The Senate of the Republic of Poland has played a significant role in supporting Polish diaspora and Poles abroad for many years. The Senate Emigration Affairs and Contacts with Poles Abroad Committee deals with: caring for the Polish community and Poles abroad, migration of Polish citizens—in particular to the European Union countries, maintaining and strengthening ties with Poland, legal status of people of Polish descent living abroad, protecting Polish cultural and historical heritage, and fostering cooperation with the Polish diaspora organisations.

The Senate’s involvement in the affairs of the Polish community abroad dates back to the interwar period, when the Speaker of the Polish Senate acted as the honorary patron of initiatives supporting Poles living outside the country. After 1990, the Senate played the role of a patron of Poland’s policy toward the Polish diaspora, managing budgetary funds allocated for this purpose. Over the years, the funds were managed by other institutions as well, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. Nowadays, this task is carried out jointly by the Senate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Funds earmarked for supporting the Polish diaspora are distributed through open calls for proposals announced by the Speaker of the Senate. These calls cover tasks aligned with the priority directions of the state’s Polish diaspora policy, such as supporting Polish-language education abroad, initiatives aimed at young Poles living outside the country, strengthening the structures and position of Polish communities abroad, supporting Poles in the East, and the promotion of Polish culture, including the preservation of historical heritage and national identity.

Calls for proposals are open to organisations registered in Poland that meet the criteria set out in the Act on Public Benefit and Volunteer Work. It is also possible to carry out projects in cooperation with a foreign partner—a Polish diaspora or Polish organisation operating outside Poland—provided that such cooperation is clearly indicated in the proposal.

To learn about open calls for proposals announced by the Senate, go to website.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), pursuant to the Act on Government Administration Departments, is responsible for cooperation with the Polish community and Poles living abroad. In particular, this task is carried out by the MFA’s Department for Cooperation with Polish Community Abroad, which initiates programmes supporting Polish diaspora communities.

The Department is also responsible for shaping, implementing, and coordinating cooperation with the Polish community abroad,  including through the organisation of calls for proposals and the supervision of diplomatic missions’ and consular posts’ own initiatives to support the Polish diaspora.

Grants for activities supporting the Polish diaspora

In April 2025, the Council of Ministers adopted the Government Strategy for Cooperation with the Polish Diaspora and Poles Abroad for 2025–2030. The Strategy involves, among other things, promoting return migration to Poland, supporting Polish communities in their host countries, and modernising Polish diaspora cooperation instruments.

While implementing measures under the Strategy, the MFA is guided by the need for long-term support for Polish communities living outside the national territory. This support includes initiatives that boost social engagement, promote civic attitudes, and develop leadership and civic competencies—particularly among youth.

This involves in particular:
•    grant programmes supporting projects that foster civic awareness, participation in community life, and the integration of Polish diaspora communities;
•    educational initiatives, including workshops and training programmes supporting  community leadership and active Polish diaspora organisations;
•    internship programmes enabling young people of Polish descent to gain professional experience in Poland and learn more about their ancestral country.

These activities are carried out in cooperation with non-governmental organisations operating in Poland and Polish diaspora partners abroad. The Ministry supports initiatives that boost the potential of Polish diaspora communities, promote their integration and activation, and help to develop cooperation networks based on shared values and civic engagement.

Infrastructure grants

One of key measures implemented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to support the Polish communities and Poles worldwide is a grant-based financial support system for Polish diaspora organisations aimed at the building or upgrading of properties owned or used on a long-term basis by Polish diaspora institutions or organisations operating outside Poland. This applies in particular to facilities used for educational purposes, including the teaching of the Polish language as a mother tongue or as a foreign language.

Grant procedures are conducted in accordance with the Act on Public Finance and the Act on Public Benefit and Volunteer Work. Projects are funded depending on their type:

Priority projects are carried out in areas inhabited by large and active Polish communities. A call for proposals, carried out in accordance with the adopted regulations, serves to select the project operator. The minimum amount of funding is PLN 100,000. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not require own financial contribution, with the possible exception of investments supported by the authorities or institutions of the host country. Projects may be implemented over a period of up to three years. A condition for receiving funding is the guarantee, at the proposal submission stage, of the long-term use of the facility for Polish diaspora activities for at least 15 years following the completion of the project.

