Polish Citizenship through ancestry

shunter882Threads: 1 Joined: Jan 6, 08 ♂	Jan 6, 08, 08:45 #1
I had a question... My mother was born in the 1950's in Poland and her parents and her family come from Poland as well. She moved to the USA with her parents when she was 13 and they have all since become US citizens. I was born in America but can I can I still claim Polish citizenship through my mother?

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Jan 6, 08, 10:14 #2

Yes you can claim Polish nationality. You are actually a Polish citizen already (you automatically became one at the moment of your birth because your mother is a Polish citizen), you just need to contact the Polish consulate nearest where you live to apply for a Polish passport. The fact that your mother became a US citizen is not relevant to her status as a Polish citizen: Polish citizenship can only be given up by applying to the president of Poland for permission, if your mother hadn't done that before you were born, you became a Polish citizen when you were born.

bobbyThreads: 7 Posts: 32 Joined: Dec 4, 07 ♂	Jan 6, 08, 14:23 #3
Ok, let me also ask - My grandparents both born in Poland (and there parents ect) They moved to Australia as DP's. Then they had my mother in Australia, and guess what, my mother had me. Where do i stand on this? Can i apply for polish passport? Both my grandparents have passed away.

lukasw23Threads: - Posts: 7 Joined: Oct 1, 07 ♂	Feb 13, 08, 08:36 #4
This is not true that you can apply directly for Polish Passport!!! First you have to receive confirmation of your Polish Citizenship. I have a lot of experience in this filed as I have worked in the Consulate of Poland in the US. maria

darrenlee	Jul 8, 08, 04:35 #5
Hi i live in South Africa and have my late grandfathers Polish passport. I would like to get one. How do I go about it

AkashraynaThreads: - Posts: 1 Joined: Jul 8, 08 ♀	Jul 8, 08, 04:43 #6
Is it possible to get Polish citizenship if my great grandparents were born in Poland but my grandparents and mother were born here in Canada?

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Jul 8, 08, 05:17 #7

From what I understand if you have a Polish ancestor then by blood rights you have Polish citizenship automatically.

To use this citizenship and do things like get a passport you first need to get CONFIRMATION of Polish citizenship. Talk to the Polish consulate in your country to find out about doing this.

But if your ancestor or anyone in the chain renounced their Polish citizenship then the chain ends and you aren't Polish. There are a few other complications too - search on this forum about it because this stuff is asked all the time.

Also the process can take a number of years, so don't expect to get an EU passport from this any time soon....

SSpringerThreads: 6 Posts: 67 Joined: Sep 19, 07 ♂	Jul 12, 08, 19:33 #8
if my great grandmothers parents were born in poland in 1880s, they came to the united states in 1906. my great grandmother was born in USA in 1917, Is she a Polish citizen? She never applied for a polish passport, does her daughter or anyone have the right to apply?

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Jul 14, 08, 01:09 #9

After reading all these posts I'm confused.

Can someone please clarify if I DO qualify for Polish Citizenship through my grandmother?

Facts: My Grandmother was born in Nur, Poland, 1912. She married my Polish American grandfather in POLAND in 1935 (he was born in America - but went back to Poland, married her, came BACK to America, then sent for her) She came over to America for the first time in 1936/1937 through Philadelphia to meet up with my grandfather.

Does this mean I qualify? And what exactly do I qualify for: just a passport or passport and citizenship?

If so, what do need to do next? Thanks in advance!

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Jul 14, 08, 05:52 #10

I apologise now if my post is somewhat abrupt, but it is becoming quite tiring to repeat the same things over and over.

Your Grandmother was Polish. Thus your parent is Polish (you don't say if it's your maternal or paternal grandmother so I don't know if we are talking about your Mum or Dad here but it doesn't matter). Thus you are Polish. Doesn't matter that you or your parent never set foot in Poland, you are automatically Polish because you have Polish blood.

Do you qualify? Probably unless your Grandmother or your parent or you renounced Polish citizenship which is unlikely.

What do you qualify for?
Polish citizenship. If you are a Polish citizen you can then apply for a Polish passport. How can you have a passport of a country that you aren't a citizen of?

What do you do next?
As has been said many times already, contact your local embassy. Expect a long wait.

WredniakThreads: - Posts: 7 Joined: Jul 14, 08 ♂	Jul 14, 08, 07:54 #11
All documents that confirms your right to Polish citizenship have to be in Polish so if your birth certificate isn't from Poland you will have to translate it on your own.

