By Paul Favors
One of the rights of Polish citizens is to obtain a passport for use when they travel. However, this is no longer necessary when visiting countries affiliated with the European Union. In these instances, the national ID card is sufficient. The Polish passports are valid for 10 years before they need to be renewed.
Photographs
One of the requirements of a Polish passport is a duly compliant passport photograph. Three copies are usually asked for and the photos must have been taken within the past six months. The prescribed size of the pictures is 35-by-45 mm. Polish passports need to have a gray background and should be of high quality so that the features of the person are distinguishable. It is important to comply with the guidelines because submissions of photographs that do not comply with the requirements can be rejected.
Application Form
One of the first requirements of a Polish passport is a completed application form that contains pertinent information such as name, date of birth, and place of birth. The application form is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the event that the person applying for the passport is qualified to receive one but is not residing in Poland, the Consular Office may be contacted for the application process.
Proof of Date of Birth
Applicants for a Polish passport must provide evidence of when they were born. Usually, the way that this is done is through a birth certificate issued by the appropriate Registry Office in Poland. In cases where the applicant of the passport is not a resident of Poland, then a copy of their birth certificate may be obtained by written request to the Consular Office of the country in which the applicant resides. Take note that the request forms must be filled out in Polish spelling in order to facilitate the process better.
Citizenship
Only citizens of Poland are entitled to receive a Polish passport. In cases where citizenship is not natural, proof of citizenship must be presented for the application of a passport. An example of those entitled to be a Polish national include children who were born in Poland and whose parents are holders of legal residency permits. In addition to this, a person who is living Poland for at least 10 years under tolerated residence or five years, if a refugee, is considered a citizen. As such, the latter may apply for a passport upon showing sufficient proof.
Special Requirements
There are some requirements in the application of a Polish passport that apply only to certain people. One example is for when married couples are required to prove their status by submitting a certified true copy of their marriage certificate, which is issued by the pertinent registry office in Poland. It is mandatory that the language used is Polish. In the event that the marriage certificate appears in another language, it must first be translated in order for the application to be processed. In the case of a minor, the application must be accompanied by supporting documents stating that the child is allowed to travel. The application must also be signed by the child's parents.
Resources
About the Author:
Paul Favors is a full-time SEO Consultant and freelance writer who operates a private web consulting firm. Paul holds a B.A. in Communications Studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has been a professional writer for 3 years - two of those years as regular Demand Studios contributor.
