After Poland signed an agreement on joining the European Union, the flow of those wishing to acquire its citizenship has increased significantly. Mostly residents of neighboring countries are moving. This is due to the fact that together with a Polish passport, migrants get a chance to study and work in any state that is part of the EU.
Power legislation
The Government of Poland has established that citizenship can be counted on if there are serious reasons.
You can apply for a passport:
- By the right of blood;
- By right of the soil;
- By naturalization;
- By decision of the president.
An applicant for the acquisition of citizenship must have lived in Poland for a certain amount of time in the status of a resident. Depending on the grounds for issuing a passport, the period of legal stay can vary from 2 to 8 years.
Also, a foreigner applying for Polish citizenship must have a permanent place of residence and earn or use savings that are sufficient for self-sufficiency.
Who will be denied a passport
Regardless of the existence of reasons for obtaining a passport, some foreigners will not be able to obtain Polish citizenship:
- The countries that violated the legislation;
- With a criminal record;
- Suspected of being associated with terrorist or criminal groups;
- Dangerous for the population of the country.
Conditions for registration
There are several ways to obtain Polish citizenship. This issue is regulated by the "Law on Citizenship" dated 15.02.1962
By birth
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Automatically given to children born on Polish soil, provided that either of the parents has her passport. Children adopted by citizens of the country and foundlings, whose parents are unknown, also have the right to apply for citizenship.
Citizenship is also automatically granted to children born on Polish soil, whose parents do not have citizenship of any country.
Origin (repatriation)
Foreigners whose ancestors were Poles can accept Polish citizenship. The procedure is available if they were on lands considered to be the territory of Poland and had the corresponding citizenship until 1939. Applications of migrants with direct relatives (parents, grandmothers, grandfathers) are accepted for consideration.
Nationality applications based on origin are carefully screened. This process can take up to 3 years. After receiving a positive decision, the foreigner is issued a repatriation visa. If the decision is positive, the passport is issued within a month from the moment of crossing the Polish border.
Reference! Foreigners with Polish origin who have been legally residing in the country for more than two years, in 2012 drastically simplified the review procedure and reduced the list of documents.
Through marriage
If there is a marriage bond with a person who has a Polish passport, the foreigner gets the right to take citizenship of the country. As in any EU country, the marriage relationship must last some time before a foreigner obtains citizenship.
For three years, the couple will be visited by an inspector to check if they live as one family. At this time, the foreign spouse is in the country on the basis of a residence permit. After the expiration of the established time frame, if the marriage is not recognized as fictitious, you can submit documents and receive a passport.
Naturalization
Foreigners can also apply for citizenship on the basis of naturalization. Among all European countries, Poland has the most loyal conditions. To get it, it is enough to live in the country on the basis of permanent residence for at least three years and have a stable income.
University admission and work
Students studying at universities in Poland, after receiving a diploma, can find a job and undergo a naturalization procedure. Specialists invited from abroad can also obtain a passport by concluding a long-term contract and living in the country for a specified period.
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Business and investment
Foreigners who open a company in Poland with jobs for Poles or who have invested at least PLN 5,000 in the economy receive a residence permit for a period of 5 years... After living with a residence permit for the specified time, you can get a Polish passport.
President's decision
The President of Poland has the right to issue a passport regardless of the presence or absence of grounds. In this case, the time spent in the country is not taken into account. By presidential decree, citizenship can be issued to a newly arrived foreigner.
Restoration of citizenship
Foreigners who had Polish citizenship before 1999, but then, for some reason, who became citizens of another country, can restore their passport. In this case, there is no need to stay for a certain period with a residence permit.
Double citizenship
Polish law allows dual citizenship. There is no need to give up your existing passport, but you should take into account the regulatory framework of the second country. In Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, dual citizenship is prohibited. At the same time, no sanctions are applied to violators in Poland itself.
Receiving procedure
The general process includes obtaining a temporary and permanent residence permit. After arriving in the country, the foreigner is issued a temporary permit. After it is reissued to a permanent one. On average, from the moment you enter Poland until it takes 8 years to obtain a passport.
Documents for registration
Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians must collect a package of documents for obtaining a passport.
Document | Requirements |
| international passport | You must attach a copy and all previously issued passports |
| Application form | Be sure to indicate the basis for obtaining citizenship |
| Pole's card (if available) | Attach a copy of the document |
| Autobiography | It is allowed to fill in any form |
| Birth certificate | With certified translation |
| Marriage certificate (if any) | With certified translation |
| Education documents | With copies |
| Birth certificates of children | With copies |
| Certificates that the applicant has no offenses and no previous convictions | From country of residence and Polish |
| Certificate of absence of dangerous diseases | Received at accredited centers |
| 8 color photos | 3.5 * 4.5 glossy |
| Labor contract | With an indication of the level of wages |
| Documents for children | diplomas, photos |
Also, when registering citizenship, you will need to be tested. On it, a foreigner confirms basic knowledge of the Polish language, the main provisions of culture and the law of the country.
Reference! In some individual situations, additional documents may be required.
Pole card
This is a document issued to citizens of the CIS and the Baltic countries with Polish roots. Such a certificate:
- Gives the right to receive free medical care;
- Allows employment without additional certificates;
- Allows you to issue a multiple-entry visa.
Where to get citizenship
The procedure for registration of citizenship is carried out at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If the application is submitted from outside Poland, the documents are accepted at the Embassy.
The process consists of several steps:
- Submission of collected documents;
- Confirmation of knowledge of language and culture;
- Waiting for an answer;
- Arrival in the country;
- Obtaining a passport.
Cost and terms of registration
The state duty at the consulates of different countries may differ slightly. In Poland, this amount is PLN 219. If a foreigner submits a relevant application, this money can be returned after consideration of the application.
The time frame for making a decision usually does not exceed 1 month. In exceptional cases, the process can be extended up to 60 days... In an emergency, the petition may be reviewed on the day it is filed.
What to do if a rejection is received
They can refuse to apply for citizenship without giving reasons. Most of this is due to the submission of false data or fraudulent documents.
If, in the process of studying the identity of the applicant, it is revealed that he poses a potential danger to the population of Poland, the foreigner will be advised to leave its territory.
Most often this applies to migrants who have been seen in connections with terrorists or who have violated the law. They may also refuse due to incorrect filling out of the questionnaire. In this case, you can correct the mistakes and re-submit the documents within two weeks.
If a petition was submitted to the president and he refused, the decision is not subject to appeal.
Reference! According to Polish law, it is impossible to deprive a person of citizenship. Only voluntary refusal is possible.
It is much easier to obtain Polish citizenship than any other European state. This is especially true for Russians and citizens of the CIS countries. A Polish passport gives the migrant all the benefits of EU citizens.
