How to get it done?
In the office or by letter.

Who can benefit from the service?
Anyone who had Polish citizenship in the past and lost it before 1 January 1999.

When to submit the application?
At any time.

How to submit the application?
1.    Gather all the necessary documents. See the ‘What to prepare’ section for details.
2.    Pay stamp duty or consular duty. See the ‘Fees for applying’ section for details.
3.    Submit an application to the Minister of the Interior and Administration. See the ‘Where to apply’ section for details.
4.    Wait for a response. See the ‘How long is the wait’ section for details.

Where to submit the application?
To the Minister of the Interior and Administration. Below you will find the address:

Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji ul. Stefana Batorego 5, 02-591 Warsaw

Through the Polish consulate – if you live abroad. You can find their list using the search engine available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Fees for applying
PLN 219 per decision – if you live in Poland and apply directly to the minister. Below you will find the transfer details:

Urząd Miasta Stołecznego Warszawy
Centrum Obsługi Podatnika
Account no: 21 1030 1508 0000 0005 5000 0070

Consular fee – if you live abroad and apply through a consulate. You will find out how to pay the fee at the consulate.

What to prepare?

• application on restoration of Polish citizenship,
• translation of foreign documents to Polish – if you are enclosing documents in a foreign language with your application. Such a translation must be carried out by a sworn translator or a Polish consul.

How long is the wait?
No longer than 2 months.

How to appeal?
If you do not agree with the decision of the Minister of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA), you can apply to the MSWiA for reconsideration. You should do this in writing within 14 days of receiving the decision. You can submit your application in person at the office or by letter.

If you disagree with the subsequent decision of MSWiA, you have the right to challenge it in the administrative court. You should do this within 30 days of receiving the minister's decision. Submit your letter of complaint also to the Ministry of the Interior and Administration.