Non-priority projects may address other important activities of a given Polish community abroad. The minimum amount of funding is PLN 50,000, while the maximum amount is PLN 700,000. Non-priority projects are always carried out within a single year, and a mandatory own contribution of at least 10% is required. A condition for receiving funding is the guarantee, at the application stage, of the continued use of the facility for Polish diaspora activities for at least seven years following the completion of the project.

Key principles of Polish diaspora infrastructure funding

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
•    finances projects based on an ongoing review of the level of activity of Polish diaspora communities and the investment needs in terms of facilities they own or use;
•    finances projects where funding by Polish diaspora communities themselves or by the competent institutions of the host country is not possible, or where the host country has allocated significant but insufficient resources to fully implement the project;
•    finances projects that have been largely funded from the Polish diaspora or local sources, where a relatively small financial contribution from the Polish state constitutes an expression of support for an important Polish diaspora initiative.

Polish diaspora organisations/institutions:
•    properly identify the final beneficiary, i.e. the Polish or Polish diaspora community, as well as other groups interested in Poland;
•    document the form of ownership and the period of legal title to or use of the property;
•    present documentation guaranteeing the use of the facility for Polish diaspora purposes following its construction or renovation.

Funding for Polish diaspora infrastructure facilities may not be granted:
•    for facilities for which the title of ownership or the right of use by a Polish diaspora organisation is insufficient or does not exist;
•    to cover property maintenance costs (funding for this purpose may be granted from a separate pool of Polish diaspora funds).

To apply for funding under competitive procedures, Polish diaspora entities should:
•    establish cooperation with non-governmental organisations based in the Republic of Poland, which, based on a declaration of cooperation between both organisations, may submit a proposal on their behalf in a call announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs;
•    establish cooperation with the territorially competent diplomatic mission, which will provide relevant information on the general principles of MFA calls for proposals, as well as a list of Polish non-governmental organisations implementing Polish diaspora-related objectives, including contact details.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces calls for proposals based on Polish regulations governing public benefit activity and public finance. In accordance with these regulations, registered non-governmental organisations based in Poland and engaged in supporting the Polish diaspora and Poles worldwide are eligible to apply for grants.

Polish non-governmental organisations, acting based on a cooperation agreement with a Polish diaspora entity, submit a proposal for the implementation of the task with the MFA. A committee reviews and evaluates proposals concerning infrastructure projects related to Polish diaspora facilities.

If the committee grants funding, Polish non-governmental organisations conclude a grant agreement with the MFA and receive funds for the implementation of the investment. During project implementation, they perform administrative and coordination functions, transfer financial resources to the local partner that manages the property, continuously monitor project implementation, and prepare and submit interim and final reports to the MFA.

Polish diaspora organisations/institutions are directly responsible for the implementation of the project of which they are the beneficiaries. They prepare the necessary documentation concerning property ownership, the investment cost estimate, and the scope of planned works. They are responsible for selecting contractors who will carry out construction or renovation works through appropriate procedures, exercising ongoing supervision over the works in accordance with the schedule and the partnership agreement concluded with the non-governmental organisation, providing the required financial and accounting documentation relating to incurred costs and expenses, and submitting implementation reports in accordance with the terms set out in the partnership agreement.

To learn about open calls for proposals announced by the MFA, visit website.

The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage protects Polish cultural heritage abroad, in particular by ensuring the care of historic monuments and national memorial sites (including graves and cemeteries of Polish military formations and civilian citizens of the Republic of Poland, Holocaust memorials, and their protective zones). It supports institutions affiliated with the Permanent Conference of Polish Museums, Archives, and Libraries Abroad. In addition, it provides opportunities for persons of Polish descent to study at Polish art universities.

The following Ministry of Culture and National Heritage grant programmes are intended to protect cultural heritage and memorial sites abroad:
•    Protection of Cultural Heritage Abroad,
•    National Memorial Sites Abroad,
•    Support for Archives, Libraries, and Museums Outside Poland.

POLONIKA, the National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad is a specialised state cultural institution, established in 2017, that helps preserve Poland’s material and spiritual heritage. POLONIKA carries out conservation, research, educational, and promotional projects. Key instruments include the grant programmes “Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad —Volunteering” ( “Polskie dziedzictwo kulturowe za granicą –  wolontariat”), which encompass activities related to the protection and revitalisation of cultural heritage developed by the Polish diaspora. For example, POLONIKA experts conserve tombstones and conduct educational and research activities.

