Schiff Sovereign's Take on Poland
Poland is remarkable for several reasons.
It is one of the few places in Europe that's nearly a stand-alone economy. Poland has a massive domestic economy. That means they don't really need to depend much on the rest of Europe, or even on the rest of the world. They can manufacture products locally. They can consume what they manufacture. And they can invest in themselves.
They have a talented multilingual workforce. And, after centuries of being bullied by their bigger neighbors – Germany and Russia – they seem to have developed an inherent survivor mentality.
Also, Poland can be a great place to live.
We like Krakow, as it managed to retain most of its European architecture and charm.
Warsaw, on the other hand, was badly damaged by bombardments during WWII, and had to be rebuilt as a result. And since it was the Soviets who were “managing” it at the time, Soviet-style architecture replaced most of the former European flair – which while grandiose, can be tasteless or downright ugly.
Nevertheless, both Warsaw and Krakow are full of creative, energized people, parks, cafes and restaurants, and a great nightlife scene. As an added benefit, the city is fairly inexpensive. In fact, Poland continues to be one of the least expensive countries in the European Union.
The country’s winter weather, however, is a big drawback. Unless you enjoy turning into an icicle, you might consider moving south from December to February.
And importantly, if you have Polish ancestry, you could become Polish without even visiting the country. Poland is home to a Citizenship By Ancestry program, allowing you to claim Polish citizenship if one of your ancestors had emigrated from Poland.
Citizenship By Ancestry is typically the cheapest and least onerous way to obtain a coveted second passport.
And we have contacts on the ground who can assess your chances of becoming Polish quickly and for free (accessible only for SMC members).
It is one of the few places in Europe that's nearly a stand-alone economy. Poland has a massive domestic economy. That means they don't really need to depend much on the rest of Europe, or even on the rest of the world. They can manufacture products locally. They can consume what they manufacture. And they can invest in themselves.
They have a talented multilingual workforce. And, after centuries of being bullied by their bigger neighbors – Germany and Russia – they seem to have developed an inherent survivor mentality.
Also, Poland can be a great place to live.
We like Krakow, as it managed to retain most of its European architecture and charm.
Warsaw, on the other hand, was badly damaged by bombardments during WWII, and had to be rebuilt as a result. And since it was the Soviets who were “managing” it at the time, Soviet-style architecture replaced most of the former European flair – which while grandiose, can be tasteless or downright ugly.
Nevertheless, both Warsaw and Krakow are full of creative, energized people, parks, cafes and restaurants, and a great nightlife scene. As an added benefit, the city is fairly inexpensive. In fact, Poland continues to be one of the least expensive countries in the European Union.
The country’s winter weather, however, is a big drawback. Unless you enjoy turning into an icicle, you might consider moving south from December to February.
And importantly, if you have Polish ancestry, you could become Polish without even visiting the country. Poland is home to a Citizenship By Ancestry program, allowing you to claim Polish citizenship if one of your ancestors had emigrated from Poland.
Citizenship By Ancestry is typically the cheapest and least onerous way to obtain a coveted second passport.
And we have contacts on the ground who can assess your chances of becoming Polish quickly and for free (accessible only for SMC members).
