The loss of Polish citizenship is governed by Article 34(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland and the Act of 2 April 2009 on Polish Citizenship. The Constitution provides that ‘a Polish citizen may not lose Polish citizenship unless he or she renounces it of his or her own accord’. Pursuant to Article 46 of the Act on Polish Citizenship, a Polish citizen loses his or her Polish citizenship at their own request following the granting of consent by the President of the Republic of Poland to renounce Polish citizenship. Loss of Polish citizenship takes effect 30 days after the date on which the President issues a decision on the matter, or at an earlier date if the President so decides (Article 49(2) and (3)).

How should you do this?

At a government office or consulate.

Who can benefit from the service?

A person who holds Polish citizenship.

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 website of the relevant provincial office or consulate.

2. Pay the stamp duty or consular fee. You can find further details on the website of the relevant provincial office or consulate.

3. Submit your application to the provincial office or consulate. You can find further details on the website of the relevant provincial office or consulate.

4. Wait for a response. You will receive notification of the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland from the authority to which you submitted your application (a provincial office or consulate).

 

Where should you submit your application?

• To the province governor with jurisdiction over your place of residence – if you actually live in Poland, e.g. if you live in the Pomeranian Province, submit your application to the Pomeranian Province Governor.

• To a consul – if you live abroad. You can find your consulate with the use of search engine available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Remember! If you send the application by post, you need an officially certified signature. A signature may be certified by a notary or consul. The service is subject to stamp duty in accordance with the notarial or consular fee rate.

 

How much will you pay?

• PLN 1,669.00 – if you are submitting your application to the provincial office. You can find out how to make the payment either at the provincial office or on the website.

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

• The cost of translation of documents – if you are enclosing documents in a foreign language with your application. The cost of translation depends on the translator's rate.

• The cost of document authentication – if you attach copies of documents to your application, The cost depends on the notary or consular fee rate.

• A fee for the notary’s authentication of your signature – if you are sending the application by post. The fee will be collected by the notary.

 

What should you prepare?

• An application for permission to renounce Polish citizenship.

• Required documents:

• 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 President of the Republic of Poland is not bound by any time limits in cases concerning the granting of consent to renounce Polish citizenship.

How can you appeal the decision?

You cannot appeal the decision. The decisions of the President of the Republic of Poland are final. However, you may submit another application.

Important

Loss of Polish citizenship and children.

If both parents lose their Polish citizenship on the same date, their children who are under 18 will also lose their citizenship. Remember that children over the age of 16 must first give their consent. They can do this in person at a provincial office or consulate or by post, sending a relevant statement with an officially certified signature.

If one of the parents loses his or her Polish citizenship, his or her children who are under 18 will lose their Polish citizenship only if:

• the other parent does not have parental responsibility,

• the other parent consented to the child losing Polish citizenship (consent is given in a declaration),

• children over the age of 16 have first given their consent for that. They can do this in person at a provincial office or consulate or by post, sending a relevant statement with an officially certified signature.