Citizenship

POLISH CITIZENSHIP – GENERAN INFORMATION

1. ASCERTAINMENT OF POLISH CITIZENSHIP
   
2. OBTAINING POLISH BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH CERTIFICATES
   
3. VITAL RECORDS' REGISTRATION
   
4. APOSTILLE - INFORMATION
    

 

 

1. ASCERTAINMENT OF POLISH CITIZENSHIP
According to the Polish Citizenship Act - 1962, a child acquires Polish citizenship on the date of his/her birth if at least one of his/her parents was a Polish citizen on the date of the child's birth. Should the applicant wish to reaffirm his/her Polish citizenship - the Polish citizenship of one of his/her parents on the date of applicant's birth has to be reaffirmed before. Sometimes it may be necessary to reaffirm the citizenship of a deceased parent to ascertain that the applicant's parent was a Polish citizen on the date of the applicant's birth.

Information for a person who was born in Poland or residing in Poland
In order to apply for the reaffirmation of Polish citizenship of the applicant's deceased parent, the following documents are required:

1. Letter of request addressed to the Voivodship (Wojewoda) (relevant to the place of last residence) concerning statement on the possession or loss of Polish citizenship by one of the applicant's deceased parents (An application  for confirmation or loss of Polish citizenship of late parents- relevant to applicants who were not born, nor lived in Poland- ZALACZNIK NR 4);

2. The forms to be completed legibly and attached to the letter of request (mentioned above) incl.: personal questionnaire (a personal questionnaire- ZALACZNIK NR 1), citizenship change certificate (a statement regarding receiving the Israeli citizenship, only in Polish - ZALACZNIK NR 7) and a statement on military service in the Polish Army of the applicant's father (a statement regarding: military service in Poland of applicant’s father or grandfather- relevant to applicants who came to Israel as minors before 19 January 1951 (only in Polish), applicant’s military service in Poland- relevant to applicants who came to Israel as adults  before 19 January 1951- ZALACZNIK NR 5, a statement regarding military service in Poland of applicant’s father relevant to applicant whose father who came to Israel as minors before 19 January 1951 (only in Polish)- ZALACZNIK NR 6);

3. CV - information written in Polish on parent's personal details and including:

• Date and place of birth,
• First and last name(s) (according to the birth certificate),
• Changes of first and last name(s),
• Parents' names,
• Marital status,
• Information about wife/husband and children,
• Profession, current occupation and/or position held; place of work,
• Address of the last residence in Poland,
• Date of emigration from Poland,
• Date and place of marriage,
• Countries of previous places of residence,
• Connections to Poland

4. Copy of the Polish passport, or any other documents allowing the parent to leave Poland, that was in possession on departure. In case of a lack of a copy of the Polish passport or any other Polish travel document, a written statement is required;

5. Birth certificate and any other Polish documents of the applicant's parent. If the applicant's parent was born, married or deceased in Poland, the applicant can apply for the Polish birth, death or marriage certificate of his/her parent through the Consular Section; (An application for receiving a birth certificate from the Polish records- ZALACZNIK NR 15, An application for receiving a marriage certificate from the Polish records (only in Polish)- ZALACZNIK NR 16, An application for receiving a death certificate from the Polish records- ZALACZNIK NR 17 );

6. Original or duplicate of the parents marriage certificate and other documents stating cessation of the marriage (for example death, divorce certificate);

7. Copy of the Israeli passport of the applicant's parent. In case of a lack of the Israeli passport, a copy of the Israeli ID of the applicant's parent is required. While submitting the documents, the applicant should show his/her valid original passport or another identity document;

8. Certificate attesting Israeli citizenship issued by the Israeli Ministry of Interior (teudat ezrahut);

9. Extract from the populations register issued by the Israeli Ministry of Interior (tamtzit rishum memirsham ohlusin);

10. If needed: certificate stating change of the first and/or last name(s) issued by the Israeli Ministry of Interior (teudat hameida al shinui shem);

11. If the applicant applies for reaffirmation of Polish citizenship of his/her deceased father who emigrated as an adult to Palestine or Israel, before January 19th 1951, the applicant should submit the original of the document proving the applicant's father's service in the Israeli Army, and information about the father's job, career and positions held during his years of work;

12. If the applicant applies for the reaffirmation of Polish citizenship of his/her deceased mother that emigrated as adult to Palestine or Israel before January 19th 1951, the applicant should not only submit the document proving the applicant's mother's service in the Israeli Army and information about the mother's job, career and positions held during her years of work, but also the same document and information concerning the applicant's father are required. The document proving the applicant's parents' service in the Israeli Army has to be issued by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF);

13. An applicant whose parents emigrated as minors to Palestine or Israel before January 19th 1951, besides the documents mentioned in the points 1 to 10 should additionally submit:

• The original of the documents certifying grandparents military service in the Israeli Army, issued by the IDF and grandparents marriage certificate;
• A statement about the applicant's grandfather's service in the Polish Army;
• Documents certifying the Israeli citizenship of the grandparents;
• Information about the grandparents' job, career, positions held during his/her years of work as well as death certificates of grandparents if applicable.

