CITIZENSHIP OF POLAND
A foreigner, who has been living more than 8 years on a legal basis in Poland (5 years with a temporary residence permit and 3 years with a permanent residence permit) has a right to apply for a citizenship of Poland, but in such a case he should give the evidence of refusal or loss of his current citizenship.
To be the honorary citizen, one should know Polish. He should provide a certificate of language knowledge, which is received only, when he passes a state examination. He can also provide a certificate of graduation from Polish school or certificate of graduating from a foreign school with a Polish as a language of tuition.
Certificates of knowledge of language are issued by State commission as to certification of knowledge of Polish as a foreign language (Państwowa Komisja Poświadczania Znajomości Jezyka Polskiego jako Obcego). To get such a certificate, you should pass an exam for elementary communicative level - B1.
Polish citizenship is assigned by the President of Republic of Poland. Submission of citizenship descends from an application of a foreigner. The application for polish citizenship of the person, who lives on a legal basis in Poland, will be passed to a President through a Voivod according to a place of residence of an applicant. A person, who applies for a citizenship of Poland should justify his application form and provide reasonable evidence for getting a citizenship.
Refusal in citizenship of Poland can be provided without any reasons and can’t be reviewed or discussed.
After receiving a polish citizenship a foreigner is a competent citizen of Republic of Poland.
Advantages of citizenship of Poland:
- residence allowance in any country within European Union;
- an opportunity to purchase real estate in any EU country;
- visa-free travel within European Union;
- a right for legal employment in any of European countries;
- a right for getting an education in any European country with more beneficial financial conditions comparing to non-EU citizens;
- simplified visa applying regulations for Canada and the USA.
