Giving up canadian citizenship for a Polish one? Cant be true!

i am finding it hard to belive that I would need to give up my canadian citizenship in order to get my polish one. my grandfather was polish-moved to canada in late 1940's after the war. i want to reconnect with my heritage and was looking to get a polish passport so i can perhaps come to poland and live and work there for awhile. BUT i wont give up my canadian citizenship as some on this forum have suggested needs to be done. anyone able to enlighten me as to the proper facts? thanks so much.

Don't do anything crazy that you might regret later on. If this is really a requirement to give up your Canadian citizenship to get a Polish one, think twice before you do it, especially because you want to stay in Poland just for a while.

Your grandfather was Polish, which means that one of your parents were Polish, which means that you are Polish, by birth...As long as no one formally renounced their Polish citizenship.

You're not seeking out a new citizenship, you were Polish when you were born. Go get your passport. Canada recognizes dual citizenship.

cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/dual-citizenship.asp

True. Wife has both.

Then don't.Do you think ANYBODY in PL cares about you coming there or not?

Other than her family, probably not.

Does anyone in Poland care about you? I do grubas, and if you do decide to come back, I can give you a welcoming hug.


You can do a search on "Polish citizenship", there are quite a few threads covering the details.

Good that you mentioned that, don't forget to let me know when and where exactly you'll be in SC, I wanna give you a welcoming hug too.

No, you don't need to give up canadian citizenship but if you move to poland and don't want to be liable for taxes in canada then you will want/have to give up your residency there.

Hmm, if he moved before 1950-1 (can't remember which) - he may have lost his citizenship by decree of the PRL.

Get your citizenship like I've got it for my kids, and stay away from this country- I'm polish Canadian. Burocracy here is hell, abuse of human rights is common, arogant clercks everywhere, and they are just discussing if humane rights should be removed from Polish reality. Roman Catholic Church have hudge power in politics. Communist succesors are controlling everything, and make peoples life miserable. Forget about to make decent money- you will get 3 $ per hour. Many are fighting for get out of the Union to achieve liquidation Human Rights- they are praising Stalin's kommunist system. Moving back to Poland cost me tons of money, and my family just run away from here the same like some of my friends, who believed since now in Union- it is high standard here. Good I didn't sell my home in Canada. In march I will be back in Canada. By the way- when i returned to Poland in Aug 2009 all public offices refused to recognise me as polish citizen- like my citizenship expired- like licence to drive and it took me some 3 months to get it back- but I never waived it on the first place- they are crazy. To blackmail me- I couldn't get any papers for my Canadian wife and my kids- all rejected- right away, because my citizenship was questionable. They do it to all. Like - your passport expires- you are no longer canadian, and you need hell of effort to get it back.

Welcome to Poland
If any question, please mail me : ryhoojatyahoo.ca
Richard 1960

It's a better idea to have the passport in your hand before you move. Sorry it's not working for you, it's treating me pretty well.


With that in mind, the Polish consulate in Canada can square you away regarding citizenship.

Sounds like the classic case of someone who didn't have the confirmation of Polish citizenship in his hand, yet thought that Poland would welcome him with open arms.

Ever had your human rights abused in Poland, convex? I haven't :(

You don't need to resign from any citizenship while verifying if you have a Polish one. Just file for a verifying procedure and you'll soon know whether you have Polish citizenship or not. Then you can apply for passport etc. I don't know your details, but just a Polish granfather is not enough to be verified positive. You have to have more.

er, no. Even though your Canadian passport expires you are still a Canadian citizen, the same goes for any other unless you renounce it.

sounds like you take offense to my stand about wanting to maintain my canadian citizenship. ..interesting. i am extremely curious about poland but i know a good thing when i got it! would have to be a fool to renounce my canadian ties. as for whether anyone cares if i go to poland or not- hmmmm...i don't really care if no one cares...should i?

we don't care if you care about what we don't care...

LeAnne, who is telling you you'd have to give up your Canadian citizenship?

That doesn't sound like any Polish practice that I've ever heard of.

If the Canadian side said that what's stopping you from getting a Polish passport and not mentioning it to the Canadian government?

sorry- forgot to add WHO i was referring to.sounds like you take offense to my stand about wanting to maintain my canadian citizenship. ..interesting. i am extremely curious about poland but i know a good thing when i got it! would have to be a fool to renounce my canadian ties. as for whether anyone cares if i go to poland or not- hmmmm...i don't really care if no one cares...should i?

as for all the other info- thank you kindly. i will now do my research and follow up on my opportunities. anyone know how i would find out if my grandfather gave up his citizenship? is there a master list somewhere??

Hi LeAnne

You do not have to give up your Canadian citizenship in order to get the Polish. There are a few on the Polish forum found on 'Poland Foreigner' that obtained Polish citizenship and they did not have to give up their Canadian or American.

One way of your grandfather losing his citizenship would have been to join the Canadian military or to take a political office. Also, check the Polish citizenship acts of 1920 and 1951 and see how they affect your grandfather. One way of checking out if your grandfather renounced his Polish citizenship would be to enquire through the Polish Embassy or Consulate and make a request for that information. Check the 'Poland Foreigner' website and you may find further help there. Good luck.

Exactly.