Polish Dual Citizenship in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Polish law takes a simple position: a Polish citizen is treated as Polish only, whatever other nationality they hold. Holding a U.S. passport as well is not prohibited, but it gives no rights before Polish authorities. For descendants of emigrants, the question is rarely whether dual nationality is allowed — it is whether Polish citizenship was ever lost along the way.

Quick facts

The procedure is called confirmation of possession of Polish citizenship, and the wording is deliberate: it establishes a status that has existed all along rather than creating a new one.

What the file has to show

1. That an ancestor held Polish citizenship, evidenced by Polish documents, military records, passports or archival entries.
2. That citizenship passed to each generation in turn under the law in force at the time of each birth.
3. That it was not lost by any event the historical statutes treated as a loss, which is where most claims fail.
4. Continuity of identity across the chain, with marriage certificates covering every surname change.
5. Foreign records apostilled and translated into Polish.
6. The applicant’s own documents, including the U.S. birth certificate.

After a positive decision

Each step depends on the one before it, and skipping ahead simply means being turned away at the counter.

Required documents

• Applicant’s birth certificate, apostilled and translated.
• Birth and marriage certificates for every generation in the chain.
• Polish documents of the ancestor: passport, identity card, military book or archival certificate.
• Evidence of naturalisation abroad, with dates, for each generation.
• Translations by a sworn translator or certified by the consul.
• Completed application for confirmation of citizenship.

Where to apply

Through the consulate covering your state, which forwards the file to the competent provincial office in Poland for decision.

Additional notes

Dates decide outcomes

Polish citizenship law changed in 1920, 1951 and 1962, and entitlement is judged by the statute in force at each birth. A single year can change a whole family’s result.

Military service and loss

Historical rules treated some events, including foreign military service in certain periods, as causing loss of citizenship. These are the details that decide difficult files.

Archives

Where family documents are missing, Polish state archives are the usual source. Requests can be made from abroad and take time.

Start early

Confirmation files are measured in many months. Beginning before there is a deadline is the only way to avoid pressure later.