Poland in South Africa

To have Polish citizenship granted, you should apply to the President of the Republic of Poland through a consul at a Polish consular post of your local competence.

Foreigners residing in Poland should apply through the province governor.

Please note: Applications sent directly to the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland will be returned.

You can submit the documents personally or send them by mail. Please note! If you send your application by mail, you need to have the signature on it officially confirmed.

Polish citizenship granted to either of the parents also extends to a minor in their custody if: the other parent is deprived of parental custody or personally made a statement for the record before a consul that they consent  to the minor's acquiring Polish citizenship.

Children aged 16-18 have to make additional statement for the record before a consul that they consent to be granted Polish citizenship.

Please register for „citizenship matters” via https://secure.e-konsulat.gov.pl/.

1. Application for Polish citizenship.
2. Passport photo.
3. Documents to confirm:

• particulars of the foreigner applying for citizenship,
• details of the foreigner's means of subsistence, professional achievements, political and social activity (if applicable),
• particulars of the foreigner's spouse (if applicable),
• particulars of a child if covered by this application (if applicable),
• particulars of parents and more distant ascendants if they were Polish citizens (if applicable),
• the applicant's Polish citizenship in the past, its loss and acquisition date of citizenship of another country (if applicable).

Data and information provided in the application can be supported by documents:

• stating the identity and citizenship,
• authorising to reside or stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland,
• copies of birth certificates,
• copies of marriage certificates or other documents confirming marital status,
• stating the spouse's identity and citizenship,
• stating the child's/children's identity,
• authorising the child/children to reside or stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland,
• confirming Polish citizenship of parents or more distant ascendants,
• confirming the loss of Polish citizenship by a foreigner, his/her child/children and his/her ascendants.
• stating the acquisition of a foreign citizenship by a foreigner or his/her children if they had been Polish citizens in the past,
• confirming their source of subsistence,
• confirming professional achievements, political and social activity.

If the application to grant Polish citizenship also covers a minor, additional documents are required:

1. copy of the child's birth certificate,
2. the other parent's statement of consent for the child to be granted Polish citizenship - the statement is made for the record before a consul,
3. the child's written consent to lose Polish citizenship if the minor covered by the application is older than 16 - the consent is made for the record before the consul.

Please note:

• the application must be filled in Polish only,
• copies of Polish and foreign documents must be certified by a consul to be true copies of the originals,
• all documents made in a foreign language must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator or consul,
• in the case of some documents made in an EU country, a multilingual standard form issued by a foreign authority under the regulation 2016/1191 can be attached instead of a translation,
• documents made in EU countries and not covered by the regulation 2016/1191 should have the apostille attached,
• documents made outside the EU should have the apostille attached for countries parties to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, signed in the Hague on 5 October 1961, or be legalised by a Polish consul for other countries.

Charges in accordance with the table of consular fees.
 

A foreigner is granted Polish citizenship by the President of the Republic of Poland. The President is not obliged to consider the application for Polish citizenship within any specific time limit.

You can collect the documents personally. Consul can also send the documents to the address of your choice - discuss this possibility when you submit your application.

You cannot appeal. Presidential orders are not subject to appeal. 

How can my child receive Polish citizenship?

Polish citizenship can be granted to a foreigner upon his/her request, and to a minor upon the request of his/her legal representatives. 

Polish citizenship granted to the parents also covers a minor in their parental custody. Please note that children aged 16-18 have to make additional statement for the record that they consent to be granted Polish citizenship.