Citizenship problems - my dad's name has Polish letters. Help!

I am a British citizen by birth but with a Polish father. I recently (finally) got my Polish citizenship through and become an officially zamelded Polish citizen in Poland - if you cut me in half you will see 'Poland' written all the way through me in red and white letters.

Now, my Dad's name begins with a crossed L, and that is what's written on my (Polish) marriage certificate. Unfortunately, my (British) birth certificate has him as a 'normal' uncrossed L, because the British system doesn't accommodate Polish characters.

I say unfortunately because I'm trying to get a Dowod and a PESEL number. The local USC (Urzad stanu cywilnego) don't want to process me because my father appears to have two names, or rather that I have two fathers.

What do I do? Has anyone had experience with this before? I can't really change the documents (certainly not the birth cert) and the USC won't budge.

Also, do I need a PESEL anyway? Is it really that important? I have a NIP and that's enough to identify me to the other urzads...

Yes, it's very important.


Get an officially translated birth cert and make sure it has the crossed L [£]

If you have place names that include hyphens. Don't include them.

Do you mean English place names like Weston-Super-Mare, Holme-Next-The-Sea, Stockton-On-Tees (I'm heading into dangerous territory now, I know), Sunderland-No-It's-Crap-Here-Let's-Go-Somewhere-Else (did I get that totally right or totally wrong?)

I don't think that's going to be possible. I have the same problem - my Polish surname originally has an n with the dash (ń) but of course as I was born in the UK my documents don't have the dash.

I have an official translation (done here in Poland) and the translator said he couldn't add the dash because he can only write the name exactly as it appears in the original. Apparently I have to write to some office in Warsaw to follow this up, but as yet I can't be bothered with the inevitable hassle.....

This caused some problems for me and the clerk, but was sorted out within a minute or two. I now come from Newcastle upon Tyne.


I am sorry to hear this. I just thought it might be worth a try.

Naturalization Records might have both versions. Just a guess.

Thanks! Yep, managed to find a translator who'd do it (for the marriage cert, and that was only accepted because it was supported by the cert of no impediment from the British Consulate - 500 frickin zloty) but the USC don't want to accept it. Like Ben says, it has to match up exactly...


Well, that's the next step but I'm reluctant to use more documents than necessary - the more you give these people, the more reasons they have to delay things and cause problems... Still, it might be the only way.

So I absolutely must have a PESEL?

The PESEL number is on the DOWÓD. So, yes you need it.

There should be a specimen picture of a dowód, somewhere on the net. It might help you to know what's required.

Getting the documents together might be a hassle now, but life is so much easier when you have the relevant Polish documents.

Yep, you must have a PESEL so you can get your polish ID, visit a doctor or open a bank account (as a polish citizen).

When I got my Polish passport, I had to get a Polish birth certificate issued as part of the process. This involved getting a sworn translation and then the Polish Embassy in London sent off the UK certificate to the USC in Warsaw to get a Polish one issued. I seem to remember I could have done it quicker if I had gone there in person but at the time I wasn't in a major hurry, but you may want to try the USC in Warsaw as they should be used to these sorts of problems. Now you've got your citizenship confirmed it shouldn't take too much more time to get the passport and part of that is also being given a PESEL (it's in the passport).

Thanks! I'll try it

I am in the process of trying to get a Polish version of my UK birth certificate too. It is a total pain. I went to my local USC as instructed and spoke to the director. He said he didn't know what to do because British birth certificates don't have the parents' dates of births on them and the father's family surname. He said he that this info is required for the Polish document and so couldn't issue me my one. Said he needed to check and would call me back within a week. Of course I am still waiting....

Better don't let them identify you... that may hurt...