Who can use this ground

A permanent residence permit is granted to a person of Polish origin who intends to settle in Poland permanently (Art. 195 para. 1 point 3 of the Act on Foreigners). You do not need a Pole's Card or earlier temporary residence.

Polish origin is established under the Repatriation Act (Art. 195 para. 2). A person of Polish origin is a person who declares Polish nationality and meets two conditions together (Art. 5 para. 1 of the Repatriation Act):

  • at least one parent or grandparent or two great-grandparents were of Polish nationality,
  • the person shows a connection with Polishness.

Which documents prove it

Evidence may be documents concerning you or your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents, issued by Polish state or church authorities or by the authorities of the former USSR, in particular (Art. 6 paras. 1 and 2 of the Repatriation Act):

  • Polish identity documents,
  • civil status records or baptism certificates confirming a connection with Polishness,
  • documents on service in the Polish Army, deportation or imprisonment with an entry on Polish nationality,
  • identity documents or other official documents with an entry on Polish nationality,
  • documents on the rehabilitation of a deported person or on persecution because of Polish origin.

Documents in a foreign language are usually submitted with a sworn translation. We do not provide translations - their cost is on your side.

What is easier than with other grounds

The voivode can refuse a person of Polish origin only for a few reasons: when the person does not meet the conditions, for security reasons or when the person gave false data or documents (Art. 197 para. 2). The permit can be withdrawn, among other things, after leaving Poland for more than 6 years (Art. 199 para. 2 point 1).

Application

You submit the application in MOS while staying in Poland legally - no later than on the last day of your legal stay (Art. 202 para. 1 and Art. 203c). The voivode will not examine an application submitted while you are abroad (Art. 196 para. 1 point 6). The stamp duty is 640 PLN, and the voivode has 6 months to issue a decision (Art. 210 para. 1).

If you have a Pole's Card, you can apply on its basis - then you do not pay the fee. See: permanent residence based on the Pole's Card. After a year of permanent residence obtained in connection with Polish origin, you can apply for recognition as a Polish citizen.