Obywatele

Obywatele is the plural form of obywatel, a term that designates a person who holds the citizenship of a country. In a legal sense, an obywatel enjoys a set of rights and duties defined by national law, and this status differentiates citizens from non-citizens or residents. The concept encompasses political, civil, and social dimensions of belonging to a state.

In Poland, obywatel Polski is defined by the Constitution and the Act on Polish Citizenship. Citizenship can be acquired by birth (for example, when at least one parent is a Polish citizen), by descent, by naturalization, or by restoration after loss. Loss or reacquisition of citizenship follows specific legal rules. Non-Polish residents may hold other legal statuses, but they do not share the full spectrum of citizenship rights.

Rights associated with being a citizen include political participation, such as the right to vote in elections and the right to stand for public office, along with civil rights like freedom of movement, access to public services, education, and social security. Polish citizens are also EU citizens, which affords rights to move, reside, and work in other European Union member states and to participate in elections to the European Parliament.

Duties tied to citizenship include obeying laws, paying taxes, and participating in civic life. Citizens are expected to respect the rights of others and uphold democratic norms. Because not all residents are citizens, citizenship status carries distinct privileges and obligations. For specifics, refer to Polish citizenship law and related EU law.