Polish Citizenship through Marriage – What You Need to Know?

Polish Citizenship through Marriage: Facts and Myths

One of the most common myths is the belief that a foreigner automatically obtains Polish citizenship by marrying a Polish citizen. This is not true. Polish citizenship through marriage is not automatic and requires fulfilling several formal requirements. According to the current law, a foreigner must go through an official process, which includes obtaining a permanent residence permit.

Ways to Acquire Polish Citizenship

There are various ways to acquire Polish citizenship:

• By the right of blood (Ius Sanguinis): A child automatically becomes part of the Polish nation if at least one of their parents holds Polish citizenship – in such a case, no additional applications are required.
• By the right of soil (Ius Soli): A child acquires Polish citizenship if they are found on Polish territory and their parents are unknown or their citizenship cannot be determined.
• Through adoption: A child adopted by Polish citizens before the age of 16 acquires Polish citizenship.
• By granting of Polish citizenship: The President of Poland can grant citizenship to any person, even if they do not reside in the country; this is an exceptional procedure.
• By recognition as a Polish citizen: An application must be submitted to the voivode or through a Polish consul.

People whose ancestors emigrated from Poland often do not realize that they hold Polish citizenship by law. If you are in such a situation, it is worth applying for confirmation of Polish citizenship.

It is also worth mentioning that Polish citizenship can be reinstated if it was lost before January 1, 1999. However, this procedure is not available to those who voluntarily renounced their Polish citizenship.

How to Obtain Polish Citizenship After Marriage?

From the above principles, it is clear that a foreigner cannot expect to automatically receive Polish citizenship after marriage, although all children from the union will become part of the Polish nation.

So how can a foreign spouse apply for Polish citizenship? There are two main ways.

Granting of Polish Citizenship by the President of Poland

Polish citizenship for a foreign spouse can be obtained through granting. Any foreigner can submit an application, but the decision is solely at the discretion of the President of Poland.

There is no possibility to appeal a negative decision, although another application can be submitted.

Recognition as a Polish Citizen

To apply for Polish citizenship through marriage, a foreigner must meet certain conditions. They must have been married to a Polish citizen for at least three years and have resided legally and continuously in Poland for at least two years based on a permanent residence permit or long-term EU resident status.

It is necessary to confirm knowledge of the Polish language at a minimum B1 level, for example, through a certificate or a diploma from a Polish educational institution. The application must be accompanied by documents supporting the provided information, such as proof of identity, a civil status certificate, and a language proficiency certificate.

A negative decision can be appealed.

Polish Citizenship for a Foreign Spouse

Acquiring Polish citizenship through marriage requires gathering many documents, which can be stressful for many foreigners. How can you be sure that your application is correctly completed?

Seek professional assistance. Comprehensive support for foreigners is our specialty. We also assist in obtaining work permits in Poland, temporary and permanent residence permits, as well as extensions of work and residence permits in Poland.

If you have already applied for Polish citizenship through marriage and your application was rejected, we can help you file an appeal. Legalizing residence and work with the Office for Citizenship Affairs is much easier and less stressful.

Summary

Many foreigners wonder whether they can obtain Polish citizenship through marriage and what documents are required. In reality, Polish citizenship is not granted automatically after marriage. Therefore, one must apply for recognition as a Polish citizen (if eligible) or request citizenship to be granted by the President of Poland.

How to submit an application and gather the required documents?

Contact the Office for Citizenship Affairs. We assist not only in obtaining citizenship but also in matters such as visas for foreigners, starosta’s information for a foreigner, or invitations for foreigners.