Poland in the UK

To renounce Polish citizenship, you should apply to the President of the Republic of Poland through a consul at a Polish consular office of your local competence.

IMPORTANT! Applications sent directly to the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland will be returned.

You can submit the documents personally or send them by mail. Please note! If you send your application by mail, you need to have the signature on it officially confirmed (i.e. by a notary public).

The approval for the renunciation of Polish citizenship by either of the parents also extends to a minor in their custody if: the other parent is deprived of parental custody or personally made a statement for the record before a consul that they consent  to the minor's losing Polish citizenship.

IMPORTANT! Children aged 16 to 18 must consent to submitting the application to renounce citizenship. They can only do it personally at a consulate by making a statement to the protocol.

• You can book an appointment with the Consular and Polish Diaspora Section of the Polish Embassy in London by emailing: london.citizenship@msz.gov.pl.
• You can book an appointment with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Manchester via the e-Consulate system or by emailing: manchester.citizenship@msz.gov.pl.
• You can book an appointment with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh by phone: +44 131 5520301 or by emailing: edinburgh@msz.gov.pl.
• You can book an appointment with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Belfast by emailing: belfast.kg.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl. 

Required documents:

1. application for consent to renounce Polish citizenship,
2. passport photo,
3. documents to confirm:

• your particulars,
• particulars of your spouse (if applicable),
• particulars of a child if covered by this application (if applicable),
• document to confirm your foreign citizenship or a promise to be granted one,
• any documents you possess to confirm your Polish citizenship.

Data and information provided in the application can be supported by documents:

• stating the identity and citizenship,
• copies of Polish birth certificates,
• copies of Polish marriage certificates or other documents confirming marital status,
• stating the spouse's identity and citizenship,
• stating the child's/children's identity,

If the application to renounce Polish citizenship also covers a minor, additional documents are required:

1. copy of the child's birth certificate,
2. the other parent's statement of consent for the child to lose Polish citizenship - the statement is made for the record before a consul,
3. the child's written consent to lose Polish citizenship if the minor covered by the application is older than 16 - the consent is made for the record before the consul.

Please note:

• the application must be filled in Polish only,
• copies of Polish and foreign documents must be certified by a consul to be true copies of the originals,
• all documents made in a foreign language must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator or consul. In case of some documents made in an EU country, a multilingual standard form issued by a foreign authority under the regulation 2016/1191 can be attached instead of a translation, 
• documents made in EU countries and not covered by the regulation 2016/1191 should have the apostille attached,
• documents made outside the EU should have the apostille attached for countries parties to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, signed in the Hague on 5 October 1961, (Journal of Laws of 2005, no. 112 item 938) or be legalised by a Polish consul for other countries.

The fee is 313 GBP.

A Polish citizen loses Polish citizenship upon his request after a consent to renounce Polish citizen from the President of the Republic of Poland. The President is not obliged to consider the application for renunciation of Polish citizenship within any specific time limit.

Renunciation of Polish citizenship becomes effective after 30 days from the issue date of the relevant presidential order, or sooner if so decided by the President.

You can collect the documents personally. Consul can also send the documents to the address of your choice – discuss this possibility when you submit your application.

IMPORTANT! Once you receive the consent to renounce Polish citizenship, you must return the Polish passport to the consulate.

You cannot appeal. Presidential orders are not subject to appeal.