Polish Citizenship By Descent Through a Great Grandparent
APPLYING FOR POLAND CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT THROUGH GREAT GRANDPARENTS
Getting Polish Citizenship Through Great Grandparents
Becoming a Polish citizen by descent is a major goal for many people across the country. Membership in this European country offers many appealing benefits—chief among these is the opportunity for people of Polish ancestry to reclaim their heritage and obtain an EU passport.
But can you get Polish citizenship through a great grandparent if they were citizens of Poland?
Yes, this is sometimes the case, but the answer is slightly more complex.
Poland grants citizenship to great grandchildren as long as they meet the eligibility requirements. We’ll cover these below, answering all the questions you might have about this often challenging process.
Granting Polish Citizenship to Great Grandchildren at a Glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Your great-grandparent must have: - been a Polish citizen after 1920 - never renounced citizenship - never served in a foreign military before 1951 (except for the Allied forces in WWII) - never served a foreign public office without Polish government approval before 1951 |
| Required Documents | - Polish ID Cards - Karta Meldunkowa (Registration Card) - Polish Passports - Karta Rejestracyjna Reemigracyjna (Re-emigration Registration Card) - Książeczka Wojskowa (Military Book) |
| Supporting Documents | - Birth certificates - Marriage certificates - Naturalization - Residency records |
| Authentication | - All documents must be originals or certified - All documents must be in Polish—translations must be approved by Polish authorities |
| Common Challenges | - Difficulty obtaining older documents - Unknown renunciation of citizenship by ancestors |
| Process | - Collect and authenticate documents - Apply through Polish consulates or governors - Pay fees - Attend interviews - Wait for processing |
| Time | - Typically one year if the documents are all in order |
My Great Grandparent Was Polish — Can I Become a Poland Citizen by Nationality?
If you can prove your great grandparent was a Polish citizen, you may be able to gain Poland citizenship by descent through your great grandparent.
The major qualifications include:
- They were citizens after 1920
- They never renounced their citizenship (and no ancestors since them renounced their citizenship)
- They never served in another military before 1951 (except for the Allies in WWII)
We’ll go in-depth in each below. If you want to know more about Polish citizenship by descent in general, check out our article in the link.
Your Great Grandparent Was a Polish Citizen After 1920
To become a Polish citizen through your great grandparents, they need to have been citizens after 1920. Why is that?
The Second Polish Republic was established in 1918. This was the first country recognizable as “Poland” since 1795—making it deeply connected to the Poland we know today. Though the Second Republic ended in 1939, some form of Poland has continuously existed since 1918.
In 1920, the Second Republic passed modern citizenship laws, establishing the basis for rules that are still in effect today (though they’ve changed some since then).
For this reason, great grandparents who were Polish citizens before 1920 but not after do not make you eligible for Polish citizenship.
If your great grandparent was a Polish citizen anytime after 1920, they do make you eligible for Polish dual citizenship by descent.
Your Great Grandparent Never Renounced Their Citizenship
If your great grandparent renounced their citizenship, then you will not be eligible to become a Polish citizen through them.
Similarly, you’ll be disqualified if an ancestor since your great-grandparent renounced their Polish citizenship. For instance, if your grandfather renounced his Polish citizenship, you can’t use his father’s citizenship as a way to become a citizen yourself.
There are, however, other ways to become a citizen of Poland.
Your Great Grandparent Never Served in Another Army Before 1951 (Except for the Allied Forces in WWII)
This rule revokes Polish citizenship for those who served in foreign armies up until 1951. The one exception to this is fighting for the Allied Forces in the Second World War.
Why is 1951 so important?
That’s the year that new laws allowed Polish people to remain citizens even if they had dual citizenship, served in public offices abroad, and served in foreign militaries.
Documents for Poland Citizenship Through Great Grandparents
Since Poland grants citizenship to great grandchildren of citizens, you have to have documentation. You’ll almost certainly be successful when applying for Polish nationality with the following documents:
- Polish ID Cards
- Karta Meldunkowa (Registration Card) — These used to be used to register where people lived.
- Polish Passports
- Karta Rejestracyjna Reemigracyjna (Re-emigration Registration Card) — Part of old passports.
- Książeczka Wojskowa (Military Book)
What if I don’t have those?
Without the documents above, proving your great grandparent was a Polish citizen becomes much more difficult—but it isn’t impossible.
Other documents that could help include:
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Naturalization records
- Residency records
If any of the documents are not in Polish, you’ll need to get them translated by a translator approved by the government.
Difficulties Getting Polish Citizenship Through Great Grandparents
If you want Poland to grant citizenship to you as a great grandchild of a citizen, there are two major challenges you face:
- Documentation: Every year that passes makes it harder to prove the citizenship of your great grandparents. The further back you go, the more likely it is that the documentation simply doesn’t exist. Even if it does, it’s often scattered over many sources.
- Unknown Renunciation: Many Polish people renounced their citizenship throughout
Steps to Get Polish Citizenship Through Great Grandparents
- Obtain all required documentation and supporting documents
- Authenticate and interpret documents (use official translators and notaries if necessary)
- Apply through Polish consular (apply through province governor if you are in Poland)
- Pay all relevant fees
- Go to interviews for verification
- Gain Polish citizenship confirmation
- Get passport and other Polish ID
Timeline for Getting Polish Citizenship Through Great Grandparents
You can expect getting Polish citizenship to take at least a year, and that’s if you have high quality documentation.
Along the way, you might face many challenges, and that can make the whole process feel overwhelming.
If you’d like help on your way, reach out for a free phone consultation with one of our experts. We help great grandchildren of Polish citizens just like you navigate their way to join this great European nation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I get Polish citizenship through my great grandparent?
Yes. If you can prove that your great-grandparent was a Polish citizen after 1920, then you can.
Can I have dual citizenship if I get Polish citizenship through my great grandparents?
Yes, Poland allows people to maintain dual citizenship.
This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian
Contact Us
Trying to confirm your eligibility? Learn if you qualify for Poland citizenship by descent. Contact us at (213) 557-6220.
