Poland and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both

10 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Poland does not require giving up your previous citizenship, and Russia does not end its own. But inside Poland a person with two passports is treated only as Polish. Here are the routes to the passport and the obligations to Russia.

In short

Yes: Poland does not require renouncing your previous citizenship, and Russia does not end its own. But for Polish authorities you are only Polish, and Russia must be notified of the Polish passport within 60 days.

Previous passport on naturalisation	Kept
Country rule	No renunciation needed, but inside Poland you are treated only as a Polish citizen
Legal basis	Article 3 of the Polish Citizenship Act 2009
What Russia requires	notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
Checked	October 2026

Neither Poland nor Russia bans two passports. The difficulty lies elsewhere: for Russian citizens the route to Polish residence has narrowed since 2022 and is realistically open through the Pole's Card, family or EU long-term resident status.

What Poland requires on naturalisation

Article 3 of the 2009 Polish Citizenship Act does not require giving up the previous passport but sets a rule: a Polish citizen with another citizenship cannot invoke it before Polish authorities. In Poland you use only the Polish passport and carry all the duties of a citizen.

The main route is recognition as a citizen by decision of the voivode. You need 3 years of continuous residence in Poland with permanent residence or EU long-term resident status, a stable income and housing. Spouses of Polish citizens married for 3 years need 2 years, and Pole's Card holders 1 year. Everyone needs an official certificate of Polish at least at intermediate level. The fee since 1 August 2025 is 1,000 zlotys, about $260; the statutory review period is 6 months, in practice more than a year in Warsaw.

The second route is citizenship granted by the President. There are no formal conditions, but no deadline either, and a refusal is neither explained nor appealable. The fee is 1,669 zlotys, about $430. The 2026 bills on 8 years of residence, a higher language level and an exam have not been passed, and the existing rules apply.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.

Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

Obtain a basis for living in Poland. For Russian citizens this is above all the Pole's Card, marriage to a Polish citizen or EU resident status from another country.
Get permanent residence. With the Pole's Card you can apply for it right after moving.
Pass Polish for an official certificate at least at intermediate level.
Apply to the voivode after the required period with permanent residence, with proof of income and housing.
Receive the decision and a Polish passport. You do not have to surrender your Russian passport.
Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

Keeping both passports is lawful, but in Poland use only the Polish one: you cannot invoke Russian citizenship before Polish authorities.

What happens to children

A child with at least one Polish parent gets Polish citizenship by birth wherever they are born. If the other parent is a Russian citizen, the child also gets Russian citizenship, so children in mixed families usually hold both passports.

For each country the child is only its own citizen: Polish in Poland, Russian in Russia. The notification of a second citizenship for minors is filed by the parents.

Taxes and military service

Taxes in Poland depend on tax residence: you become resident after 183 days a year or by the centre of vital interests. Income tax is 12% on income up to 120,000 zlotys a year and 32% above. The 1992 agreement with Russia has not been terminated, but Russia suspended almost all its articles by Decree No. 585 of 8 August 2023, so income from Russia may be taxed in both countries.

Compulsory basic military service in Poland is suspended, and citizens are subject to military registration. Russia regards a person with two passports only as its own citizen, so Russian obligations, including military registration, remain.

Common mistakes

Not notifying the Russian Interior Ministry. Failing to file is a crime under Article 330.2 of the Criminal Code: a fine of up to 200,000 roubles or community service, and a late filing is an administrative fine.
Invoking Russian citizenship in Poland. For Polish authorities you are only Polish.
Applying without a Polish certificate. Without an official certificate at least at intermediate level the application is not accepted.
Breaking the period. Years count with permanent residence and without long absences.
Counting on a quick route through work. Visas and work permits for Russian citizens have been restricted since 2022, so the plan is built on the Pole's Card or family.

How to get Poland citizenship

Polish citizenship is obtained by recognition through the voivode after 1-3 years with permanent residence or by decision of the President. For Russian citizens the most realistic start is the Pole's Card for people with Polish roots: it gives the right to apply for permanent residence at once and cuts the path to citizenship to a year.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

From the Pole's Card to the passport

The law does not stop you applying for Polish citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: a break in the period with permanent residence, a language certificate at the wrong level, unproven income, a forgotten notification to the Interior Ministry. We check your basis, prepare you for the Pole's Card and the language, gather documents for the voivode and work out when you become eligible.

The cost of support depends on the basis and the family; a consultant will calculate it in the chat.

Talk to a consultant now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

FAQ

Can you hold Poland and Russian citizenship at the same time?

Yes: Poland does not require renouncing your previous citizenship, and Russia does not end its own. But for Polish authorities you are only Polish, and Russia must be notified of the Polish passport within 60 days.

Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Poland citizenship?

Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Can you hold Polish and Russian citizenship at the same time?

Yes. Poland does not require renouncing the previous citizenship, and Russia does not end its own. But in Poland you are only Polish, and Russia must be told about the second passport within 60 days.

Do you have to give up Russian citizenship for Polish?

No. The 2009 Polish Citizenship Act does not require renunciation.

How many years must you live in Poland before citizenship?

3 years with permanent residence, 2 years for spouses of Polish citizens and 1 year for Pole's Card holders.

How much does Polish citizenship cost?

Recognition as a citizen through the voivode costs 1,000 zlotys, about $260. Citizenship from the President costs 1,669 zlotys, about $430.

What Polish is needed for citizenship?

An official certificate of Polish at least at intermediate level, or a document showing study in Polish.

Can a Russian citizen get the Pole's Card?

Yes, with Polish roots and basic Polish. The card gives the right to apply for permanent residence at once.

Will a child get both citizenships?

Yes, if one parent is Polish and the other a Russian citizen: the child is a citizen of both countries from birth.

Did Polish citizenship rules change in 2026?

Bills on 8 years of residence, a higher language level and an exam were debated but have not been passed. The existing rules apply.

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Poland and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both

What Poland requires on naturalisation

What Russia requires

How to keep both passports: step by step

What happens to children

Taxes and military service

Common mistakes

How to get Poland citizenship

This topic in other countries

FAQ

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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