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Jul 14, 08, 08:01 #12

It's more complicated than that - you have to use approved translators (not just any translator). Also when I started my application (in Poland) I had problems getting the Urząd Stanu Civilnego to give me a Polish birth certificate from my UK one because the UK ones don't have certain details on it (such as father's family surname). In fact I am still waiting on them to decide what to do about it...

WredniakThreads: - Posts: 7 Joined: Jul 14, 08 ♂	Jul 14, 08, 08:44 #13
benszymanski: to use approved translators I think any "tłumacz przysięgły" will do (sorry no idea how they are called in English). And getting Polish Birth Certificate should be only a formality, but Probably Urząd Stanu Cywilnego has no idea what to do so it will say that it is not in his competences and send you somewhere else. Good luck (you will need a lot of good luck).

benszymanskiThreads: 9 Posts: 510 Joined: Feb 29, 08 ♂	Jul 14, 08, 09:21 #14
yes - a sworn translator. Yeah the director of my local USC said he hadn't dealt with this before and said he needed to check what to do. When I can next be bothered, I will chase him up.. Not only luck - also patience!

KevinCanThreads: - Posts: 2 Joined: Jul 27, 08 ♂	Jul 27, 08, 11:52 #15
If you have a Polish consulate in your city, they may have names of certified Polish translators.

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Jul 29, 08, 16:36 #16

I just got done a few weeks ago talking to the Polish consolate where I live (Los Angeles, CA, USA). While it is true that anyone with Polish ancestors is automatically qualified for Polish citizenship there are a few catches. First, my family came from Poland four generations ago, which makes me eligible. However, when they left Poland they actually left what would have been the Prussian partition and it's not as if I can get Prussian citizenship today, now is it? So I have to prove that my family was living in Poland in 1795, before the partitions and that is a long, expensive part of what already is a long, expensive process. So, when I heard that I automatically qualifiy, it sounded like an easy thing--not so much. If you have the time and money, go for it, but if it isn't worth it, it's not worth it.

sa_guyThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Joined: Aug 1, 08 ♂	Aug 1, 08, 21:34 #17
Hi if my grandfather (mother's father) came from Poland, can I claim Polish citizenship? Thanks

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Sep 18, 08, 15:46 #18

It depends on when your grandfather left Poland (date) and if he served in foreign army till 1951.

If your grandfather left Poland after 1920 and did not serve in foreign Army till 1951 basically you are entitle to obtain Polish citizenship.

Some few additional issue must be clarify but generally your are entitle.

If you need more information please contact with me (adv.piotrowski@gmail.com)

I will give you some more details.

BR

Lukasz

celinskiThreads: 83 Posts: 2,800 Joined: Nov 14, 07 ♀	Sep 18, 08, 15:59 #19
For US maybe this will help. Dual Nationality http://poland.usembassy.gov/poland/dual_nationality-408cda12d248a.html

Guest

Sep 26, 08, 01:35 #20

This post is slightly different!

I am a South African citizen. My Great Grandfather is Polish. I know that I am a Polish citizen. However I need to know what documents are neccessary (e.g. my great grandfathers birth certificates etc.) , also South Africa up until recently (90`s) had mandatory conscription into the army, which means my Grandfather and Father served in the Army. My Great Grandfather did not serve in the South African Army.

It is still possible that I am a citizen correct?
What is the neccessary application documentation?

Luke

cankev	Sep 26, 08, 10:30 #21
Hello Luke, "When a person accepts public office or joins the army in a foreign country without prior approval of the Polish Government. Persons compelled to active military service may acquire foreign nationality after obtaining permission from the Minister of Military Affairs, otherwise they are deemed to be Polish citizens." http://www.easyexpat.com/forums/ftopic_4563.htm

benszymanskiThreads: 9 Posts: 510 Joined: Feb 29, 08 ♂	Sep 26, 08, 11:42 #22
Guest: I know that I am a Polish citizen Are you totally sure? It gets complicated if your ancestor left Poland before 1923 due to technicalities about whether Poland officially existed or not before this date (given that it wasn't always an independent country etc..)

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Sep 27, 08, 06:40 #23

Hi all

Check into the website 'easyexpat' for more information on this. There is 2 parts under the name of 'Polish Citizenship'. There is also more detailed reference by a member named 'curiousgeorge'.
Ask him for a link back to his article. Good luck in reading all the messages and there is mention of different lawyers in Poland that may help (for a cost) in helping to obtain the necessary papers.

