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Traveling to Poland to study. Polish passport question.



joanna77Threads: 3
Posts: 4
Joined: Dec 30, 09 		  Dec 30, 09, 20:18 /  #
Hello, I have Polish and Canadian citizenship and am traveling to Poland for studies soon. I may not get my Polish passport in time (long story-even the temporary may not be ready in time). I am considering entering Poland with my Can passport, applying for my full Polish passport once in Poland and leaving on that one, I know you are supposed to enter and exit on the same passport but I will be staying 6 months so can't leave on the Can one. Has anyone had experience overstaying the 90 days or leaving on a different passport than you entered on? Also, I was considering flying in through Germany (need to have a stop over somewhere since the trip is so long), and am thinking this might solve some of the problem since after the stopover Germany to Poland I might not have to get a stamp in passport entering Poland??

Thanks for any thoughts.
z_dariusThreads: 22
Posts: 5,091
Joined: Oct 18, 07 		  Dec 30, 09, 20:39 /  #
joanna77:
Has anyone had experience overstaying the 90 days or leaving on a different passport than you entered on?

Since you are a Polish citizen I can't fathom how overstaying would apply to you. What are they gonna do? They can't throw you out of Poland. In Poland your Canadian citizenship will be of secondary importance - if any at all.

Also, I don't think there are any restrictions as to what passport you're using to leave Poland. There used to be some issues with that in early 1990's but not anymore. What they may check at the airport is whether the passport you hold allows you to enter the destination country.
convexThreads: 46
Posts: 7,185
Joined: Nov 25, 09  Pictures: 2 		Edited by: convex   Dec 30, 09, 20:42 /  #
Don't worry about it, Schengen visa tracking is even worse than that of the US and Canada. Once you get your Polish passport, just make sure to use it when your traveling in Schengen, and use the Canadian one when you go back to Canada. The Canadians don't care about not having an exit stamp, and the Europeans will never see the Canadian passport again.

z_darius:
Since you are a Polish citizen I can't fathom how overstaying would apply to you. What are they gonna do? They can't throw you out of Poland. In Poland your Canadian citizenship will be of secondary importance - if any at all.

The only thing on that is that if you are a Polish citizen, you must enter Poland with a Polish passport. But in reality, there are no real checks in place.
SzwedwPolsceThreads: 13
Posts: 1,915
Joined: Feb 21, 09 		Edited by: SzwedwPolsce   Dec 31, 09, 00:52 /  #
joanna77:
I am considering entering Poland with my Can passport, applying for my full Polish passport once in Poland

As far as I know it's a criminal offense for a Polish (dual) citizen to enter Poland with their other passport.
joanna77Threads: 3
Posts: 4
Joined: Dec 30, 09 		  Dec 31, 09, 01:54 /  #
I don't believe so. Many people I know enter Poland on their Canadian passports, same with US, and the Canadian government website for travel to Poland now has updated info that a dual national can enter Poland either on their Polish or Canadian passport. There was a lot of noise about this years ago because Polish people were having trouble getting in or more likely leaving Poland after using their Can passports.

I'm concerned about entering on my Can because I will be staying longer than 90 days, alas needing to get new Polish passport.
convexThreads: 46
Posts: 7,185
Joined: Nov 25, 09  Pictures: 2 		  Dec 31, 09, 02:17 /  #
Legally, when you arrive on Polish territory, you are no longer a Canadian in the eyes of the law. Thus, legally, you cannot enter Poland on a Canadian passport. Once you are in Poland, you can stay as long as you want, you're a Polish citizen, with or without a passport. If you take up residency, you're obligated to get an ID card.

Bad news, you are breaking the law as a Polish citizen by entering the territory of Poland on a Canadian passport. Good news, no one will care because you will be leaving on your Polish passport.
jonniThreads: 26
Posts: 4,181
Joined: Nov 27, 07 		  Dec 31, 09, 02:27 /  #
SzwedwPolsce:
As far as I know it's a criminal offense for a Polish (dual) citizen to enter Poland with their other passport.

This is still true, although some people do it, and the authorities don't check too hard.
asikThreads: 2
Posts: 547
Joined: Feb 17, 09 		  Dec 31, 09, 03:18 /  #
joanna77


As a Polish citizen you are obliged to enter Poland only with your Polish documents . A Polish citizen can not get visa to visit Poland just needs to keep valid Polish passport or other ID document if travelling within Europe.

When you intend to travel with your Can. passport only, your 90 days starts when entering any of the Schengen country and it's your responsibility to have your passport stamped upon arrival.

From your travel advice website I can read that , you can enter on "both" or choosen passport but from what I know you could be turned back to Canada if you're Polish and you'd try to enter Poland as other citizen.
http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=24100 0

Dual nationality is not officially recognized, which may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services. Dual citizens can choose to enter Poland with a Polish or a Canadian passport. Entering on a Polish passport gives all the prerogatives of Polish citizenship. However, a valid Canadian passport should be carried as proof of Canadian citizenship to re-enter Canada. If dual citizens choose to enter Poland with a Canadian passport, they will have to comply with regulations applied to foreigners.

I suggest you to contact Polish Embassy in Canada and get all the info regarding your situation (don't be fooled by the examples or stories told by others).
I my opinion you should travel with your existing (even if not valid) Polish passport together with your Canadian one.
It's not easy and not a quick process to get Polish passport while in Poland. You'll need to have a registered place of residence in Poland and you'll need to start the whole process by applying for the Polish "Dowód Osobisty" (kind of ID)first.
That's my friend's story, similar to yours.

When you enter as a Canadian citizen only you won't be able to stay longer than 90 days in the Europe-Schenger Area. If you overstay you'd be charged and deported.
As a Canadian citizen(if you'll travel as the one)you need permission, 'student visa' for stay & study in Poland.
z_dariusThreads: 22
Posts: 5,091
Joined: Oct 18, 07 		Edited by: z_darius   Dec 31, 09, 06:00 /  #
joanna77:
I'm concerned about entering on my Can because I will be staying longer than 90 days, alas needing to get new Polish passport.

My daughter was in exactly the same situation. She went to Poland for studies.
She arrived on Canadian papers last April. Soon thereafter she applied for Polish national ID. End of story. No issues, extradition notices or travel restrictions. She moves around Poland and the rest of EU without any restrictions carrying both her Polish and her Canadian documents.
polishcanuckThreads: 10
Posts: 583
Joined: Feb 11, 07 		  Dec 31, 09, 06:51 /  #
joanna77:
Has anyone had experience overstaying the 90 days or leaving on a different passport than you entered on?

I also have dual CAN-PL citizenships and I often enter Poland on 1 passport and leave on the other. Never had any problems.
joanna77Threads: 3
Posts: 4
Joined: Dec 30, 09 		  Dec 31, 09, 07:17 /  #
Thank you for all of the replies. I appreciate the help! Dzieki!
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