14. One passport-photo of the applicant's parent.

Information for a person who was born outside Poland and never residing in Poland
In order to apply for the reaffirmation of Polish citizenship of the applicant, the following documents are required:

1. Letter of request addressed to the Mazowiecki Voivodship (Wojewoda Mazowiecki) concerning statement on the possession of Polish citizenship by the applicant (A request for confirmation or loss of Polish citizenship – ZALACZNIK NR 2);

2. Personal questionnaire completed legibly and attached to the letter of request (A personal questionnaire- ZALACZNIK NR 1);

3. Certificate attesting Polish citizenship of at least one parent issued by relevant Voivodship (An application  for confirmation or loss of Polish citizenship of late parents- relevant to applicants who were not born, nor lived in Poland- ZALACZNIK NR 4);

4. CV in Polish, with the following information: place and date of birth, parents' names, marital status, education, profession, place of work, information about wife/husband and children, relatives in Poland;

5. Original birth certificate; (An application for receiving a birth certificate from the Polish records- ZALACZNIK NR 15);

6. Marriage/divorce certificate (original); (An application for receiving a marriage certificate from the Polish records (only in Polish)- ZALACZNIK NR 16);

7. Copy of valid Israeli passport;

8. Certificate of name or surname changes issued by Israeli Ministry of Interior if applicable, (teudat hameida al shinui shem);

9. Certificate attesting Israeli citizenship (teudat ezrahut);

10. Extract from populations register (tamtzit rishum memirsham ohlusin);

11. Applicant's passport photo;

12. Persons born in Israel must include with his/her application their parents' marriage certificate.

NOTES:

1. The documents should be filed in originals and copies in two separate sets.
2. Please note that incomplete documents or ones without copies will not be accepted!
3. The applicant should file the documents personally and submit (for identification purpose) a valid Israeli passport. If unable to do so please enclose confirmation letter of power of attorney. The applicant, as well as person representing the applicant, should submit their IDs.
4. All filed statements and certificates should include the date, place and be signed by the Applicant.
5. Spelling of first and last names as well as dates of birth in all Israeli documents should be standardized and identical with details in the Israeli passport before filing at the Embassy
6. All forms and declarations should be completed legibly in Polish - Please note that illegible or carelessly completed in documents will not be accepted!
7. All documents (if written in a language other than Polish, for example Hebrew) should be translated into Polish by a public notary.
8. All documents issued by Israeli authorities (f. e. certificates) should have Apostille.
9. Please note that all enclosed documents filed at the Consular Section will not be returned!
10. Consular fees need to be paid on initiation of the procedure and will not be refunded irrespective of the final result of the case.
11. The Polish Embassy does not give any information or answer any questions about the state of the case by phone.
12. All documents should be filed at the Consular Section.

Mondays between 12:30 - 17:00 (except for Polish and Israeli holidays)

2. OBTAINING POLISH BIRTH, MARRIAGE AND DEATH CERTIFICATES
Persons born or married in Poland or their relatives as well as descendants of persons demised in Poland can apply for relevant certificates at the Consular Section every Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 a.m to 12.00 noon. Those interested are kindly requested to fill up the following relevant forms available on our web site.

• Birth certificate
  
• Marriage certificate
  
• Death certificate

For the consular fee go to FEES.

3. VITAL RECORDS' REGISTRATION

BIRTH CERTIFICATE

1. TRANSLATION OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE: The Translation of a birth certificate may be made either in Israel or in Poland – see TRANSLATION.

2. REGISTRATION OF A BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN POLAND: Birth certificates of minors, born abroad, are registered on the basis of a written application, submitted by one of the parents to the Office of Vital Statistic, respective of the parent’s last legal permanent residence in Poland, along with the original birth certificate and its certified translation. 

