RESTORATION OF POLISH CITIZENSHIP
In some cases people who lost their Polish citizenship prior to January 1st 1999, may apply to restore it. One has to remember that restoring citizenship concerns only one specific person and not for example family members. Apart from that, the citizenship is granted only for the future. This means that a person with restored citizenship will be regarded as a citizen of Poland only after the decision is made and not in the past, when that person did not possess the citizenship.
Polish citizenship may be restored if it has been lost:
- due to acquiring a foreign citizenship,
- due to the loss of Polish citizenship by the husband,
- due to active military service in a foreign army,
- due to assuming a public office position in a foreign country,
- due to being deprived of the Polish citizenship,
- due to the loss of the Polish citizenship in the course of marriage or its end.
Polish citizenship is not restored to a foreigner who:
- willingly joined the Axis powers' armies or any of their allies between September 1st 1939 and May 8th 1945;
- assumed a public office position in the Axis powers or any of its allies between September 1st 1939 and May 8th 1945;
- acted to the detriment of Poland, especially its independence and sovereignty, or took part in violating human rights.
- Polish citizenship is not restored to a foreigner if it poses a risk for the country's defense and safety, or protecting the public safety and order.
The decision concerning restoring citizenship is made by the Minister of the Interior and Administration. The administrative fee for the decision is at PLN 236.