The granting of Polish citizenship to a foreigner
A foreigner may be granted Polish citizenship at his/her own request, if he/she has been residing in Poland for at least five years on the basis of:
- a permit to settle
- a long-term resident's EC residence permit, or
- a permanent residence permit.
A foreigner who has been married for at least 3 years to a person holding Polish citizenship and who has been residing in Poland on the basis of:
- a permit to settle,
- a long-term resident's EC residence permit, or
- a permanent residence permit,
may acquire Polish citizenship if he/she makes an appropriate declaration before the competent authority and this authority issues a decision on the acceptance of the declaration. The period of time for making the declaration of will is:
- 3 years and 6 months from the day of contracting marriage with a person holding Polish citizenship
- or 6 months from the day of the acquisition by a foreigner of a permit to settle, long-term resident's EC residence permit, or a permanent residence permit.
The granting of Polish citizenship may be dependent on a submission of proof of the loss of or dispensation from a foreign citizenship.
Children of foreigners
The granting of Polish citizenship to both parents extends to the children remaining under their parental authority. The granting of Polish citizenship to only one parent extends to the children, if:
- the children remain exclusively under the parental authority of that parent, or
- the other parent is a Polish citizen or
- the other parent has expressed consent before the competent authority to the acquisition by the child of Polish citizenship.
Polish citizenship may be granted to children remaining under guardianship only with the consent of the guardian expressed in an appropriate declaration submitted to the competent authority after prior compliance with the requirements of the applicable foreign law.
The granting or extension of the granting of Polish citizenship to children aged sixteen or older occurs only with their consent.
Recognition of a stateless person as a Polish citizen
A person with no citizenship or whose citizenship cannot be established may be recognized as a Polish citizen if he/she resides in Poland for at least 5 years on the basis of a permit to settle or a long-term resident's EC residence permit. Recognition of a person as a Polish citizen is granted upon the request of the person concerned.
Children of stateless persons
Recognition of a stateless person as a Polish citizen is extended to his/her children, if they reside in Poland. If both parents are recognized as Polish citizens, such recognition is extended to their children remaining under their parental authority. If only one parent is recognized as a Polish citizen, such recognition is extended to his/her children if:
- the children remain exclusively under the parental authority of that parent, or
- the other parent is a Polish citizen or
- the other parent has expressed consent before the competent authority to the acquisition by the child of Polish citizenship.
Children remaining under guardianship may be recognized as Polish citizenship only with the consent of the guardian expressed in an appropriate declaration submitted to the competent authority. A child aged sixteen or older may be recognized as a Polish citizen only with his/her consent.
Particularly justified cases
In particularly justified cases, a foreigner may be granted Polish citizenship at his/her request, even though he/she does not meet the mentioned requirements. In practice, this procedure is available in the case of famous sportsmen/women.