If the application is submitted by a person of 18 years or more who has never had a legal permanent residence in Poland, the application must be submitted to the main Office of Vital Statistic in Midtown Warsaw (Warszawa – Śródmieście)

Urząd Stanu Cywilnego m. st. Warszawy
Ul. Gen. Andersa 5
00-147 Warszawa     
Tel. 011-48-22-227-40-00

There are four ways to file the application:

A. Personally - by submitting the following documents, in person, at the appropriate Office of Vital Statistics:
- the original birth certificate
- a translation of the birth certificate – see TRANSLATION
- the duly executed application to the chief of the Office of Vital Statistic

B. By means of persons living permanently in Poland - by sending the following documents, along with a certified authorization, issued to a person permanently residing in Poland, to register the birth certificate on behalf of the applicant, at the appropriate Office of Vital Statistics.
- the original birth certificate
- a translation of the birth certificate– see TRANSLATION
- an authorization, certified at the consulate, to register the birth certificate on behalf of the applicant.

C. Sending documents directly to the chief of the Office of Vital Statistic - by sending the following documents:
- the original birth certificate
- a translation of the birth certificate – see TRANSLATION
- the duly executed application to the chief of the Office of Vital Statistic

D. Through the Consulate - by submitting the following documents personally or mailing them to the Consulate:

• the original birth certificate with the Apostille seal from the Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem
• the certified translation of the birth certificate – see TRANSLATION
• the duly executed application to the chief of the Office of Vital Statistic (signed by both parents/or legal guardians)
• copies of parents’ Israeli passport

Remarks
The Office of Vital Statistic may require additional documents e.g. a copy of the parents’ Polish birth certificates or marriage certificate, if the original birth certificate does not contain sufficient information. If such case, we suggest obtaining an extended form of the original birth certificate, one containing more personal information, if possible.
Please consider that choosing the Consulate’s assistance (option D) the proceedings might  take longer. It is kindly suggested to use the variants A, B, C rather than D.


MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

1. TRANSLATION OF THE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: The Translation of a marriage certificate may be made either in Israel or in Poland – see TRANSLATION.

2. A WRITTEN STATEMENT CONCERNING A CHOICE OF A SURNAME: Such a statement may be required if the original marriage certificate does not contain information about a change of a surname as a consequence of a marriage celebration. If such a statement is not submitted, it means that spouses hold their last names/surnames.

A. In a case where the certificate will be registered in the Office of Vital Statistic respective of one of the spouse’s last legal permanent residence in Poland, and a written statement concerning a choice of a surname (see LIST OF FORMS) should be submitted and signed:
- in the presence of a Consul (an applicant is required to come within the Consulate’s office hours) or
- in the presence of a notary public, and later authenticated by Apostille seal. The choice of this variant should be confirmed at the appropriate Office of Vital Statistics in Poland.

B. In a case where both spouses were born abroad, have never lived in Poland, and there is no information in a marriage certificate regarding the change of a last name/surname – the marriage certificate shall be registered through the Consulate. In addition, the written statement concerning a choice of a surname should be submitted and signed:
In a case when the chosen last name/surname in the written statement corresponds with the last name/surname appearing in the last issued passport, please enclose a copy the passport.
 
For the consular fess go to FEES.

3. REGISTRATION OF A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE IN POLAND
Marriage certificates are registered in the Vital Statistic Office, respective of one of the spouse’s last legal permanent residence in Poland.
If the application is submitted by spouses born abroad, who have never residence in Poland, the application must be submitted to the main Office of Vital Statistic in Midtown Warsaw (Warszawa – Śródmieście)

Urząd Stanu Cywilnego m. st. Warszawy
Ul. Gen. Andersa 5
00-147 Warszawa     
Tel. 011-48-22-227-40-00

A. Personally - by submitting the following documents, in person, at the appropriate Office of Vital Statistics:

• an original marriage certificate
• a translation of a marriage certificate – see TRANSLATION
• if necessary, a written statement concerning a choice of a surname signed before the chief of the Office
• the duly executed application to the chief of the Office of Vital Statistic

B. By means of persons living permanently in Poland - by sending the following documents, along with a certified authorization, issued to a person permanently residing in Poland, to register the marriage certificate on behalf of the applicants, at the appropriate Office of Vital Statistics:

• the original marriage certificate
• a translation of the marriage certificate – see TRANSLATION
• if necessary, a written statement concerning a choice of a surname with the Apostille seal
• a duly executed authorization, to register a marriage certificate on behalf of an applicant

C. Sending documents directly to the Office of Vital Statistic, except for applicants mentioned in point 2B  by sending the following documents,

• the original marriage certificate
• the translation of a marriage certificate – see TRANSLATION
• a written statement concerning a choice of a surname – see LIST OF FORMS
• a duly executed application to the chief of the Office of Vital Statistic

D. Through the Consulate - by submitting the following documents personally or mailing them to the Consulate:

• the original marriage certificate with the Apostille seals from the Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as well seal from Prime Minister`s Division for Belief Affairs
• the translation of a birth certificate – see TRANSLATION
• if necessary, a written statement concerning a choice of a surname – see LIST OF FORMS
• a duly executed application to the chief of the Office of Vital Statistic (signed by both spouses)
• copies of passports

 
For the consular fess go to FEES.

