What is citizenship by descent?

Citizenship by descent (CBD) is the legal right to acquire a country's citizenship through one's ancestors, based on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood). Over 90 countries offer some form of citizenship by descent.

Which countries offer citizenship by descent?

Over 90 countries offer CBD. The most accessible include Italy, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Spain, and Portugal.

How long does citizenship by descent take?

Timelines vary by country. Italy: 12-36 months. Ireland: 9-18 months. Poland: 12-24 months. Germany: 12-30 months. Mexico: 6-14 months. Brazil: 6-12 months.

Can I have dual citizenship?

In most cases yes. The US, Canada, UK, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and most EU states permit dual citizenship. Notable exceptions: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Japan, China, Singapore.

How much does citizenship by descent cost?

Costs vary by country. Typical all-in fixed fees: Italy $8,000-$25,000, Ireland $4,000-$9,000, Poland $5,000-$15,000, Germany $8,000-$25,000, Mexico $3,000-$8,000, Brazil $3,000-$7,000.

Is the consultation confidential?

Yes. Every consultation is confidential. Nothing you share can be disclosed without your consent. When you're matched with a professional in our network, that professional's own confidentiality and privilege policies apply to your engagement.

How long does the consultation take?

The first consultation is 90 minutes for video and in-office meetings, or 60 minutes for phone calls.

Is the consultation really free?

Yes. The first 90 minutes are confidential, candid, and free of charge. No retainer required.

What should I prepare for the consultation?

Bring whatever you know about your ancestor: full name, date and place of birth, country of origin, emigration date, naturalization status, and any documents you already have.

How quickly will I hear back after requesting a consultation?

We reply to every consultation request within 24 hours, in your timezone.

What consultation formats are available?

We offer private video consultation (90 minutes), in-office meeting (90 minutes, available in New York, Lisbon, and Mexico City), and telephone call (60 minutes).

Do I need to commit to anything after the consultation?

No. The consultation is free and carries no obligation.

What languages are consultations available in?

Case leads are available in seven languages: English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and Polish.

Last reviewedMay 8, 2026·Ancestra editorial team

Country Guide10 min read

Polish Citizenship by Descent: A Guide to Pre-War Archive Research

Polish citizenship passes by blood with no generational limit — but proving it requires reconstructing pre-war records from partitioned Poland. Here's our network of genealogists' guide to the archives that matter.

M. Kowalski

Senior Genealogist

Published May 8, 2026

Why Polish citizenship cases are different

Polish citizenship by descent is governed by the principle of unbroken blood line: if your ancestor was a Polish citizen at the time of your next ancestor's birth, you are likely a Polish citizen yourself, with no generational limit. The challenge is not the law — it's the documents.Between 1795 and 1918, Poland did not exist as a sovereign state. Its territory was partitioned between Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Records from this period are in Russian, German, or Latin, and are held in archives in Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, Lviv (now Ukraine), and elsewhere.Between 1918 and 1939, Poland was reconstituted as the Second Polish Republic. Records from this period are in Polish and are held in Polish state archives. After 1939, WWII displaced millions of Poles — many records were destroyed, and many others were taken to Germany or the Soviet Union.After 1945, Poland's borders shifted westward. Territories in the east (including Lviv and Vilnius) became part of the Soviet Union (now Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania); territories in the west (including Wrocław and Szczecin) became part of Poland. This means Polish records may be in archives in Warsaw, Kyiv, Vilnius, Lviv, or Berlin.

The archives that matter

The Archiwa Główne Akt Dawnych (AGAD, Central Archives of Historical Records) in Warsaw holds records from the Russian Partition and the central Polish territories. This includes civil registries (akta stanu cywilnego) from 1808 to 1925 for the Warsaw area, and cadastral records (metryki) for the Russian Partition.The Archiwum Państwowe w Poznaniu (State Archive in Poznań) holds records from the Prussian Partition, including Protestant church books and German-language civil registries. Many of these are digitized and available on the archive's website.The Archiwum Narodowe w Krakowie (National Archive in Kraków) holds records from the Austrian Partition (Galicia), including Catholic parish books and Jewish metrical books. The AGAD in Warsaw also has a significant Galicia collection.For territories now in Ukraine (including Lviv), the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Lviv holds Polish records from before 1939. For territories now in Belarus, the National Historical Archive of Belarus in Minsk holds Polish records from before 1939. For territories now in Lithuania (including Vilnius), the Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius holds Polish records.

