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Going in and out of Poland on a non-Polish passport


Aristocat28  
29 Apr 2017 /  #1
My young son and I are going for a month trip to Poland, we both have very obvious Polish names but no Polish passport or citizenship confirmation. Will we encounter any problems entering or leaving Poland because of our names? My mum suggested we fly in and fly out of Germany or Czechia, and enter Poland by land. Will this be necessary?
dolnoslask  5 | 2805  
29 Apr 2017 /  #2
Will we encounter any problems entering or leaving Poland

I never had a problem traveling to and from Poland before I had my citizenship confirmed, my name is very Polish.
terri  1 | 1661  
29 Apr 2017 /  #3
If you are from within the EU - there will be NO problem. If you are from outside the EU - that is a different story.
dolnoslask  5 | 2805  
29 Apr 2017 /  #4
If you are from outside the EU - that is a different story.

Interesting please explain.
terri  1 | 1661  
29 Apr 2017 /  #5
There are numerous websites which show what documentation you require if you are intending to enter Poland from outside the EU - you will need a VISA.
OP Aristocat28  
30 Apr 2017 /  #6
Hello, I am aware of the visa requirement. We are from Australia, the 90 visa for Poland is easy to get here. I am specifically referring to getting held up at the airport for not exiting on a Polish passport while having a very Polish name.
OP Aristocat28  
30 Apr 2017 /  #7
Okay I looked into it and it's referred to as 'the passport trap'. Is this still practiced? If we leave via Germany can this be avoided?
terri  1 | 1661  
30 Apr 2017 /  #8
The fact that you have a Polish sounding name will not interest them. If you are Australians with a visa it will be o.k.
mafketis  38 | 11006  
30 Apr 2017 /  #9
"Okay I looked into it and it's referred to as 'the passport trap'. Is this still practiced?"

It's not a "trap" it's basic political policy. If you have a passport for a given country you are required to enter and leave it with said passport and not some other (if you have more than one).

If you don't have a Polish passport then they will not care what your name is (lots of people with Polish names and no Polish passport visit and have no problem whatsover).

And how Polish? If you're a woman and the name in the passport ends in -ski or -cki then that's a very clear signal that you wouldn't have a Polish passport. If you don't speak Polish (or speak in a way that makes it clear that you haven't spent much time in Poland recently) then that would also be a clear signal that you don't have a Polish passport.

Poland does not require ethnic Poles or people with Polish names to use Polish passports. It only requires people who actually are Polish citizens (regardless of name) to use Polish documents at the border (both ways coming and going).
jon357  73 | 23127  
30 Apr 2017 /  #10
Will we encounter any problems entering or leaving Poland because of our names?

No. It makes no difference at all.
OP Aristocat28  
30 Apr 2017 /  #11
Oh great, thanks so much @mafketis
Well for example my son's middle name is Aureliusz, while my middle name is Agnieszka.
I am of Polish origin but getting a Polish passport will be next to impossible at the moment. Thank you for easing my concern.

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