Poland: Information on whether a person born in Lvov in 1932 who has not acquired any other citizenship but who has been living in other countries since 1950 is considered to be a citizen of Poland or is entitled to Polish citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 December 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | POL18815.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Poland: Information on whether a person born in Lvov in 1932 who has not acquired any other citizenship but who has been living in other countries since 1950 is considered to be a citizen of Poland or is entitled to Polish citizenship, 1 December 1994, POL18815.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab9f34.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ottawa, additional information is required in order to answer this question (30 Nov. 1994). He stated that this is a complicated case and that to determine whether such a person is either a citizen of Poland or is entitled to Polish citizenship, he/she must go to a Polish consular office with any identification documents (ibid.). The consul added that a decision will depend on the specific circumstances of each case (ibid.).
Attached please find a copy of the 15 February 1962 Polish Citizenship Act, which according to the consul is still in effect. Also, please find attached a document from Juris-Classeur Nationalité, which provides detailed information on the acquisition and loss of Polish citizenship.
In addition, the attached excerpts from The New Encyclopaedia Britannica indicate that in 1932 Lvov was part of Poland, not Ukraine (1989, 930, 932-35, 1043-44).
Please note that because of the number of factors involved, the DIRB cannot provide information on the application of the citizenship law of Poland to a specific case.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Ottawa. 30 November 1994. Telephone interview with consul.
Attachments
The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1989. 15th ed. Vol. 25. Edited by Philip W. Goetz. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
. 1989. 15th ed. Vol. 28. Edited by Philip W. Goetz. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Szwaja, Janusz. November 1985. "Pologne," Juris-Classeur Nationalité. Edited by Charles S. Closset and Michel J. Verwilgen. Paris: Editions Techniques.
Poland. Act on Polish Citizenship. 15 February 1962.