Polish Interior Ministry presents bill: citizenship would require B2 language level, a civics test and proof of income

On 27 October, Poland's Ministry of the Interior and Administration presented a bill that makes it harder for foreigners to obtain Polish citizenship. The changes include raising the required level of Polish from B1 to B2 and a mandatory civics test.

According to the ministry's description, a foreigner would have to submit a declaration of loyalty to the country and pass an exam on knowledge of Poland. The minimum period of legal residence required for citizenship is also being extended; the description of the bill does not state the specific period.

The bill also requires a foreigner to have a centre of vital interests in Poland and the tax residency that goes with it, and sets a minimum income level, that is, financial self-sufficiency. All applicants would have to submit a document showing a legal basis for using their housing, along with information on their sources of income.

The ministry also proposes a mandatory refusal if, in its assessment, a foreigner's conduct clearly indicates a threat to state security or public order. A separate ground for refusal is false data or inaccurate information in the application.

Under the bill, a decision recognising someone as a Polish citizen could be revoked at any time, regardless of the provisions of the Code of Administrative Procedure (kpa). The grounds for revocation are forged documents, false statements or concealment of the truth during procedures for legalising residence or obtaining a Pole's Card.

The ministry justifies the bill by saying that the provisions of the 2009 Polish citizenship law no longer meet current challenges: the number of foreigners in Poland has grown significantly, and with it interest in citizenship. The ministry says it wants to ensure the maximum security and reliability of the procedure by checking a foreigner's real ties to Poland and limiting threats to security and public order.

Integration into Polish society, in particular knowledge of the language and compliance with the country's norms, should become the key criterion, the ministry said.

The ministry had already announced plans to tighten the procedure on 13 May 2026: it then proposed a minimum residence period of eight years, mandatory tax residency and an exam on knowledge of history.

Since 1 January 2026, a regulation of Poland's Interior Ministry has been in force that extended until 30 June 2026 the simplified procedure for issuing a Polish travel document to citizens of Belarus.