Polish Citizenship by Descent (Confirmation of Citizenship)

The process for Polish citizenship by descent is officially called the Confirmation of Possession of Polish Citizenship. It is an administrative procedure where the Polish government confirms you have been a citizen since birth because your ancestors never lost their citizenship. You can submit your application either in person in Poland or through a Polish consulate abroad.

Step 1: Document Gathering and Research

Before applying, you must reconstruct your family tree and prove an "unbroken chain" of citizenship. You need to collect:

• Proof of Ancestry: Birth, marriage, and death certificates for every person in the lineage, starting from your Polish ancestor down to you.
• Proof of Polish Citizenship: Original Polish documents for your ancestor, such as a Polish passport, Dowód Osobisty (ID card), military records, or Księgi Ludności (residency listings).
• Proof of Non-Loss: You must prove your ancestor did not lose Polish citizenship before your parent was born. This usually requires naturalization records from the country they moved to (e.g., a US Petition for Naturalization) to show the exact date they became a foreign citizen.

Step 2: Translation and Legalization

All documents not issued in Polish must be translated by a Tłumacz Przysięgły (a sworn translator registered with the Polish Ministry of Justice). Foreign government documents may also require an Apostille or legalization to be recognized by Polish authorities.

Step 3: Submission

You have two main routes to submit your completed application form (which must be filled out in Polish):

• Option A: At a Polish Consulate: If you live outside of Poland, you can submit your file at the nearest Polish consulate. The consulate acts as an intermediary, forwarding your documents to Poland for a decision.
• Option B: In Poland: You can submit directly to the Wojewoda (Voivode, or provincial governor) competent for your ancestor's last place of residence in Poland. If that location is unknown or outside current Polish borders, you must submit to the Masovian Voivode in Warsaw.

Step 4: The Review Process

The Wojewoda will examine your evidence. If they find gaps in the "chain"—such as a male ancestor who naturalized abroad—they will check the "Military Paradox." Under the Act of January 20, 1920, Polish men aged 18–50 usually could not lose their citizenship without specific permission; if they naturalized without it, the chain remains intact.

Step 5: Receiving the Decision and Transcription

If approved, you will receive a formal administrative decision confirming you are a citizen. You must then "transcribe" your foreign birth and marriage certificates into the Polish Civil Registry (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego or USC) to receive a Polish version of these documents.

Step 6: PESEL and Passport

Once your birth is registered in Poland, you apply for a PESEL (national identification number). With your confirmation document, Polish birth certificate, and PESEL, you can then apply for your Polish passport at any consulate or passport office.

Item	Cost
Administrative Fee (Confirmation of Citizenship)	80 PLN
Consular Submission Fee (if applying abroad)	Approx. $80 – $100 USD
Birth/Marriage Certificate Transcription	50 PLN per document
Polish Passport Fee (10-year)	Approx. 110 – 140 PLN

Total Estimate: While government fees are low (under $300 USD), the total cost typically ranges from $500 to $2,500 USD due to professional translation services, archival research fees, and obtaining certified copies of historical records.

• Document Gathering: 3 to 6 months, depending on the responsiveness of archives in Poland, Ukraine, or Belarus.
• Confirmation Decision: Currently averages 12 to 18 months. Complex cases requiring deep archival research or those involving appeals can take 2+ years.
• Transcription and PESEL: 1 to 2 months.
• Passport Issuance: 3 to 6 weeks after the PESEL is assigned.

Document Validity: Most civil status documents (birth/marriage) do not "expire" for this process, but the Polish authorities require original or certified copies issued recently (usually within the last 6 months) if they are from Polish registries.