‘I’m Not Taking Other Country’s Citizenship Because I’m Belarusian’

Why do some citizens of Belarus not receive a Polish passport, although they have the right to it?

In 2022, 2,985 Belarusians received Polish citizenship. There are various ways to get a red passport with a golden eagle, the easiest way is for ethnic Poles. For many, citizenship is a cherished dream, but for others it is not. MOST spoke with Belarusians who have been living in Poland for a long time and have the right to a Polish passport, but are in no hurry to apply for it.

“What good is a Polish passport to me?”

Siarhei has lived in Poland since the late 1990s. He decided to leave his homeland in order to earn money, because there was “nothing to do” in Belarus. He had to choose between Moscow and Warsaw, and the choice fell on the western neighbor, since his acquaintances already worked there.

“I went to study as a carpenter,” Siarhei tells his story, “I worked on the restoration of cultural monuments: I made windows, doors and all that. I didn't think that I would stay in Poland forever. It seemed to me that in four years everything would change in Belarus and it would be possible to return. But everything started to spin. Lukashenka took over the power — that’s all”.

In the new country, the Belarusian met a local girl and soon married her. Now there was no question of whether to stay in Poland or not. Soon the couple welcomed their first child.

Siarhei lives and works in Poland on the basis of a permanent residence permit (former residence permit). Before receiving it, he applied for a temporary residence permit several times. The man was also offered to collect documents to obtain Polish citizenship. Officials said that the probability of a positive decision is 100%. But he decided not to do this.

“Then I thought that I was in Poland legally, I had a residence card, so why did I need this citizenship? I am a citizen of Belarus, what use is a Polish passport to me? I don’t want to,” explains the Belarusian.

Despite the fact that the man does not intend to receive a Polish passport even now, he connects his life with Poland: he has a family and a small business here. He adds that he has never had problems with the fact that he is not a citizen, including those related to his professional activities. The company is registered in his name “according to his old permanent residence permit card”, all taxes are paid.

“Even when I previously went to Germany on a business trip and we had a team of 18 Poles, there were no questions about me, my documents, my residence permit. Everything was fine, everything was legal,” Siarhei assures.

The man does not need Polish citizenship to travel abroad — this can be done with a Belarusian passport and residence card. But due to the situation in the country, Siarhei has not been to Belarus for several years. But he hopes that he will be able to visit his homeland in the near future.

“I'm as illiterate as a dog”

Yauhen is about 40; he came to Poland six years ago on a visa based on a Pole’s card. The man moved his wife and small child to a new country; another baby was born after the move.

“We didn’t see any prospects in Belarus, that’s why we decided to leave. We didn’t even think about obtaining citizenship then; the main thing was to come and settle here,” says the Belarusian.

Yauhen is engaged in business and also receives income from “some earnings that remained in Belarus.” He communicates mainly with fellow countrymen, although he also has Polish acquaintances. The eldest child goes to school and integrates into society.

But at the same time, the man is in no hurry to receive a Polish passport, although as a holder of a Pole card he has had the right to this for about four years. To do this, you only need to obtain a certificate that would confirm your knowledge of the Polish language at the B1 level.

“But since I’m as illiterate as a dog, I don’t have this certificate,” the man shares. “I am illiterate in all languages: Russian, Belarusian, English, Polish. I can't write correctly. And no matter how much various tutors tried to teach me, both during school and then when I entered the university, it did not help. Well, I don't know how to write correctly”.

Yauhen also considered the option of submitting an application addressed to the president — in this case, there is no need to confirm the level of language proficiency. The man says that he could easily obtain citizenship in this way, but “the chances were not one hundred percent.” Therefore, the Belarusian decided to abandon the attempt.

According to Yauhen, for Belarusians there is not much difference whether to live in Poland with a permanent residence permit or with a Polish passport. The latter is mainly needed by those who work outside the country or are planning to open a business in another state.

“I have many friends who do not receive citizenship and live for many years with a permanent residence permit,” the man assures. “I have a friend who moved to Poland even before me. So she and her family generally lived for a long time on a Pole’s card (meaning a visa on this basis — edit.), they didn’t even formalize their stay. And everything suited them: they went to Belarus, received a visa and lived on its basis. Then they finally moved. And in January, her husband finally applied for citizenship.

Yauhen himself has been thinking lately about getting a Polish passport. Now he is considering the option of an after-secondary school — the certificate of completion is equivalent to a language certificate. “Perhaps I will take up this issue and enter any profession. The duration of study there is different, the minimum is one year,” the man shares his plans.

“I’m not taking other country’s citizenship because I’m Belarusian”

There are enough Belarusians in Poland who do not apply for a Polish passport, although they have the right to do so. You can see messages on this topic on social media. The reasons are different.

For example, one of the discussion participants assures that “there are those who are too lazy to get the [language proficiency certificate] B1.” Another adds that “there are some who are not lazy, but they just don’t need it.”

“I have one in my family,” another commentator agrees with him, “I could have gotten it a long time ago.” But he doesn't want to.

Some people cite the fact that they are not Poles as the main reason why they do not apply for a Polish passport, although they have the right to do so. “I don’t take citizenship of another country, since I’m Belarusian,” says one of them.