Issues

...our website is presently being revised, updated and improved...

Important Issues Relevant to Confirming Polish Citizenship

Here are some very important issues related to Polish dual citizenship. Knowledge of these matters makes the whole process much more understandable.

1. Legal Representation

It is not necessary to be represented by a qualified lawyer in cases for the confirmation of Polish citizenship. Your case may be represented by almost any person who has, according to the Polish Code of Administrative Procedure, "a legal capacity to act," i.e. by an adult who is physically and mentally fit. Some lawyers and attorneys-at-law wrongly advise that their services are required, and this is not necessary to confirm Polish citizenship.

It is not necessary or recommended to consult any attorney from the your country of residence. Foreign lawyers cannot represent you in Poland and are obligated to act through a Polish lawyer or another agent or proxy. Obviously, this translates into much higher costs.

2. Proxy

The amendments implemented into Polish law in 2011 necessitate the appointment of an agent for delivery (proxy) based in Poland for applicants who do not reside in Poland. In practice, this means that a person applying for Polish citizenship who permanently resides outside Poland cannot conduct procedures entirely via a Polish consulate. You may file an application via a consulate, but any further procedure will be conducted only through an agent for delivery based in Poland.

It is recommended that you appoint a professional and experienced agent for the case who will be able, if necessary, to respond to documents submitted by Polish authorities in a timely manner. An experienced agent will know the complexities of this procedure and will be able to handle the case successfully and without any complications or extended deadlines. The agent can also read through case files, supervise the course of the procedure, affect the case, and modify the procedure on your behalf.

3. Consulate

It is no longer possible to confirm Polish citizenship via a Polish consulate in the your country of residence. According to the amendments implemented in 2009, a person applying for the confirmation of Polish citizenship who does not permanently reside in Poland should establish, as a minimum, an agent for delivery in Poland.

This means that it is possible to apply for citizenship at the consulate, but the authorities in Poland processing the case will not directly contact a person residing abroad, even via a Polish consulate. The basic aim of this amendment was to relieve Polish diplomatic missions from handling citizenship issues, the influx of which exceeded any expectations after 2004.

It is worth appointing a professional agent in Poland who is not only responsible for collecting any correspondence, but also an expert in Polish citizenship cases.

4. Costs

The overall cost that includes all what you will pay until you get your Polish European passport consists of quite few things: archival searches, translations, legal advising fee, and case processing fee, You will also pay a fee for certifying copies of documents in your country and a Polish passport fee at a Polish Consulate.

With our representation, this total cost should not exceed 2'000 (twenty hundred) EUR per applicant. Of course, complicated and complex cases will cost more and take longer. This price has been calculated based on hundreds of cases from many countries we have processed over the last 14 years.

5. Timing

The procedure for the confirmation of Polish citizenship by birth is very complex, as Polish law governing the citizenship has been amended countless times since 1920. The timespan is affected by many factors: time for searching, collecting and submitting relevant documents, translations, and administrative procedures conducted by the Polish Head of Province (Wojewoda). In most cases, the procedure should not last longer than 3 months, but we handle and have handled cases lasting longer due to their complexity.

6. Dual Citizenship

Most countries where descendants of Polish emigrants live today, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Israel allow dual citizenship. Polish law dictates, however, that anyone who holds dual citizenship is considered by Polish authorities exclusively as a Polish citizen irrespective of citizenship in another country.

7. Citizens' Rights and Obligations

People in possession of a Polish passport have all the same rights as any other European citizen. There is no obligatory army service in Poland. Following the European rules of no double taxation, you will not pay taxes to the Polish government if you work or do business in another European country and do not reside in Poland permanently.

TOP