What records you need

The Polish citizenship dossier requires: (1) the ancestor's Polish birth certificate, retrieved from the Polish State Archives or the relevant civil registry office (USC); (2) the ancestor's marriage certificate, if applicable; (3) proof that the ancestor was a Polish citizen — this can be a Polish passport, a Polish identity card (dowód osobisty), a military service record (ewidencja wojskowa), or a voter registration (rejestr wyborców) from the inter-war period; (4) the chain of birth and marriage certificates linking the applicant to the ancestor; and (5) proof that the ancestor did not lose Polish citizenship by naturalization in another country before the next child's birth.The last point is critical: Polish citizenship is lost by naturalization in another country, but only if the naturalization occurred while Poland was a sovereign state (i.e., after 1918). If the ancestor naturalized before 1918, when Poland did not exist, they did not 'lose' Polish citizenship — they simply never held it. In that case, the line is broken.However, if the ancestor emigrated before 1918 and returned to Poland after 1918, or if they maintained Polish ties (voting in Polish consular elections, registering with the Polish consulate, serving in the Polish military), they may have re-acquired Polish citizenship after 1918 — and the line may be intact.

How to confirm citizenship continuity

Citizenship continuity is the single most contested issue in Polish CBD cases. The Polish government's position is that the applicant must affirmatively prove their ancestor was a Polish citizen at the time of the next child's birth — and that they did not lose that citizenship before the birth.Three types of records are most useful for proving continuity: (1) consular registration records — many Polish emigrants registered with the Polish consulate in their destination country, and these records are held at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs archive in Warsaw; (2) military service records — Poles who served in the Polish Army (including Haller's Army, the Blue Army, and the Polish Armed Forces in the West) are presumed to have been Polish citizens; (3) voter registration records — Polish citizens who voted in the 1921, 1922, 1928, or 1930 elections are listed in voter rolls held at Polish state archives.Our network of genealogists conduct comprehensive searches across all of these archives to assemble a continuity dossier. We then file a 'confirmation of Polish citizenship' application (potwierdzenie posiadania obywatelstwa polskiego) with the Wojewoda (provincial governor) of the applicant's last place of residence in Poland, or with the Polish consulate abroad.

Filing and timeline

Confirmation of Polish citizenship is filed with the Wojewoda (provincial governor) of the applicant's last place of residence in Poland, or with the Polish consulate of the applicant's current jurisdiction. The application includes the ancestor's Polish records, the chain of vital records, and the continuity dossier.Processing time is 12 to 24 months. The Wojewoda reviews the application, may request additional evidence, and ultimately issues a decision confirming or denying Polish citizenship. Positive decisions are retroactive — the applicant is deemed to have been a Polish citizen since birth.Once citizenship is confirmed, the applicant applies for a Polish passport (paszport) at the consulate. Polish passports are typically issued within 4 to 8 weeks. Poland permits dual citizenship, though it does not formally recognize it — Polish citizens are treated as Polish citizens while in Poland.

Key Facts

1Polish citizenship passes by blood with no generational limit.
2Proving continuity requires reconstructing pre-war records from the partitioned and inter-war periods.
3Poland was partitioned between Russia, Prussia, and Austria from 1795 to 1918.
4The Second Polish Republic existed from 1918 to 1939.
5After 1945, Poland's borders shifted westward — some Polish records are now in Ukraine, Belarus, or Lithuania.
6Key archives: AGAD Warsaw, State Archive Poznań, National Archive Kraków, archives in Lviv, Vilnius, and Minsk.
7Citizenship continuity is the most contested issue — consular, military, and voter records are critical.
8Filing is done with the Wojewoda (provincial governor) or Polish consulate.
9Processing time is 12 to 24 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Poland have a generational limit for citizenship by descent?

No. Polish citizenship passes by blood with no generational limit. As long as the line is unbroken — meaning each ancestor was a Polish citizen at the time of the next child's birth — descendants of any generation qualify for confirmation of Polish citizenship.

How do I prove my ancestor was a Polish citizen?

You can prove Polish citizenship through consular registration records, military service records (especially Haller's Army or the Polish Armed Forces), voter registration records from 1921–1930, Polish passports, or Polish identity documents. These records are held at Polish state archives, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs archive, and international archives for territories that were Polish before 1945.

How long does a Polish citizenship by descent case take?

Polish citizenship by descent cases typically take 12 to 24 months to process, after filing a 'confirmation of Polish citizenship' application with the Wojewoda (provincial governor) or the Polish consulate. The applicant must first retrieve and translate all supporting records, which can take an additional 3 to 6 months.

PolandPolish citizenshipgenealogypre-war archivespartitions

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Why Polish citizenship cases are different

The archives that matter

What records you need

How to confirm citizenship continuity

Filing and timeline