PPoland

Want to know how to get PESEL and (valid) Passport

  • October 24, 2022



Hello Everyone,

I am a Polish-American in the San Francisco area who would like to move to Poland indefinitely. My goal is to have full citizenship rights in Poland when I arrive and I was wondering if anyone could spare some help.

I currently have an older Polish passport (issued 1998 when I was a child) but no known PESEL number (it is not written on my passport) and no valid passport or means to prove citizenship. I have 2 Polish parents so I am elligible for citizenship through ancestry (though I believe I already have citizenship and just need to prove it.)

I would like (1) to be a full citizen and the Polish government be aware of this (2) a Polish passport and (3) a PESEL #

When I messaged the embassy they asked me to send them my birth certificate with translation for transcription [https://www.gov.pl/web/usa/transkrypcja-rejestracja-zagranicznego-aktu-urodzenia-w-polskim-rejestrze-stanu-cywilnego](https://www.gov.pl/web/usa/transkrypcja-rejestracja-zagranicznego-aktu-urodzenia-w-polskim-rejestrze-stanu-cywilnego) although I am not so sure if they understood what I wanted and what happens/next steps I must take after I send it.

I want to be sure that it will get me in the right direction before I go sending my original birth certificate who knows where.

So to recap my questions are this:
1. Am I a full citizen already since I have this old passport and 2 Polish parents, even with no PESEL?
2. If I am a citizen, how do I prove it and get the PESEL #?
3. How do I get full citizenship rights and PESEL/Passport with my current situation (2 Polish parents, old passport issued but no PESEL)?

4 comments

  1. If you had a Polish passport you are a Polish citizen.
    I belive old passports didn’t have it printed or maybe it’s because you were a minor when you got it.
    You just have to contact Polish embassy/consulate in US and ask them for an application/appointment to renew your Polish passport.

    1. Yes you are since you had a Polish passport already
    2. They will assign you a PESEL when you apply to renew your passport.
    3. You just have to contact Polish embassy/consulate in US and ask them for an application/appointment to renew your Polish passport.

    https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/passport-for-an-adult

  3. > 1. Am I a full citizen already since I have this old passport and 2 Polish parents, even with no PESEL?

    Almost certainly yes. Were you born in Poland or in USA? If in USA, check with your parents if they have registered your birth with the Polish authorities. If in Poland, then your birth should have been registered then and you’re a citizen, just missing your identification.

    > 2. If I am a citizen, how do I prove it and get the PESEL #?

    You can apply for a new passport and/or for confirmation of citizenship. With an existing expired passport, this should be fairly quick.

    > 3. How do I get full citizenship rights and PESEL/Passport with my current situation (2 Polish parents, old passport issued but no PESEL)?

    Same as above

  4. Go to Polish Ambasady and ask for birth certificate, you will have PESEL there then go and renev your passport

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