RECOGNIZING AS A POLISH CITIZEN
Recognizing as a Polish citizen constitutes the easiest manner of acquiring Polish citizenship for a foreigner living in Poland and not having Polish heritage which would allow to determine that the person "inherited" the citizenship from his or her ancestors. In the mode of recognizing as a Polish citizen the Polish citizenship is acquired somehow automatically - all that is needed is to meet the specific conditions determined by the law.
The following are recognized as a Polish citizen:
- a foreigner residing continuously in Poland for at least 3 years on the base of a permanent residence permit, European Community long-term residence permit, or the right for permanent residence, who in Poland possesses a stable and regular source of income as well as a legal title to occupy a residential facility; a foreigner applying to recognize him or her as a Polish citizen is obliged to possess Polish language skills confirmed by an official certificate.
- a foreigner residing continuously in Poland for at least 2 years on the base of a permanent residence permit, European Community long-term residence permit, or the right for permanent residence, who:
- a) remains in marriage with a Polish citizen for at least 3 years, or
- b) does not possess any citizenship
- a foreigner residing continuously in Poland for at least 2 years on the base of a permanent residence permit which that person got due to possessing the status of a refugee granted in Poland; a foreigner applying to be recognized as a Polish citizen is obliged to possess Polish language skills confirmed by an official certificate
- a minor foreigner residing in Poland on the base of a permanent residence permit, European Community long-term residence permit, or the right for permanent residence, whose one parent is a Polish citizen and the second parent, not possessing a Polish citizenship, agrees to it;
- a minor foreigner residing in Poland on the base of a permanent residence permit, European Community long-term residence permit, or the right for permanent residence, whose at least one parent had the Polish citizenship restored and the second parent, not possessing a Polish citizenship, agrees to it;
- a foreigner residing continuously and legally in Poland for at least 10 years, who meets all of the following requirements:
- possesses a permanent residence permit, European Community long-term residence permit, or the right for permanent residence,
- in Poland possesses a stable and regular source of income as well as a legal title to occupy a residential facility;
- a foreigner residing continuously in Poland at least for a year on the base of a permanent residence permit which that person acquired because of a Polish heritage or Polish Card. A foreigner applying to be recognized as a Polish citizen is obliged to possess Polish language skills confirmed by an official certificate
A foreigner is declined to be recognized as a Polish citizen in the case when acquiring by that person a Polish citizenship poses a risk for the country's defense and safety, or protecting the public safety and order.
An application to be recognized as a Polish citizen is filed with a special form which apart from a photo must include a number of documents. The administrative fee for the application is PLN 219.
The decision to recognize a Polish citizen is made by the Province Governor.