Only entities governed by Polish law may apply for these funds. The sole exception is the programme “Support for Archives, Libraries, and Museums Abroad”( “Wspieranie Archiwów, Bibliotek i Muzeów poza Krajem”), which is open to émigré institutions.

For more information on current programmes, go to the website.
 

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education supervises the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), some of whose activities are aimed at people of Polish descent living abroad.

NAWA was established in 2017 as a transformation of the Office for Recognition of Education and International Exchange, previously performing similar functions under the minister responsible for science and higher education. It focuses primarily on:

1. Raising the level of education among young people of Polish descent by enabling them to study at Polish universities, including to attend preparatory courses for studies in Polish:
•    Anders NAWA—the General Anders Scholarship Programme for Polish diaspora,
•    preparatory courses for studies in Poland for NAWA scholarship holders.

The Anders Programme is open to persons of Polish descent from the following countries: Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Hungary, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, as well as countries in Latin America and Africa. Under the programme, young people of Polish descent and holders of the Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka) can pursue higher education in Poland, improve Polish language skills, and raise their qualifications. Programme participants can study in Polish at universities supervised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (excluding philological studies except Polish philology), the Ministry of Health (medical programmes), and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (artistic programmes), and receive a monthly scholarship from NAWA to cover living expenses. The General Anders Scholarship Programme is one of many available. All programmes are listed on the NAWA website.

The Anders Programme candidates must be of Polish descent (Polish nationality), holders of Pole’s Card, or, since 2021, have dual citizenship (Polish and foreign) and have completed compulsory education abroad:

•    For first-cycle (bachelor’s) and uniform master’s programmes, applicants must have completed their secondary education (matura) no more than two years prior.
•    For second-cycle (master’s) programmes, applicants must have completed their first-cycle studies no more than two years prior.

First-cycle and uniform master’s programmes may be preceded by a one-year preparatory course in Poland (also under scholarship conditions).

Applications for NAWA’s Polish diaspora scholarships must be made online. For full information on fields of study, levels of education, degrees, forms of study, and universities, go to the website.

2. Supporting returns of scientists of Polish descent and their employment at Polish universities or research institutions (Polish Returns NAWA programme).
3. Supporting visits of foreign researchers, including Polish scientists permanently working abroad, at Polish universities and research institutes (the Ulam NAWA programme).
4. Organising summer courses in Polish language and culture for foreigners, including those of Polish descent (NAWA Summer Courses).
5. Supporting the teaching of Polish to foreigners in Polish studies programmes in Poland (NAWA Polonista).
6. Supporting the teaching of Polish (Polish philology and Polish language courses) at foreign academic centres (NAWA Lecturers).
7. Promoting the Polish language together with elements of Polish history and culture (Promotion of Polish Language NAWA).
8. Ensuring the functioning of the national certification system for Polish as a foreign language (certification of Polish language proficiency for non-native speakers).

The Ministry of National Education, in fulfilling its tasks under the Education Law Act, pursues its educational objectives which are also relevant to the Polish diaspora and Poles living abroad. The Ministry supports the teaching of the Polish language, history, geography, Polish culture, and other subjects taught in Polish among the Polish diaspora, Poles abroad, and children of migrant workers. The Ministry concludes and supervises the implementation of educational cooperation agreements, some of which contain provisions related to Polish diaspora education.

The Ministry also holds a call for proposals for projects supporting the teaching of Polish and in the Polish language abroad. Under the procedure, successful projects should fulfill the following objectives:

•    organise professional learning for teachers who teach Polish and in Polish in schools run by Polish organisations or within education systems of other countries;
•    organise educational camps for Polish diaspora youth;
•    facilitate cooperation between schools operating in education systems of other countries and run by Polish community organisations with schools in Poland.

Eligible applicants include non-governmental organisations, local government units, and higher education institutions with prior experience in implementing projects in this field.

Educational activities related to the Polish diaspora are overseen by the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry headquarters.

Another entity that deals with diaspora education is the Centre for the Development of Polish Education Abroad (ORPEG), supervised by the Minister of Education.

Its key areas of activity include:

•    assigning teachers from Poland to work in Polish and diaspora communities abroad;
•    organising professional learning for teachers who teach Polish, history, geography, Polish culture, and other subjects in Polish language abroad;
•    supervising and funding Polish Schools at Polish Embassies (formerly School Consultation Points—Szkolne Punkty Konsultacyjne at Polish diplomatic missions);
•    supplying various types of Polish diaspora schools abroad with textbooks and teaching aids, based on requests submitted by schools registered in ORPEG’s database and approved by Polish consular services;
•    maintaining a database of Polish language teaching points outside of Poland managed by Polish diaspora organisations;
•    managing educational platforms for distance learning abroad, offering free access to Polish citizens with real-time interaction with Polish teachers.

