The rule, exactly
The amendment to the Polish Citizenship Act is meant to introduce a citizenship test, raise the language requirement to B2 and extend the required residence to 8 years. None of the three proposals is retroactive: an application for recognition as a citizen filed before the new rules take effect is assessed under the rules in force on the filing date — even if the decision comes many months later.
The filing date counts, not the decision date. Since 4 May 2026 applications are filed exclusively online through the Moduł Obsługi Spraw (MOS II), so the date is unambiguous: the moment of successful submission in the system.
Filing early doesn't waive any of the current conditions. If you don't yet have 3 years on a permanent permit or EU long-term resident status, a B1 certificate, a stable income or a legal title to your housing — rushing achieves nothing.
Are you eligible today?
The main route to recognition as a citizen (Article 30 of the Act) currently requires:
- 3 years of continuous residence on a permanent residence permit, EU long-term resident status, or the right of permanent residence
- A stable and regular source of income in Poland
- A legal title to the housing you occupy — lease, ownership, or loan for use
- Knowledge of Polish confirmed by a B1 certificate (state certificate exam) or a Polish school-leaving certificate
Shorter periods apply to, among others, spouses of Polish citizens (2 years of permanent residence with at least 3 years of marriage), refugees (2 years) and Karta Polaka holders (1 year). If you meet none of these thresholds, the amendment's timing isn't your problem yet — focus on obtaining permanent residence and the certificate.
The case for filing now
You skip the test entirely — no study, no waiting for one of two sittings a year, no risk of a bad day. You also skip B2: the gap between B1 and B2 is typically a year of study and another exam session. And you skip the longer residence period — if MSWiA writes in 8 years, some people who today have 3 years of permanent residence could face several more years of waiting.
There's also a queue argument. Voivodeship offices take months to decide recognition applications, and volumes rise before every rule change. Filing now means entering the queue before it gets crowded.
The case for waiting
Rushed applications have gaps, and gaps mean requests to supplement or a refusal. A refusal is worse than a delay: it stays on file, and the stamp duty (PLN 219) is lost. If you lack the certificate, your income is irregular, or your lease is informal — fix that first.
A clean application filed six months after the rules change beats an incomplete one filed a week before. The test isn't the end of the world: about 40 questions on a scope that can be learned.
Special situations
You have 2.5 years of permanent residence
File on the day the 3 years are complete — not before, because the office counts days. Nobody knows when the amendment will take effect, but the legislative path from submission to publication usually takes several months. Gather your documents now so you can submit the moment you become eligible.
You hold a Karta Polaka
This is the group with the strongest reason to hurry. Today one year of permanent residence is enough; MSWiA proposes 3 years. If you have the year — file.
You only have temporary residence
You can't yet apply for recognition, so the amendment doesn't change your situation today. It's worth noting, though, that the MSWiA draft counts 3 years of temporary residence towards the required 8, so time on a temporary permit won't be lost.
Married to a Polish citizen
The current route (3 years of marriage + 2 years of permanent residence) is one of the shortest. New rules for this group haven't been announced — an extra reason not to postpone.
Grant of citizenship by the President
A route with no residence requirement and no deadlines, but discretionary and slow. MSWiA's announcements say the test will apply to this route too, so filing early matters here as well.
A simple decision framework
- Are you eligible today? If not — wait and build eligibility. The test isn't your problem yet.
- Do you have a complete application: certificate, income statements, housing title, identity documents? If not — complete it first, then file. A refusal costs more than the test.
- Can you submit in MOS II in the coming weeks? If yes — file and forget the test. If not — file when ready and treat the test as a routine step.
What to do next
- Check the requirements and attachment list on your voivodeship office's website — the lists differ in detail between voivodeships
- If you don't have a B1 certificate, check the next state certificate exam date — sessions are held a few times a year and places fill quickly
- Read the complete guide to the new test if you're likely to have to take it
- If you decide to wait, join the waitlist below — we'll write when MSWiA publishes the official scope
This article is general information, not legal advice. In a complex situation — gaps in residence, criminal matters, unusual family circumstances — consult a lawyer or the voivodeship office.