Originally Posted by
birdstrike
Poland appears to as well, but since Poland did not exist as a country while my grandparents were living there, this may be problematic. I have an e-mail in to a lawyer who claims to understand such things.
Can you then apply for citizenship of Prussia, Tzarist Russia or even the Austro-Hungarian Empire?
There was a big push for citizenship for people from Kazakhstan and the east in general a few years ago, and i believe the ancestry went back all the way to exiles from pre-World War I times, I remember reading about it, but dont know the details
btw, from personal experience, you do not need to apply for a PESEL number, just make sure to request it at the same time you get your passport, and it will be assigned to you with it. You also DO NOT need to be registered at an address in Poland for an ID card or a Polish Passport, I am getting my ID card without having official residence in the town my grandparents live. I believe its ready for pick up next time I head over there. However, AFIK, the ID card can only be issued in Poland, whereas the passport can be issued here (mine is issued in Toronto)