Further details are available at their website.
 

The IRJP’s primary goal is to offer comprehensive support of the Polish language outside of Poland. Its responsibilities include:

•    promoting Polish traditions and the value of the Polish language as a mother tongue, as well as fostering the Polish language among diaspora communities;
•    maintaining Polish and Polish diaspora schools outside of Poland;
•    activities and events for Polish school students and preschoolers, organized by Polish diaspora and Polish schools and educational organisations, aimed at expanding the reach and attractiveness of educational facilities, e.g., competitions and workshops for students;
•    fostering cooperation between the Polish diaspora and entities in Poland and abroad, particularly in education and science;
•    supporting educational and scientific initiatives aimed at improving knowledge of the Polish language;
•    promoting the Polish language as a foreign language;
•    collaborating with schools, universities, public institutions, associations, foundations, and other entities in Poland and abroad to develop the Polish language outside of Poland;
•    organising summer camps and other recreational activities for Polish diaspora children and youth in Poland and abroad, provided participants are students of Polish or Polish diaspora schools.

The Institute can establish and fund scholarships for individuals engaged in maintaining Polish national identity and ties with Poland or promoting Polish language education.

The Institute conducts open calls for proposals and rolling applications. In accordance with applicable law, direct funding is provided to public benefit organisations registered in Poland. The geographical scope of their activities is not limited, and organisations registered outside of Poland may participate in calls through cooperation with domestic operators.

Detailed information is available at the website, including the rules and required documentation for individual calls and applications.
 

The Institute allocates funds for cooperation with the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad, for activities which include:

•    organising international academic conferences and historical discussions, including presentations of the Institute’s publications and exhibitions;
•    educational and informational campaigns;
•    distributing educational materials (books, brochures, etc.);
•    responding to defamation harming Poland’s and the Polish Nation’s reputation in public discourse;
•    organising international events;
•    necessary translations;
•    cooperating with Polish diaspora institutions, including: the Józef Piłsudski Institute of America, Polish Army Veterans’ Association in America, the Kosciuszko Foundation, the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in Canada, the John Paul II Vatican

Foundation, the Polish Underground Movement Study Trust in London, the Polish Research Institute and Museum in Budapest, and the Polish Combatants’ Associations in Toronto.

Under the provisions of the Act of 22 November 2018 on Graves of Veterans of Poland’s Struggle for Freedom and Independence, the IPN’s Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation:

•    maintains records of graves of veterans of Poland’s struggle for freedom and independence;
•    carries out activities related to the care of such graves, in particular by co-financing their maintenance;
•    grants targeted subsidies and financial support to cover the costs of maintaining the graves of veterans of Poland’s struggle for freedom and independence.

Further details are available at the website.

The Office manages funds allocated to:

•    maintaining cooperation with organisations representing Polish war veterans and victims of totalitarian regimes;
•    providing material assistance to veterans and other eligible individuals residing in Poland and abroad;
•    supporting diaspora initiatives that commemorate the participation of Poles in the struggle for independence and document the repression of victims of World War II and the post-war period;
•    initiating informational and publishing activities dedicated to Poland’s struggle for independence and documenting the organisational life and needs of veteran communities outside of Poland;
•    awarding honorary decorations.

Further details are available at the website.

The State Archives Head Office and the National Library carry out projects aimed at protecting and promoting archival and library collections of Polish diaspora institutions that fall within their remit. While these projects are implemented under grant programmes awarded to Polish entities, they are often implemented in cooperation with Polish diaspora institutions.

For further information, visit the State Archiwes Head Office website and the National Library website.

The Polish Film Institute provides support by co-financing film projects, distribution, and promotion of films, the promotion of Polish cinematic works, and the dissemination of film culture, including films produced by Polish diaspora communities.
Further details are available at the website.
 

The Polish History Museum runs the grant programme “Patriotism of Tomorrow” (“Patriotyzm Jutra”), which aims to promote historical knowledge and support initiatives engaging communities in activities that preserve and promote local Polish heritage and culture.

Further details are available at the website.