Rising Trend of Israelis Seeking Polish Citizenship
Key Takeaways
- The number of Israeli nationals acquiring Polish citizenship saw a sharp rise in 2024.
- A total of 4,000 Israelis applied for Polish citizenship in 2024.
- The surge in applications has led to longer processing times.
A growing number of Israeli citizens are pursuing Polish citizenship, reflecting a significant upward trend.
In 2024 alone, by the close of the fourth quarter, the figure for Israelis applying for Polish citizenship had climbed to 8,000, doubling from the 4,000 reported in 2022.
The appeal of Polish citizenship, which also provides an EU passport, is often seen as a safeguard in times of uncertainty, according to Gazeta Wyborcza.
“The next time someone in the world says that Poland is an anti-Semitic country, I will show them this chart,” stated Poland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski.
Piotr Cybula, an expert in confirming Polish citizenship, told Gazeta Wyborcza that applicants' motivations extend beyond practicality to include a sense of security.
"They are often older people who have faced traumas, such as the Holocaust. They seek a passport as a ‘plan B’ against political uncertainty," Cybula explained.
Interest Peaks After October 2023
The demand for Polish passports spiked significantly following the Hamas attack in October 2023.
Longer Wait Times for Processing
The Department of Foreigners’ Affairs in the Mazovian Voivodeship Office processes these applications. A report by Wprost highlighted a jump in applications from 11,000 in 2019 to 23,109 in 2023.
With officials unable to keep pace, waiting times for processing applications have extended to 13–18 months.
However, not every applicant is successful. In 2023, out of 21,000 applications, 15,800 were approved, as per Wprost.
Polish Passport Benefits
Polish passports offer various advantages, including visa-free travel to over 100 countries.
Ranked 21st in the VisaGuide.World Passport Index, the Polish passport grants access to 101 countries visa-free and an additional 43 without a passport.
Polish citizenship also provides the opportunity to travel, live, and work freely within the European Union.