My mother is polish by birth, my father was born in UK (father polish, mother British) and raised in Poland. Both renounced polish citizenship decades ago. I was born and raised in UK. British nationality.
I am thinking about applying for Polish nationality (will also keep British nationality) and passport so that I retain the possibility of working in EU after Brexit. No immediate plans to do so.
Can any offer any advice on process and obligations I would be taking on as a result.
Also, could my wife and children also apply for Polish nationality and passports now or at a later stage?
That's a hurdle that will be difficult to overcome, if it is at all possible to overcome, without the help of an experienced Polish immigration attorney. Make sure you have the originals of all of the documents you will need: parents' and grandparents' birth certificates, passports, etc.
after 1989 renauncing Polish nationality is a major PITA. if they did have it done before you were born, you have no chance for Polish citizenship using that kind of claim.
Hi is there any other way to renew polish passport than ekonsulat? I'm trying to make appointment for 3 months now and always says lack of available dates. Can anyone help? Thank you.
Make sure to check for few hours after the time listed on their website. When I got my appointment the consulate listed them 1,5 hour later than stated. After I got that the dates were plenty. Just refresh/upload the site every 15 minutes or so.
My father was born in Poland in the 1920s and settled in England after the war, my mother was English. My father probably renounced his Polish citizenship to become a British citizen and so no longer has a Polish passport and due to his age has not renewed his English passport.
I am retired and enjoy travelling with my wife, especially in Europe, and we do not want to loose European citizenship and freedom of movement it has allowed us.
Is it possible for me to get a Polish passport and how, and would my wife be able to travel with me on a UK passport?
It does not follow that your father born in the 1920's had to renounce his Polish citizenship to become British. he might have had dual nationality.
You would have to prove, by documentary evidence that your father was Polish. You have to get his birth certificate and any other documents that prove that at the time of your birth he was Polish.
I think he would have been stripped of his Polish nationality by the Communists after the war,as my father was. Before getting a British passport my father was given a "Travel Document" issued by The British government with which he could use as a passport but would not be protected by The British Government.He could not return to Poland with that document.
The wording 'would not be protected by the British Government' leads me to believe that at that time a person was considered a dual national and that is why, in the country of birth, the British Government could not do anything..
Many Polish people who settled after the war in England, were not stripped of their Polish nationality. They may not even be aware that they are still dual-nationals.
Hi, has anyone any knowledge re the laws about gaining a Polish passport. My father (now deceased) was born in what was then Poland but annexed by the USSR in 1939 and ceded by Poland in 1951 i.e. east of the Curzon line. He was also conscripted into the Germany Army from 1943-1945 but volunteered and fought with the Polish Army 1945 -1948. He was then brought to the UK by the British Army and demobilised. He was naturalised and became a British citizen in 1960. He then lived in the UK till his death. Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated.
You will need to prove that your father was a Polish citizen. In order to do that you will need his birth certificate. The Polish army may have some records. Seek help from them and give them as much detail as you can.
Hi. I was interested in your account as my partner's father had a similar experience and we are looking at if my partner can get Polish citizenship. If your father served with the Polish army in the West then you should be able to get his military service records from Ministry of Defence, APC Disclosures 5 (Polish), Building 1 (Ops), RAF Northolt, West End Road, Ruislip Middlesex HA4 6NG. You wil probably have to provide his death certificate and proof of your ID.
My partner got details of his birthplace and parents which was very helpful.
Hi, Thanks for that. I do have copies of his war records but they are in Polish, did you use a translation service. Also I hear its best to use a Polish Law firm to send in the very complicated forms, do you have one you are using and could recommend . Thanks
