) born when this law was in force must show an original birth certificate or a paternity declaration signed before they turned one year old (in Israel, this declaration is usually done in the hospital, when registering as the newborn's father and it is saved in the archives of the Ministry of Interior and a copy of it can be issued on request). Article 5. 2. If you want a Polish passport and you werent born here, the descent is the easiest avenue to explore. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. WebTo get Polish citizenship through grandparents you will need to file a formal application with the Polish authorities. Would my kids (9 and 14) and I be eligible for polish citizenship? Would I be eligible for Polish citizenship based on this? Travel to the United States on a temporary basis, including tourism, temporary employment, study and exchange. Individuals applying for citizenship are obliged to substantiate their application and to provide important reasons why they should be granted Polish citizenship. Such an agreement was negotiated in the 1972 Consular Convention between the United States and Poland[13] providing that: However, since Poland abolished visa requirements for United States citizens in 1991, this provision no longer applies. Dual citizenship was not recognized in the 1920s, and a Polish citizen naturalized in another country lost his or her Polish citizenship automatically (with one exception as described in article 11). For such claims the burden is on the state to prove that it was even possible for a citizen to have lost his citizenship. The 2021 Definitive 14 Part Guide to Acquiring Polish Citizenship by Descent, Acerca de la Ciudadana de la Unin Europea. My great-grandfather was born in Bielitz, Austria (now Beilsko Poland) in 1874, immigrated to the US in 1879, and became a naturalized US citizen in 1925. Free Polish Citizenship Eligibly Assessment. My grandmother was born in 1927 in the US. Without a record of military service or its excuse, loss of citizenship for a Polish male living abroad was impossible before January 19, 1951. its not considered a crime. My grandmother was very active in the Polish Girl Scouts. If Mary Anns grandfather had been a minor in 1920, would he have been recognized as a Polish citizen? On my mothers side, both parents were born in Galicia in 1883 and 1888. Often times, our research team who are intimately familiar with archives in dozens of cities and towns gets to work to fill in the gaps. About 90% of our clients need some additional, original documents from the Polish archives beyond what they have in order to prove their case. First, you need to have Polish ancestors, typically just one. All official documentation, application forms, statements and archival records must be translated into Polish by a translator with special accreditation. If youve overstayed your visa, our Overstayer Status Trace For your grandfather to become a Polish citizen, he would have to reside in Poland at that time, if he was born in the US and stayed there in 1920, then we cannot prove your eligibility for Polish citizenship. How would I check to see if there are any official POLISH documents in existence? Firstly, great page, it is very informative. Nonetheless, if the ex-Pole returned to Poland afterwards due to the different agreements of repatriation that were signed between the USSR and Poland (e.g. His wife followed him roughly 5 years after (1897) with the remaining children. documents confirming the naturalization date of your ancestors or the lack of naturalization. Qualify for jobs that non-EU citizens cannot. Being born in Poland or having a Polish birth certificate alone does not prove one's citizenship. Renunciations of U.S. citizenship are accepted at the U.S. Embassy by appointment only. A Polish passport gives you entry into the European Union. My great grandfather was born in Poland in November 1921, captured in Normandy in 1944 and lived in Scotland as a prisoner of war. WebLegislation on Polish citizenship is based on the right of blood (ius sanguinis). Your Polish passport may be closer than you think! If my Polish ancestor lost citizenship, is there any way to restore it? The Polish Nationality law is the law that allows individuals to become a citizen of Poland. When Poland was finally reinstated, the first law on Polish citizenship entered into force on January 31st, 1920. As just a single example, you will need to provide evidence that your grandmother, did not lose her citizenship by holding a public office. My great grandparents perished in the Holocaust in 1944. She was naturalized in the us in 1970 while pregnant with me. Children born to at least one Polish parent acquire Polish citizenship irrespective of place of birth. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Otherwise, they will be still considered Polish citizens by the Polish State. It would quite difficult process to confirm your Polish citizenship but it could be possible if there was found documentation for your great-grandfather listed them as permanent residents in Poland in the 1910s or/and in the 1920s. WebIn Poland, after independence was regained, under the 1920 Act on Citizenship of the State of Poland, Polish citizenship could be lost in some circumstances. Find the closest American Space in Poland where you can connect with the U.S. Other U.S. government agencies work with Poland, some with offices in the Embassy and some throughout the country. Adam had four children born in Poland; his son Franciszek born in 1925 and three girls: Maria born in 1927 and twin girls Ewa and Anna born in 1929 in Poland. It is a common confusion to mistake the confirmation of Polish citizenship with the Polish passport as a physical document. For more information on renunciation of U.S. citizenship please visit the Department of State website. My great-grandparents both naturalized as US citizens in 1943, when my grandmother was 15. Basing on a general rule that results from the Polish legislation it could be maintained that children who obtained Polish citizenship simultaneously with their father (illegitimate with their mother) are Polish citizens although they became American citizens by birth. 4. My grandfather was naturalized in Canada in 1938. By clicking Subscribe you're confirming that you agree with our, 240 Crandon Boulevard, Suite 240, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, USA. My great-grandfather died in 1972, and my great-grandmother died in 2000. There are complexities in Polish citizenship law and a variety of ways that you can be disqualified including service in a foreign military, holding public office outside of Poland, adoption and a host of others. Will, I have to write you that probably you could not apply to confirm the polish citizenship by descent your ancestors were abroad when Poland regulated this case (in 1920), however if you would like us to look closer on this case and have someone study all the nuances, feel free to contact us to [emailprotected].

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