Polish Passport for a Child Born in the USA — Step by Step

A child born in the USA to at least one Polish parent has the right to Polish citizenship from birth (no application needed — automatic). However, to obtain a Polish passport, three steps must be followed: registration, PESEL, passport.

Is my child a Pole?

Yes — automatically, if:

• At least one parent is a Polish citizen at the time of the child's birth
• This parent has not lost their citizenship (e.g., has not renounced it before the child's birth)

The place of birth in the USA does not matter — the child is simultaneously a citizen of the USA (jus soli — right of the soil) and Poland (jus sanguinis — right of blood). This is automatic dual citizenship.

3 Steps to a Polish Passport

Step 1: Registering the Birth Certificate at the Polish USC

The American birth certificate (Certificate of Birth) must be registered at the Polish Civil Registry Office (USC). Without this — there is no Polish birth certificate, without the certificate there is no PESEL, without PESEL there is no passport.

Where to report:

• Most often at the USC of the last place of residence of the parent in Poland
• Or at the USC of the place of residence of the Polish parents
• Or at the USC Warsaw-Center (if the parents did not have a permanent address in Poland)
• You can also do it through the consulate in the USA — the consulate acts as an intermediary

Required documents:

1. Apostille on the American birth certificate — issued by the Secretary of State of the state where the child was born. The Apostille legalizes the document internationally. Time: 1-4 weeks, cost $10-50 (depending on the state)
2. Certified translation of the birth certificate (with apostille) into Polish — by a certified translator. In the USA, translations can be done at Polish consulates or through translation agencies. Cost: $30-80
3. Copy of the parents' passports — page with the photo
4. Marriage certificate of the parents (if married) — apostille + translation
5. Application form — provided by USC or the consulate

Costs:

• Apostille USA: $10-50
• Certified translation: $30-80
• Registration fee: 50 zł (~$13)
• Consulate (if through the consulate): $50-100 additional

Time: 2-6 months (USC in Poland), 6-12 months through the consulate

Step 2: Obtaining a PESEL Number

After registering the birth certificate at the Polish USC, the PESEL number is assigned automatically within 1-2 months. You receive the PESEL in the form of a certificate from the USC.

If the PESEL was not assigned automatically, you can apply for it:

• Directly at the USC in Poland
• Or through the consulate (acting as an intermediary)
• Required: registered Polish birth certificate + Polish parent's passport

Step 3: Application for a Polish Passport for the Child

You apply at the Polish consulate in the USA. List of consulates:

• Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York — Manhattan
• Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago
• Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles
• Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Houston
• Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington — issues passports for DC + surrounding areas

Required documents:

1. Application for the issuance of a passport (consular form — can be downloaded online)
2. Polish birth certificate of the child (registered at the Polish USC) — original or full copy
3. Certificate of the PESEL number
4. American birth certificate (apostille + translation)
5. American passport of the child (if already issued) or Social Security Number
6. Parents' passports (both!) — consent of BOTH parents is required
7. Photo — biometric 35×45 mm, on a white background, frontal face
8. PRESENCE OF THE CHILD — the physical presence of the child at the consulate is required!
9. PRESENCE OF BOTH PARENTS — required, unless there is a notarized consent from the absent parent (with apostille + translation)

Costs (2026):

• 10-year biometric passport (for children 13+ years): $130
• 5-year passport (for children 5-13 years): $80
• 2-year passport (for children 0-5 years): $50
• Temporary passport (up to 12 months): $40

Processing time: 4-8 weeks (passports are printed in Poland and sent to the consulate)

Important Notes

• Child's passport under 5 years is valid for only 2 years — a child's face changes quickly, biometrics require updates
• Passport for 5-13 years: valid for 5 years
• Passport for 13+: valid for 10 years
• A child with two passports (USA + Poland): entry to the USA — with the USA passport, entry to Poland/EU — with the Polish passport
• A Polish passport for the child does NOT require a valid Polish residence card / registration

Common Mistakes

1. Attempting to obtain a passport WITHOUT registering the birth certificate — the consulate will refuse. First USC, then PESEL, then passport.
2. Apostille with an error — sometimes the Secretary of State of the state sends an apostille with an error (e.g., wrong date, incorrect name). Check carefully before translation!
3. Translation by a non-certified translator — rejection. Only a certified translator accepted by Polish authorities.
4. Lack of consent from one parent — if the parents are separated/divorced, the other must provide written notarized consent (with apostille + translation)
5. Insufficient photo — especially for infants. Biometric standard: eyes open, no smile, no stripes on the photo. Most often taken at the consulate for $15-25.
6. Not bringing the child to the consulate — the consulate must see the child (and check similarity to the photo). Even infants!

Why It’s Worth Getting a Polish Passport for Your Child

• Dual citizenship from day one — easy for the child, difficult to arrange in adulthood
• Access to the EU — study, work, live in 27 EU countries without visas, without limits
• Access to Polish healthcare (NFZ) — especially during visits to family
• Education in Poland — free public schooling
• Studies in the EU — no limits for foreigners, prices for EU citizens
• In case of problems in the USA — the child can always return to Poland, has a second identity

Official Links

• Gov.pl — Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the USA
• Consulates of the Republic of Poland in the USA — consular services
• Passport for a child born abroad
• Obywatel.gov.pl — Issuing PESEL

Related: [[apostille-z-polski-do-usa-i-z-usa-do-polski]] · [[konsulaty-rp-usa-uk-niemcy-kontakt-sprawy]]