Granting or extending the Pole's Card

According to Art. 2 and Art. 3 and Art. 16 of the Act on the Pole's Card, the Pole's Card may be granted to a person who declares belonging to the Polish Nation and meets all of the following conditions:

•  demonstrates his connection with Polishness by at least basic knowledge of the Polish language, which he considers to be his native language, as well as knowledge and cultivation of Polish traditions and customs;

•  in the presence of the consul of the Republic of Poland, hereinafter referred to as the "consul", or in the case referred to in art. 12 sec. 4 - the voivode, or an employee designated by him, submits a written declaration of belonging to the Polish Nation;

• proves that he is of Polish nationality or at least one of his parents or grandparents or two great-grandparents were of Polish nationality, or presents a certificate from a Polish or Polish diaspora organization confirming active involvement in activities for the benefit of the Polish or Polish national minority language and culture for at least the last three years;

• makes a statement that she or her ascendants have not repatriated or have not been repatriated from the territory of the Republic of Poland or the Polish People's Republic, on the basis of repatriation agreements concluded in the years 1944-1957 by the Republic of Poland or by the Polish People's Republic with the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Socialist the Soviet Republic, the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to one of the States party to these agreements.

The Pole's Card may be granted to a person:

• not having Polish citizenship on the day of submitting the application for issuing the Pole's Card and on the day of granting the Pole's Card, or

• who does not have a permanent residence permit on the territory of the Republic of Poland, or

• having the status of a stateless person.

• The Pole's Card may also be granted to a person whose Polish origin has been confirmed in accordance with the provisions of the Act of 9 November 2000 on repatriation (Journal of Laws of 2018, items 609 and 1669), provided that they demonstrate knowledge of the Polish language in at least a basic level. The provisions of art. 13 sec. 7 and 8 apply accordingly.

A Pole's Card is granted to a minor at the request of their parents when:

• both parents have the Pole's Card, and if only one of the parents has the Pole's Card - with the consent of the other parent expressed in a statement submitted to the consul or notary public, and in the case referred to in Art. 12 sec. 4-governor, unless the other parent is not entitled to parental authority.

• granting the Pole's Card to a minor who has reached the age of 16 may only take place with his/her consent.

• in the event of the death of one of the parents who met the conditions referred to in Art. 2 sec. 1 point 3, in the part concerning Polish nationality, the Pole's Card may be granted to a minor at the request of a living parent in the case of proving that the minor meets the conditions set out in Art. 2 sec. 1 point 3, in the part concerning Polish nationality. In the event of the death of both parents, at least one of whom met the conditions referred to in Art. 2 sec. 1 point 3, in the part concerning Polish nationality, the Pole's Card may be granted to a minor at the request of a legal representative in the case of proving that the minor meets the conditions set out in Art. 2 sec. 1 point 3, in the part concerning Polish nationality.

• if the minor's parent had a Pole's Card, but it expired due to obtaining a permanent residence permit, the provision of sec. 1 applies as if the parent had the card.

Persons subject to the provisions of the Act on the Pole's Card may send an application to the Mazowieckie Voivode via form available on the website.
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The application should include the following data: name and surname, citizenship, telephone number for contact in the territory of the Republic of Poland and e-mail address.

After receiving the application, we will contact you by e-mail in order to set the date of your visit to this Office and submit the application and the documents required by the Act on the Pole's Card enabling obtaining a decision in accordance with the request. The personal appearance of the applicant is required on the day of submitting the application. During one visit, you can submit a maximum of 1 application for a Pole's Card or 1 application of a parent and applications of minor children under their care.

• proposal for granting the Pole's Card, completed in Polish - the application should be completed carefully, without deletions and corrections,

• current photographyclear, with dimensions of 35 x 45 mm, made in the last 6 months on a uniform light background with even illumination of the face, without a headgear and glasses with dark lenses,

• original of a valid identity document with a photocopy of the page with personal data,

• originals and photocopies of documents confirming that at least one of the foreigner's parents or grandparents or two great-grandparents were of Polish nationality, together with photocopies,

• in the case of activities in Polish and Polish diaspora organizations - a certificate of a Polish or Polish diaspora organization confirming active involvement in activities for the benefit of the Polish language and culture or the Polish national minority in the last 3 years.

If you have documents confirming your knowledge of the Polish language, you can attach to the application:

• Polish language certificate issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language,
• a certificate of graduation from school or studies in the Republic of Poland or a certificate of graduation from a school abroad with Polish as the language of instruction.

In the case of CHILDREN, the following should be attached to the application:

• original and photocopy of the minor's birth certificate,

• identity documents of both parents or legal guardians along with a photocopy of the page with personal data, place of birth and place of residence,

• the original of the Pole's Card of one or both parents with a photocopy,

• if one of the parents is not entitled to parental authority, it is necessary to submit a document confirming such a legal status.

Statements and documents drawn up in a foreign language are submitted together with their translation into Polish prepared or certified by sworn translator or by the Polish consul. You can find a sworn translator on the website Ministry of Justice.

The conformity of the photocopy of the document with the original can be confirmed when submitting the application or a certified copy must be submitted (certified as a true copy by a notary public in Poland)

The required level of knowledge of the Polish language is at least B1. If you have not graduated from a school abroad with Polish as the language of instruction or a school in the Republic of Poland, you must pass the Polish language exam - Check on www.certyfikatpolski.pl.