Gerhard

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Jul 14, 09, 17:15 #24

I am just at the beginning of trying to prove my Polish Citizenship through my Mom's Father. I am a hockey player with Canadian citizenship, and a 10 yr US green card through marriage.
My mother's father was born in Krakow in 1904, and emigrated to Canada sometime between 1924-1928. Does this qualify me to begin pursuing my proof of citizenship? Or no? As far as anyone knows, he did not renounce Polish citizenship or hold public office in Canada.
Also, what is the most effective way to try to get a birth certificate for him? Do you have any contacts in Poland that speak English and would be willing to help me? I am also looking for a lawyer who knows about this and can help this process go quickly. I am trying to get a passport so I can play hockey in Poland within the next year or so.
Any help or contact information would be greatly appreciated...
Kyle Kos

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Jul 14, 09, 17:35 #25

kos88:

My mother's father was born in Krakow in 1904, and emigrated to Canada sometime between 1924-1928. Does this qualify me to begin pursuing my proof of citizenship? Or no? As far as anyone knows, he did not renounce Polish citizenship or hold public office in Canada.

Did he obtain Canadian citizenship (or any other citizenship) before 1951? If he did, under the Statute on Citizenship of the Polish State of January 20, 1920 he lost his Polish citizenship when he took that other citizenship. So if your mother was born after he took that other citizenship, she is not Polish.

My understanding is that before you can claim your Polish citizenship (assuming your father did not acquire other citizenship before 1951), your mother would need to claim her citizenship and then you can claim yours. You're probably looking at a total cost of the best part of a thousand dollars per claim (application fee is US$450-odd and you will need to get lots of documents certified by the Polish consulate at $30 a pop). That price is assuming you have a sworn translator who'll work for free and don't hire a lawyer.

The time it takes varies from Wojewoda to Wojewoda but Krakow is one of the busier ones (a lot of Israelis are claiming Polish passports now that Poland is EU). I'd say from experience that a year won't be enough time to get both claims confirmed.

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Jul 14, 09, 17:51 #26

Harry:

your mother would need to claim her citizenship and then you can claim yours.

I don't think that is necessary. I am in the process of claiming my Polish citizenship from my grandfather, but my father has not claimed his (nor has any interest or intention to do so).

I applied in Krakow about a year ago with what they said should be a relatively straightforward case and am still waiting....

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Jul 14, 09, 17:55 #27

benszymanski:

I don't think that is necessary. I am in the process of claiming my Polish citizenship from my grandfather, but my father has not claimed his (nor has any interest or intention to do so).

I applied in Krakow about a year ago with what they said should be a relatively straightforward case and am still waiting....

Possibly the office in Krakow interpret the rules in a slightly different way to the office in Warsaw.

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Jul 14, 09, 18:51 #28

Harry:

Possibly the office in Krakow interpret the rules in a slightly different way to the office in Warsaw.

Possibly, but I think unlikely. Doesn't make sense that his mother has to confirm her citizenship in order for him to himself. This would mean he is denied his citizenship in the case that his mother doesn't want to do her application.

However if they were both going to do applications anyway then it would make sense for the mother to do hers first.

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Jul 14, 09, 18:59 #29

benszymanski:

Possibly, but I think unlikely. Doesn't make sense that his mother has to confirm her citizenship in order for him to himself. This would mean he is denied his citizenship in the case that his mother doesn't want to do her application.

But clearly his mother's citizenship would need to be confirmed before she could pass it on to her children? And assessing her claim to a passport is going to be the harder part (as it will involve proving that her father hadn't lost his Polish citizenship before the date of her birth).

I have come across a couple of cases of Polish passports being claimed two generations down but none of 'my grandfather was Polish so I automatically am too', it's always been 'my grandfather was Polish which makes my father Polish so I am too'.

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Jul 14, 09, 19:03 #30

Harry:

clearly his mother's citizenship would need to be confirmed before she could pass it on to her children

Yes agreed, I am not saying that his mother's citizenship will not need to be confirmed - it will, just like my father's must be too - but I don't believe that means his mother has to do an application herself. It just means when he does his application they will first have to check his mother. I am sure it would therefore be more convenient for them if his mother does an application but I don't believe that is a requirement.

I don't believe either that the different districts can interpret the rules that differently either, and as I say, my application is going through fine (albeit very slowly).

Harry:

I have come across a couple of cases of Polish passports being claimed two generations down but none of 'my grandfather was Polish so I automatically am too', it's always been 'my grandfather was Polish which makes my father Polish so I am too'.

again, agreed.

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