What's changing and why
Today a foreigner applying for recognition as a Polish citizen takes no exam on knowledge of Poland. The only test is the state certificate exam in Polish as a foreign language at B1 level (or an equivalent school-leaving certificate). The application itself can be filed after 3 years of continuous residence on a permanent residence permit or EU long-term resident status — which in practice means around 8 years of living in Poland, because one of those statuses has to be obtained first.
On 10 October 2025, MSWiA presented the outline of an amendment to the Polish Citizenship Act. The ministry argues that citizenship should be the culmination of integration, not merely a consequence of time passing — and that a Polish passport, which is also an EU passport, requires confidence that the person receiving it knows the language, history and values of the state. The key elements are a citizenship test, a higher language requirement, a declaration of loyalty to the Republic, a longer residence requirement, and Polish tax residency.
The change brings Poland into line with a wider trend: civic knowledge tests already exist in Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, among others. The test will not apply to people confirming Polish citizenship by descent.
Timeline
Three bills, one act
An unusual situation: within a few months, three separate proposals to amend the same act appeared. Comparing them shows where there is agreement (a longer residence period) and where there is dispute (language, the test).
| Bill | Residence | Language | Test | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government (MSWiA) | 8 years (3 temporary + 5 permanent) | B2 or higher | yes, ~40 questions | in preparation |
| Presidential | 10 years on a permanent permit | unchanged (B1) | no | in the Sejm |
| Parliamentary (PiS) | 10 years on a permanent permit | C1, oral and written | "Państwowy Egzamin Obywatelski" | rejected |
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński criticised the presidential bill, pointing out that in practice nobody obtains citizenship after 3 years — the real period is at least 8 years — and that the phrase "from 3 to 10 years" misleads the public. The most likely scenario is passage of the government bill, possibly with amendments taking up some of the president's proposals.
Applications filed before the amendment takes effect are decided under the current rules — no test, no 8 years, no B2 — even if the decision is issued after the law changes. If you already have 3 years on a permanent permit or EU long-term resident status and a B1 certificate, consider filing now, through MOS II.
What the test will look like
The ministry has not yet published the bill or the implementing regulation. The description below is based on the outline announced by MSWiA and statements by deputy ministers; details may change.
The test is to be held twice a year, following the scheme of the Central Examination Board (CKE). The pass mark, number of permitted attempts, fee, and test venues have not been announced.
Scope of knowledge
- Polish history — key events, dates and figures
- Political system and law — the Constitution, state institutions, basic rights and duties of a citizen
- Values and principles — on which the Republic is founded
- Social relations and integration — everyday life, institutions, rules of coexistence
- Current events — the present situation in the country
Language requirement
Today a B1 certificate is enough. MSWiA plans to raise the requirement to at least B2; early communications spoke of "fluent knowledge of Polish" without reference to the CEFR scale, raising concerns the bar could be set even higher. The rejected PiS bill proposed C1 with an oral and written exam. Bear in mind that the citizenship test itself will be conducted in Polish, so passing it will in any case require confident reading and writing.
Loyalty declaration and tax residency
Two new elements absent from the current act. The declaration of loyalty is a statement signed by the candidate pledging respect for the law and principles of the Republic — the equivalent of the citizenship oath found in other countries. Tax residency is meant to confirm that the candidate actually lives in Poland and takes part in its economic life, rather than merely keeping a formal address.
Who the test will and won't apply to
The test will apply to foreigners applying for recognition as a citizen (decided by the voivode) and — according to the announcements — for grant of citizenship by the President. Announced exemptions and separate rules:
- People confirming Polish citizenship by descent — no test
- Repatriates — one year of residence in Poland instead of acquiring citizenship on crossing the border
- Karta Polaka holders — required residence rises from 1 year to 3 years
- Spouses of Polish citizens — currently 3 years of marriage and 2 years of permanent residence; new rules not announced
The full list of exemptions (for example on grounds of age or disability) will only appear in the bill.
Will the official questions be published?
Unknown. In October 2025 Deputy Minister Duszczyk said the ministry had prepared a first set of proposed questions, but did not say whether the bank would be public. The reference to the CKE scheme suggests an exam model with a confidential question pool and a published syllabus — as in the United Kingdom — rather than an open list to memorise, as in Germany or Spain. The key figure will be the size of the pool: MSWiA has mentioned a range from several hundred to several thousand questions.
How Poland compares
| Country | Question pool | Pass mark | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland (planned) | not announced | not announced | ~40 questions, closed and open sections |
| Germany | Open (300 + 10 state) | 17 / 33 | 33 questions, written |
| Spain (CCSE) | Open (300) | 15 / 25 | 25 questions, written |
| United Kingdom | Closed | 18 / 24 | 24 questions, computer-based |
| United States | Open (100) | 6 / 10 | oral, during interview |
| Australia | Closed | 75% + values 100% | 20 questions, computer-based |
Against this background the Polish proposal is unusual in two ways: the open section (most tests are entirely multiple-choice) and the current-events questions, which cannot be prepared for in advance from a fixed bank. Both raise the importance of real command of the language.
How to prepare
- Check whether you meet the current conditions for recognition as a citizen — if so, consider filing before the amendment takes effect.
- If you have B1, start working towards B2 now: the certificate will be needed regardless of the test's final form, and certificate exams are held only a few times a year.
- Learn the fundamentals: the Constitution, state institutions, key dates in Polish history. This scope is certain whatever the details of the bill.
- Follow Polish news — current-events questions will be part of the test.
- Join the waitlist below to receive the free guide and access to practice questions as soon as MSWiA publishes the official scope.
Sources
- MSWiA: Government proposes changes to the granting of Polish citizenship (10 Oct 2025) — announcement with the outline of the amendment (in Polish).
- PAP: Duszczyk on the first test questions — report from the 27 Oct 2025 debate (in Polish).
- MamPrawoWiedzieć: "Test na Polaka" and longer residence — comparison of the three bills (in Polish).
- Act of 2 April 2009 on Polish Citizenship — current law (ISAP, in Polish).
This page is updated as new information is published by MSWiA and the Sejm. It is not legal advice — for your individual situation, consult a lawyer or the voivodeship office. Independent service, not affiliated with any public authority.