Ethnic Poles who, by the will of fate, found themselves outside their historical homeland, can receive a Pole's card - a document that, although it does not give Polish citizenship, allows them to study and work on the territory of Poland, like other citizens.
Instructions
Step 1
If you are Pole by origin, but do not have Polish citizenship, and are a citizen of one of the countries, formerly Soviet republics, you can get a Pole card. With this card, you will not have Polish citizenship, this card only confirms your belonging to the Polish people. All rights obtained through this card are regulated by the Law on the Pole's Card, adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Poland on September 7, 2007. Please be aware that this card does not give you a permanent residence permit or visa-free crossing of the Polish border.
Step 2
To obtain a Pole's card, apply to the name of the Polish consul at your place of residence. Indicate in it your name and surname, date and place of your birth, gender, residence address, citizenship, nationality. In a separate paragraph, write about the citizenship and nationality of the parents, but if you refer to the origin of the grandmother, grandfather, great-grandmother or great-grandfather, indicate their nationality and citizenship in the application.
Step 3
Attach to the application a copy of your identity document, as well as documentary evidence of the data you are referring to. It can be Polish identity documents of ancestors, civil status certificates, birth certificates, school certificates, documents confirming military service in Polish military formations, documents related to deportation from the territory of Poland. If you are active in favor of Polish culture and the Polish language, get a certificate of this from a Polish organization included in the list in the collection of regulations "Monitor Polish". It is available at the Consular Section.
Step 4
In the presence of the Consul of the Republic of Poland or an authorized officer, confirm that you consider yourself to be of the Polish people, know the Polish language at a basic level, support and honor Polish traditions and customs. Submit to the consul a written declaration of belonging to the Polish people and prove that at least one of the relatives was Pole by nationality or had Polish citizenship. A Pole's card is issued free of charge, its validity period is 10 years.
