In Part 2 of this article you will learn about the 3rd and 4th groups of cases when a person can acquire Polish citizenship under the Polish citizenship law and whether it is now possible to lose Polish citizenship.
In the third group of cases - citizenship is acquired as a result of proceedings for recognition as a Polish citizen.
The Act on Polish Citizenship lists in detail the situations in which foreigners or their children can be recognized as Polish citizens. (Detailed information in the entry - Recognition as a Polish citizen - current legal status)
Recognition of a foreigner as a Polish citizen takes place at his/her request, and in the case of a foreigner's child - at the request of his/her parents. Such an application is submitted to the voivode. The voivode grants Polish citizenship in the form of a decision.
Recognition of both parents as Polish citizens extends citizenship to their children until 18 years of age.
Recognition of one of the parents as Polish citizenship will extend citizenship their child up to the age of 18, provided that the other parent agrees to the consul or voivode for the child to adopt Polish citizenship.
If a child turns 16, his/her consent is required to be considered a Polish citizen
In the fourth case, Polish citizenship is acquired in the course of proceedings for restoration of Polish citizenship. (Detailed information in the entry - How Polish citizenship is restored)
Pursuant to Polish law, Polish citizenship is restored to a foreigner if he or she lost it before January 1, 1999 in the following situations:
- if in the period from February 3, 1920 to January 18, 1951, he /she acquired foreign citizenship or accepted public office or entered the military service in a foreign country without the consent of the voivode (Government Commissioner of the Capital City of Warsaw) - in this case, the loss of citizenship extended also for the wife losing Polish citizenship and his children up to the age of 18 years (Article 11 or 13 of the Act of January 20, 1920 on the citizenship of the Polish State
- if in the period of January 19, 1951 to August 21, 1962, he/she obtained permission to change citizenship to a foreign one or was deprived of Polish citizenship (Article 11 or 12 of the Act of January 8, 1951 on Polish citizenship)
- if in the period from August 22, 1962 to December 31, 1998 he or she renounced Polish citizenship or was deprived of Polish citizenship, or in the case of women, when she acquired foreign citizenship as a result of marriage. (Articles 13, 14 or 15 of the Act of February 15, 1962 on Polish citizenship)
Foreigners who lost Polish citizenship after January 1, 1999 could and still may apply for Polish citizenship by the President of the Republic of Poland.
Citizenship is restored upon an application submitted to the minister of internal affairs. The minister restores Polish citizenship in the form of a decision.
Polish citizenship shall not be restored to a foreigner who:
- in the period from September 1, 1939 to May 8, 1945, he voluntarily entered service in the armies of the Axis Powers or their allies or assumed a public office in the service of these countries.
- acted to the detriment of Poland, especially its independence and sovereignty, or participated in the violation of human rights.
Currently, the only possibility of losing Polish citizenship is renunciation of citizenship, provided that the President of the Republic of Poland agrees to the renunciation.
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