Does Poland allow Dual Citizenship?

This post deals with the question: Does Poland allow dual citizenship? To explore the topic, I caught up with Polish Citizenship Specialist, Michał Petrus. I have interviewed Michał on six previous occasions since the end of 2023 on a range of topics related to acquiring Polish citizenship.

Michał is a history and genealogy enthusiast who’s been handling cases connected with confirming Polish citizenship by descent and citizenship granted by the President of Poland since 2019. He represents Get Polish Citizenship, a genealogical and citizenship company based in Kraków.

1. First of all, how does Polish citizenship law treat the matter of dual citizenship?

Multiple citizenships are allowed in Poland, but there is one important distinction here: when in Poland, you will always be treated as a Polish citizen. This means you cannot use your other citizenships to avoid that. This also means that when entering and leaving Poland, you should show your Polish passport and not your non-Polish passport(s). This is, rather scarily, called the “Poland passport trap” online if one is considered a Polish subject and doesn’t have a Polish passport or ID to show the authorities. But don’t worry, the mere fact you have a Polish name won’t raise suspicion - and if you already have the Polish passport, why not show it? It’s more beneficial in the Schengen area anyway.

2. In simple terms, can you explain what the Polish “Principle of Single Citizenship” is ?

If one of your citizenships is a Polish one, for the Polish government, you will always be a Polish person - not American, not Australian nor South African. Again, multiple citizenships are not illegal or even frowned upon; it’s just a matter of civil duties and responsibilities before the state when residing in the country.

3. What special rules do those with Polish citizenship and the citizenship of another country have to keep in mind if those persons are either living in Poland or travelling to and from Poland?

If you are planning to live in Poland and you are already a citizen, you will be subject to local taxes - property and income. And even though the military draft was suspended indefinitely in 2009, if it ever comes back, you might be subject to it. Only dual citizens residing abroad are forever exempt from the draft. I also mentioned the “passport trap” - it’s better to use your Polish ID or passport when in the country, rather than your non-Polish documents.

4. What is the worst case scenario if a Polish citizen with dual citizenship attempts to enter Poland using a non-Polish passport?

The exact wording from the Polish citizenship law is: “If a Border Guard officer, in the course of border control at the exit from Poland, obtains information that a traveller has Polish citizenship and does not have a valid Polish document, i.e. - depending on the direction of travel - a passport or identity card, he is obliged not to allow such a person to cross the border”. So basically speaking, the worst key scenario is that you will be denied entry. Overall, this view by the Border Guard has been challenged more and more over the years, and such worst-case situations are becoming increasingly isolated.
The Polish Commissioner for Human Rights also took a stance on the matter, in support of dual citizens and their rights. My opinion is that this issue will fade out naturally, as Polish authorities are more accustomed to dual citizens. Border Guard controls will also likely not happen within the Schengen area when you are travelling from one member state to another.

5. In your view, what are the major benefits of holding a Polish passport?

The obvious one is freedom of movement - the Schengen area is still a strong privilege for EU citizens. But one should also not forget about the right to work, to free education (in many member states), and the right to vote in Polish and EU elections. In this increasingly chaotic and unpredictable world, having another citizenship is always a good idea. It can be your “plan B” and it’s best to do it right now, as waiting times for confirmation have become insanely long.

6. Are there any legal or financial liabilities, such as taxes or military mobilization laws, which dual citizens living abroad need to be aware of?

As mentioned, dual citizens not residing in Poland are never subject to the military draft. Citizens residing in Poland are also safe from it, as it was suspended indefinitely in 2009, and even the war in Ukraine didn’t prompt the government to change the situation. They are more focused on building up the professional army corps. With taxes, the issue was very simple before the “Polski Ład” - if you didn’t reside or work in Poland, you didn’t pay taxes here. But now it’s always best to consult with your tax lawyer about the matter, taking into consideration your specific needs and situation.

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