Can someone please explain this to me?

Question

"Citizenship can generally be claimed only by descendants of Polish citizens who left Poland after the country became an independent state in 1918. Also, there can be no break in Polish citizenship between the emigrant ancestor and the descendant. If the applicant's ancestor lost Polish citizenship, the descendant did not inherit Polish citizenship through that ancestor. Application for "Confirmation of Possession or Loss of Polish Citizenship" can be made through Polish embassies or consulates abroad.[2]"

it is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_nati…

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

First answer yourself this question:

1) Have your ancestors left Poland before or after 1918?

*before ----> you can't claim Polish citizenship
*after ----> you may be able to claim it (go to question 2)

2) Was there any break in Polish citizenship between your ancestor and you?

Break in citizenship means that someone lost their Polish citizenship somewhere along the way. (To check if there was a break you have to apply for Confirmation of Possession or Loss of Polish Citizenship at your nearest Polish embassy or consulate.)

*yes, there was a break ----> you cannot claim Polish citizenship
*no, there was no break ----> you can claim Polish citizenship

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

very simplified, thank you.

Answer 2

It's self explanatory. What do you need help with?

~~Donna~~

Answer 3

If you are of Polish descent, and you want to keep that native Citizenship (even though you are born elsewhere), you can only claim that Citizenship if you have a descendant of Poland who LEFT Poland after 1918 (because it became an independent state in that year). There cannot be any "gaps" between the actual polish ancestor and the descendant. If one of the descendants has another Citizenship (like American Citizenship or Canadian), and he wants to regain the Polish Citizenship, he needs to go to any Polish Embassy or Consular office nearest his home and try to recover that Citizenship by applying for Confirmation of Possession or Loss of Polish Citizenship"

My advice to you? If you don't understand these things, you really should visit a Polish Embassy near your home and talk to someone about it.

Answer 4

If your ancestors, left Poland before it became an independent State in 1918, then you can't claim Polish citizenship. If your parent and grandparent and great-grandparent kept Polish citizenship, then you may have a basis for claiming it yourself. If, however, one of these dropped the ball and didn't keep Polish citizenship, you can't claim it either.

Answer 5

normally only children of Polish people leaving after 1918 can be considered automatic Polish citizens. Because before that it was not considered an independent state. Also if the child (or grandchild great grandchild etc) or Polish parent denounced or somehow lost citizenship then they cannot get polish citizenship. You can apply using an "confirmation of possession" or "loss of polish citizenship" form even if you are not in Poland, just go to your consulate.