By Residence Angels
Relocation Company in Poland
Relocation Company in Poland
Polish Citizenship by Descent (2025 Guide)
Reading time: 10 minutes
Polish Citizenship by Descent — Introduction
Polish Citizenship by Descent — Introduction
This article will walk you through the rules, timelines, and process involved in claiming Polish citizenship by descent.
If you're exploring your roots and have discovered Polish ancestry, you may be eligible for Polish citizenship by descent. Whether your relatives were Polish Jews, emigrants before 1920, or citizens who left Poland during political shifts — there is a legal way to reclaim Polish citizenship and potentially a Polish passport.
What is Citizenship by Descent in Poland?
What is Citizenship by Descent in Poland?
Citizenship by descent in Poland refers to the right to obtain citizenship based on your Polish ancestors, even if you or your parents were born abroad. According to Polish law, if your ancestor was a Polish citizen and did not renounce their citizenship, it may have passed down to you — automatically.
To put it simply: if you have a Polish grandparent, great-grandparent, or even earlier ancestor, you might qualify. But the rules depend heavily on dates, documents, and legal interpretation.
To put it simply: if you have a Polish grandparent, great-grandparent, or even earlier ancestor, you might qualify. But the rules depend heavily on dates, documents, and legal interpretation.
Polish Descent After 1920
Polish Descent After 1920
If your great-grandparent emigrated after 1920, the process is clearer and more promising. Why?
Because 1920 marks the year Poland regained independence and began maintaining proper citizenship records. Anyone recognized as a Polish citizen after 1920 passed their citizenship to children — unless they lost it (e.g., by taking foreign citizenship or serving in a foreign military before 1951).
If your ancestor emigrated after 1920 and retained their Polish citizenship, you're most likely eligible for Polish descent citizenship.
Because 1920 marks the year Poland regained independence and began maintaining proper citizenship records. Anyone recognized as a Polish citizen after 1920 passed their citizenship to children — unless they lost it (e.g., by taking foreign citizenship or serving in a foreign military before 1951).
If your ancestor emigrated after 1920 and retained their Polish citizenship, you're most likely eligible for Polish descent citizenship.
Polish Citizenship by Descent Before 1920
Polish Citizenship by Descent Before 1920
Citizenship by descent Poland great-grandparent emigrated prior to 1920 is more complex. Poland was partitioned until 1918 and under control of Austria, Russia, and Prussia. Thus, a person born in Warsaw in 1895, for example, was not officially a Polish citizen — because Poland didn’t exist as a state.
However, if that person remained in Poland post-1920 and became a citizen or was included in official registers, you may still qualify. This process involves deeper legal analysis and more documentation.
However, if that person remained in Poland post-1920 and became a citizen or was included in official registers, you may still qualify. This process involves deeper legal analysis and more documentation.
⚠️ Important: If your family member had a Polish nationality which is stated in birth/marriage certificates, archive statements or military books - you might qualify for permanent residence in Poland. Contact us for consultation.
Polish Citizenship by Descent — Jewish Roots
Polish Citizenship by Descent — Jewish Roots
Polish citizenship by descent Jewish is a very frequent case. Many people of Jewish ancestry have roots in Poland and emigrated during or after WWII.
The law makes no distinction based on ethnicity or religion — meaning Polish Jews can reclaim citizenship under the same rules. However, documentation may be harder to obtain, especially if records were destroyed.
The most important aspect is proving that your ancestor was a Polish citizen and did not lose it before passing it to the next generation. That’s where legal expertise becomes essential.
The law makes no distinction based on ethnicity or religion — meaning Polish Jews can reclaim citizenship under the same rules. However, documentation may be harder to obtain, especially if records were destroyed.
The most important aspect is proving that your ancestor was a Polish citizen and did not lose it before passing it to the next generation. That’s where legal expertise becomes essential.
What is the Process of Getting Polish Citizenship by Descent?
What is the Process of Getting Polish Citizenship by Descent?
Here's what the process of getting Polish citizenship by descent looks like step-by-step:
Here's what the process of getting Polish citizenship by descent looks like step-by-step:
- Check eligibility — with a lawyer or agency who understands Polish citizenship by descent rules.
- Gather documents — birth, marriage, emigration, and naturalization records of your ancestors.
- Translate and notarize — all documents into Polish (must be official/legal translations).
- Submit application to the Mazowiecki Voivode in Warsaw (or via Polish consulate abroad).
- Wait — the process takes 12–18 months.
- Receive confirmation of Polish citizenship, followed by your PESEL, passport application, etc.
Apply for Polish Citizenship by Descent with Residence Angels
Apply for Polish Citizenship by Descent with Residence Angels
At Residence Angels, we’ve helped hundreds of clients apply for Polish citizenship by descent from over 40 countries, including descendants of Polish citizens who emigrated before and after 1920.
We specialize in:
➡️ Contact us to begin your journey toward becoming a Polish citizen by descent.
We specialize in:
- Legal analysis of Polish descent citizenship eligibility
- Document search in Polish archives
- Translation and legalization
- Full application support
➡️ Contact us to begin your journey toward becoming a Polish citizen by descent.