Hi, my name is Sandy and I was born in Katowice, Poland in 1997. The reason I ask about my citizenship is that I was adopted when I was 4 from Poland and have lived in the USA ever since (I'm 20 now). I heard somewhere that because I'm over 18, I lose my Polish citizenship. Is that true? I've tried googling the rules of citizenship when it comes to adoption, but I've come up short. Any help would be appreciated!
I can't be certain on this, but I think you still have Polish citizenship despite being adopted, as long as you've got documents to prove your birth in Poland. You certainly didn't lose it upon turning 18, so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to confirm your Polish citizenship.
I can be 100 per cent sure on this.
As long as you can prove that you were born in Poland of Polish parents, have your birth certificate or can get a copy, you are entitled to have Polish citizenship. However, you will be asked to submit an application to confirm your Polish nationality. That is one step. The other is this. As you have changed your surname by adoption, the new name (first name and surname if applicable) will have to be registered in Urzad Stanu Cywilnego, as your name - as you would have certainly changed your surname by adoption and maybe even your first name. You will have to present your adoption papers which have to be translated into Polish and have to go through the Court, as the Polish Court (Sad Okregowy) has to recognize the adoption. As you now have the surname of your adoptive parents, any IS, Polish passport or other documents will carry the new surname.
