How should you do this?

At the Ministry of Interior and Administration – by post if you live in Poland, or through a consulate if you live abroad.

 

Who can benefit from the service?

Anyone who held Polish citizenship in the past and lost it before 1 January 1999 pursuant to the provisions of:

• Article 11 or 13 of the Act of 20 January 1920 on Citizenship of the Polish State (Journal of Laws, no. 7, item 44, as amended)

A person loses Polish citizenship if he or she acquires foreign citizenship, takes up public office in a foreign country, or enlists in a foreign military without the consent of the Polish Government. The loss of Polish citizenship extended to spouses and minor children under the age of 18.

• Article 11 or 12 of the Act of 8 January 1951 on Polish Citizenship (Journal of Laws, no. 4, item 25)

A person loses Polish citizenship if he or she has acquired foreign citizenship without authorisation from the Polish authorities to change his or her citizenship, or if he or she has been stripped of his or her Polish citizenship by the Polish authorities for breaching Polish law.

• Article 13, 14 or 15 of the Act of 15 February 1962 on Polish Citizenship (Journal of Laws of 2000, no. 28, item 353, as amended)

A person loses his or her Polish citizenship if he or she has acquired foreign citizenship and obtained authorisation from the Polish authorities to change his or her citizenship to that of a foreign country.

 

When can you submit an application?

At any time.

 

What should you do?

1. Gather all the necessary documents. You can find further details on the Ministry of Interior and Administration’s website or at a consulate.

2. Pay the stamp duty or consular fee. You can find further details on the Ministry of Interior and Administration’s website or at a consulate.

3. Submit your application to the Minister of Interior and Administration.

4. Wait for a response.

 

Where should you submit your application?

By post (including by email) to the Minister of Interior and Administration at the following address:

Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji
ul. Stefana Batorego 5, 02-591 Warszawa, Poland

 

Through a Polish consulate – if you live abroad. You can find a list of consulates on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

How much will you pay?

PLN 1,000.00 per decision – if you live in Poland and apply directly to the minister. Below you will find the transfer details:

Urząd Miasta Stołecznego Warszawy
Centrum Obsługi Podatnika
Account no.: 21 1030 1508 0000 0005 5000 0070

If you are submitting your application at a consulate, you will pay according to the consular fee rate. You can find out how to make the payment either at the provincial office or on the website.

 

What should you prepare?

• An application for restoration of Polish citizenship,

• Required documents:

1) documents proving identity and nationality;

2) documents confirming any changes to the name and surname, if any;

3) documents in your possession confirming the loss of Polish citizenship;

4) a photograph of the person covered by the application.

• A translation of foreign documents into Polish – if you are enclosing documents in a foreign language with your application. Such a translation must be done by a sworn translator or a Polish consul.

 

How long will you wait?

The Ministry of Interior and Administration has six months to issue a decision. In justified cases, this deadline may be extended.

 

How can you appeal the decision?

If you do not agree with the decision of the Minister of Interior and Administration (MIA), you can apply to the MIA for reconsideration of your case. You should do this in writing within 14 days of receiving the decision. You can lodge the application in person, by post or electronically (eDoręczenie). If you disagree with the subsequent decision of MIA, you have the right to challenge it in an administrative court. You should do this within 30 days of receiving the minister's decision. Please submit your petition via the Ministry of Interior and Administration.

 

Important

You cannot include your children in an application to regain Polish citizenship.