Please consider that choosing the Consulate’s assistance (option D) the proceedings might  take longer. It is kindly suggested to use the variants A, B, C rather than D.


DIVORCE CERTIFICATE

1. TRANSLATION OF CERTIFICATE
Translation of a document may be made either in Israel or in Poland – see FEES.

2. AUTHENTIFICATION OF A DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IN POLAND
The Consulate should authenticate a divorce certificate that is to be submitted in Poland.

3. RECOGNITION OF A DIVORCE CERTIFICATE IN POLAND
A divorce judgment with an application for recognition of a judgment reached by an Israeli court should be submitted in a District Court, in the office closest to his/her legal permanent residence. Applicants who are not legal permanent Polish residents should apply to the District Court in Warsaw.

Al. Solidarności 127
00-951 Warszawa
tel. 011-4822-6200371

A. Personally
The following documents should be submitted in a District Court:

• an application for recognition of a sentence reached by an Israeli court
• an original divorce certificate with the Apostille seal
• a translation of a divorce certificate – see TRANSLATION
• an appropriate court fee should be paid in a court

B. On behalf of persons living permanently in Poland
The following documents should be submitted in a District Court:

• an application for recognition of a sentence reached by an Israeli court
• an original divorce certificate with Apostille
• a translation of a divorce certificate – see TRANSLATION
• power of attorney to submit an act on an applicant’s behalf and to represent an applicant in court
• payment of a court fee

Consulate does not mediate in proceedings concerning recognition of any divorce verdict from an Israeli court.

For consular fees go to FEES.

The consular fees may be subject to change. In case of any additional questions please call: +972-3-7253111 ext. 118, 119, 120, 124.

A copy of the appropriate application to register a foreign birth, marriage or divorce certificate, can be obtained from our office or downloaded from our website – see LIST OF FORMS.
The legal regulations concerning registration/transcription of foreign vital records in Poland can be found in the Vital Records Law (Dziennik Ustaw — Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland, No. 36, item 180 with later amendments) and in the Civil Procedure Rules.

4. APOSTILLE
Beginning August 14, 2005, the Republic of Poland joined the international convention (held in the Hague on September 5, 1961), which abolishes the obligation to legalize official documents by diplomatic representatives and consulate officials.

Israeli documents are considered legal in Poland on the basis of the certification that the convention calls the "apostille". To avoid any further problems, all Israeli documents to be sent to Polish offices are required to have "apositlle" certifications.

The following state agencies are eligible to issue "apositlle" certifications:

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem – all documents issued by administrative offices of the State of Israel (except for notarized documents):

• judiciary documents (divorce records, adoption documents, court orders etc.)
• administrative documents (birth, marriage, death records, Israeli citizenship confirmations, military receord, etc)

MFA Address:
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
Consular Department – Branch for Certification of Public Documents
9 Ytzhak Rabin Bouleveard
Kiryat Ben Gurion
Jerusalem 91035
Website: www.mfa.gov.il
Telephone information: 14.00-16.00 at 02-5303358 or 02-5303301.
E-mail: imutim@mfa.gov.il

2. District courts (notarized documents)
Note that a certified translation into Polish should be done only by an Israeli notary who has knowledge of Polish and Hebrew confirmed by "certified translation clause”  (Ishur tirgum – אישור תרגום).

District court addresses:
 
District Court in Jerusalem
40, Yalach – a din Street
Jerusalem 95908
 
District Court in Tel Aviv
1, Witzman Street
Tel Aviv 64239
 
District Court in Haifa
12, Pal Yam Street
Haifa 31049
 
District Court in Beer Sheva
5, Hatikva Steet
Beer Sheva 84100
 
Documents issued by Rabbinical Offices (eg. marriage certificates, divorce records) or Rabbinical Courts (eg. court orders) should be certified by The Ministry of Religious Services. For more information contact the Ministry at:. 02- 5311031/161/131/164
Website: www.dat.gov.il

Address:
Ministry of Religious Services
7, Kanfey Nesharim Street
Jerusalem