Born in Poland. Obtaining British Passport?

Hello there. My name is Michal Roman and I am inline speed skater. I am a member of the Birmingham Wheels Roller Skating Club based in Saltley and have been selected as a member of the national GB team to compete at European and World Championships. Last year I went to the Europeans in Italy, however there was a problem initially. I was born in Poland on October 31 1994, and have only moved to England on the 7th June 2005. To compete at European and World Championships, I need a British passport which I do not posses. Last year I was allowed to skate as an exception, but If I want to represent Great Britain again I have to get a British passport. I have searched around and found I would need to apply for citizienship? That would cost me 700 pounds, but then I would have to renew it in October as I turn 18 wouldn't I ? The other problem is financial as I haven't got 700 pounds to pay for this, as the sport is very expensive on its own, with me struggling to cover the costs of it. What do I need to do to receive a British passport, are there any funding options available for it, and do you know any sponsorship sources I could apply to for my sport? Thankyou very much in advance.

LOL, sponsorship? Getoutta here! :)

Given that the body which is insisting that you have a British passport in order to represent Britain is the UK inline skating association, why not ask them to help pay for you to naturalise as a British citizen. Personally I don't see a problem with you representing the UK on a non-British passport. There is certainly precedent for it: Jade Dernbach is currently representing England in the world T20 cricket but has an Italian passport and not a British one.

I'd try contacting UK Sport - uksport.gov.uk - they're known for helping in cases like this. If that fails, contact Solveit - ec.europa.eu/solvit/ - they are very good in dealing with things like this.


No - once you turn 16, you get passports for 10 year periods.

I do, and I am not even a Brit. The kid obviously values UK citizenship at less than 700 quid, so let him continue to be polish only. At such young age and he's already trying to cheat the system. Shame!

It's not really cheating - 700 quid is a lot of money, and the process is terribly long winded. He's good enough to be chosen to represent GB - so let him :)

(and personally - Poland's loss is our gain ;))

A matter of opinion. I will be glad if he renounces polish citizenship as well.

how is he trying to 'cheat the system'? He lives in GB and would like to represent the country....

The "system" to get a passport entails paying 700 quid. I say let him earn money, pay his dues and then become a subject.

Cheat the system? Am I ? Seeing as the sport is pretty amateur and gets no funding, costs me like 3 grand a year at least. I do not have a job, seeing as I wouldn't have time to do that and train, so yeah thanks.

Just to confirm, would I be eligible for British Citizienship then? Don't want to spend £700 to not get it.

Question is as far as i can see, why do you want to represent GB?

Well I live here and plan to in the future

So youre about what 17 years old? Parents Polish? moved here cos they were poor and you want to represent GB?

Its cool by me just trying to get an idea.

They selected him, so why not? :)

I'd represent Poland if selected, too.

For what - the midget arm wrestling contest?

It bothers me slightly the amount of Polish expats willing to give up nationalisation based on facilities which other countries offer.

At your age you may not know it yet, but there are things that are important and there are also those that are more important. Even at your age you should consider which is which. Pay your dues and be a proud Brit, for God's sake. I am saying this a Pole who has nothing to do with UK at all.

Why don't you ask them whether you can pay in instalments?

Darts ;) I've lost my skill now, but I used to be fairly good...


It's common in sport - there are Brits going the other way, too. Fiona May was an excellent example of this - and there are others.

Would I need to email the home office or? Might give that a try.


Yeah, I'm 17 and moved here with my parents which both are polish. I don't think I'd just get a passport straight away would I? Read up on citizienship but would I get it?


It's not so much I'm willing to give up my polish citizienship. I'd much rather compete for Poland than GB. However I am not looking to move back in the foreseeable future so I don't have an option to skate for Poland.


I'm sorry, what's your problem? You've offered no help at all, just some very close minded input along the way.

Too bad you have been inadequately raised.

Some people born into money keep their cheeks so tight they **** diamonds.

i expect so, youve been resident for more than 5 years, i know that law applies to spouses, not too sure about children of immigrants. I dont suppose the £700 is refundable.

Raheem Sterling(class player) and Owen Hargreaves are two non English players whom have recently played for your soccer team.

Hell, Ireland was known as Englands B team during the early 90s.

The days of having teams consisting of pure home grown indigenous competitors is long gone. Unfortunately.

I'm no fan of it myself - I think national teams should consist solely of players trained in that country for a certain amount of years as youths.

Personally, and having been told that while I had a shot at representing England schools but not England U18 because of my passport, I'd say let anybody who's been in UK for five years represent UK, provided they agree to never represent any other country.

Thanks for McGeady and McCarthy by the way. We are the kings at poaching!

Its only a matter of time before a Polish kid is faced with the option of playing international soccer for Poland or Eng/Ire/Scot/Wales.

I cant wait for that. The debate shall be epic.

Oh, certainly - once you represent one country at any level, that should be it.

But still - same thing - the training, not the passport should count. Citizenship is just an administrative nuisance these days, but you can't get away from actually being on the ground and training.


Already happened - Podolski and Klose are examples. At least in the case of Podolski, he openly cited the utter crapness of the Polish national system as why he plays for Germany.