Worried about traveling to Poland as Dual Citizen

11 Jan 2018 / #1

Hi. I'll be traveling to Poland in July and am starting to get a little worried about not having a Polish passport.
I was born in Poland in 75. Came to the USA with my mom in 1978 and am a US citizen with a USA passport.
My family (wife and 2 kids) will be flying there via british airways through London. I read that verifying Polish citizenship and getting a Polish passport would take 8-12m. I'm considering cancelling my trip because of the whole Poland passport trap :-(

Nathans

11 Jan 2018 / #2

If you have a valid US passport (make sure it's going to be valid for at least 6 months before your returning date), you have nothing to worry about. Hundreds of Polish-Americans who only hold the US passport fly from the US to Poland every day. On the airport in Poland there are two sections - EU / Polish passport travelers / other travelers. You'll just need to go to the non-EU section, show your US passport and are ready to go.

mafketis 38 | 11106

11 Jan 2018 / #3

the whole Poland passport trap :-(

There is no such thing for you. If you only have one passport and don't have Polish citizenship at the moment then you're good to go.

If you do get citizenship and a passport you'd have to use that to enter/leave Poland.

OP polandUScit 1 | 2

11 Jan 2018 / #4

My understanding/fear is that I was born in Poland and am a Polish citizen (and USA citizen). My USA Passport states my place of birth as Poland.

I'm worried about not being able to leave Poland because I don't have a Polish passport... Thanks everyone!

dolnoslask 5 | 2807

11 Jan 2018 / #5

Poland passport trap

No such thing I have Polish and British, no problems, they don't even bother me if I use my Brit passport on entry although technically I should use the Polish one.

OP polandUScit 1 | 2

11 Jan 2018 / #6

Thanks everyone. Feeling little better now.

The Wanderer

11 Jan 2018 / #7

If you want to play it safe, fly in to Berlin, then take the train across the border. Airfare is usually cheaper to Berlin from the U.S. than to Warsaw. This way you will have no worries at the airport either way.

jon357 73 | 23223

11 Jan 2018 / #8

Thanks everyone. Feeling little better now.

That's good. You shouldn't worry about this.

I read that verifying Polish citizenship and getting a Polish passport would take 8-12m

If you don't have a Polish passport. nobody would expect you to show one. When they scan your passport on the database, it shows quite a few things (air journeys you've made in the past 2 years, online hotel bookings and a few other things). It doesn't show passports that you don't have.