Polish citizenship by descent
Last reviewed against the official sources below: October 31, 2026.
| Who qualifies | Children of a Polish citizen are Polish by birth; you prove it through a confirmation decision |
|---|---|
| Generation limit | No limit stated officially; the chain must be unbroken. Ask your consulate |
| Filing authority | The voivode for your last place of residence in Poland, or the Masovian Voivode; from abroad through the Polish consul |
| Route types | Confirmation (potwierdzenie) if you are already Polish; restoration if citizenship was lost before 1999 |
| Processing time | Up to 6 months by law, can be extended |
Who qualifies
A child acquires Polish citizenship by birth when at least one parent is a Polish citizen. Source: Polish Citizenship Act
Confirming citizenship
Anyone who has or had Polish citizenship can ask for official confirmation. The application goes to the voivode for your current or last place of residence in Poland, or the Masovian Voivode if you never lived there; if you live abroad, apply through the Polish consul. The application covers your details, your parents' and grandparents' details and supporting documents. The fee is 277 PLN for a confirming decision. Source: gov.pl
Naturalization breaks: loss before 1999
Poland lists three older laws under which people lost Polish citizenship before January 1, 1999: the 1920 Act (for example by acquiring foreign citizenship or enlisting in a foreign military without consent; loss extended to spouses and minor children), the 1951 Act and the 1962 Act. Source: gov.pl If an ancestor lost citizenship before the next person in your line was born, the chain may be broken. See how ancestors lost citizenship and restoring Polish citizenship.
After confirmation
Transcribe your foreign birth certificate into the Polish civil registry, then apply for a passport. See transcription and your first Polish passport.
Dual citizenship
Poland lets you hold another citizenship, but treats you only as a Polish citizen. Enter and leave Poland on a Polish passport or ID. Source: Border Guard
Printable Poland document checklist Pre-screen for Poland
Poland articles
- How to Confirm Polish Citizenship by Descent Poland
- Dual Citizenship in Poland: What It Means to Be Treated as Polish Only Poland
- How Polish Ancestors Lost Citizenship Before 1999 Poland
- How to Transcribe a U.S. Birth Certificate Into the Polish Civil Registry (Transkrypcja) Poland
- Getting Your First Polish Passport From the U.S. After Confirming Citizenship Poland