Polish Citizenship by Descent (Confirmation of Citizenship)

To qualify, you must demonstrate that at least one ancestor was a Polish citizen and that their citizenship was never legally lost before the next generation was born.

1. The 1920 Threshold

Your ancestor must have been a Polish citizen on or after January 31, 1920. This is the date Poland’s first citizenship law took effect. Generally, the ancestor must have resided in Poland at that time or held the "right of domicile" in Polish territories. If your ancestor emigrated before 1920 and never returned to claim citizenship, the chain usually cannot be established.

2. The Unbroken Chain

The most critical part of eligibility is ensuring no ancestor "broke" the chain by losing their citizenship. Common "breaks" include:

• Naturalization Abroad: Before 1951, Polish citizens who acquired foreign citizenship (e.g., became US or Canadian citizens) usually lost their Polish status.
• The Military Paradox: Under the 1920 Act, Polish men aged 18–50 were liable for military service. If a man naturalized in another country during this age window without formal permission from the Polish Ministry of Military Affairs, Poland did not recognize the loss of citizenship. In these cases, the chain remains intact.
• Gender Rules: Before 1951, citizenship was typically passed only through the father for children born in wedlock. For children born out of wedlock, citizenship was passed through the mother.
• Foreign Service: Serving in a foreign government office or a non-allied military before 1951 often resulted in the automatic loss of Polish citizenship.

3. Nationality vs. Ethnicity

Eligibility is based on legal state citizenship, not ethnic identity. This pathway is open to descendants of Polish Jews, ethnic Ukrainians, Germans, and Lithuanians, provided their ancestors held Polish state citizenship after 1920.