Poland is preparing new requirements for obtaining citizenship: what Ukrainians need to know
Some Ukrainian refugees who have settled in Poland after the start of the full-scale war consider this country as a place of permanent residence. For them, the issue of citizenship is gradually moving from a distant perspective to a practical one, where language, duration of legal stay, payment of taxes and willingness to confirm knowledge of the Polish state will be important.
What changes are being prepared in Poland
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration of Poland is working on changes to the procedure for acquiring Polish citizenship. The agency has prepared guidelines for amending the Law on Polish Citizenship, and among the key innovations it proposes to introduce a mandatory test for foreigners.
Such an exam should test knowledge of the history, values and principles of Poland. According to preliminary proposals, the test will consist of approximately 40 questions, and its result will become one of the criteria for those who will apply for a Polish passport.
Among the proposed conditions, proficiency in Polish at least at the B2 level is separately indicated. For Ukrainians who work, study or raise children in a Polish environment, this requirement means the need not to be limited to everyday communication, because the B2 level implies a confident understanding of texts, the ability to express oneself in a reasoned manner and use the language in more complex situations.
The Polish authorities link this requirement with integration into society. A candidate for citizenship must show that he is able to participate in the daily, professional and administrative life of the country without constant linguistic dependence on translators or intermediaries.
According to the proposals, a foreigner will have to live in Poland for at least eight years on legal grounds. For Ukrainian refugees who plan to stay in the country for a long time, this means the need to closely monitor their migration status, residence documents and continuity of legal residence.
Polish tax residency should become a separate condition. Such a requirement effectively ties future citizenship to real life in Poland: work, income, tax payment and participation in the country’s economic system.
Applicants for citizenship, under the proposed changes, will have to sign an act of loyalty to the Republic of Poland. This document should confirm respect for the Polish state, its legal order and the principles on which citizenship is based.
For foreigners, such a requirement will become an additional stage of the procedure. Poland wants obtaining a passport to be associated with confirmed integration, knowledge of the country and conscious acceptance of its rules.
Why it matters to Ukrainians
Ukrainians remain one of the largest groups of foreigners in Poland, so the upcoming changes may affect many families who already work, rent housing, send their children to Polish schools and plan to live in the country for the long term.
For those considering Polish citizenship, it is worth preparing in advance for possible new rules: study the language at a higher level, keep documents on legal residence, sort out tax issues and be interested in the history and state system of Poland.
The proposed changes are aimed at strengthening the criteria for future citizens. The Polish ministry explains this by the desire to increase the prestige of citizenship and introduce clear requirements for foreigners who want to become part of the Polish national community.
If the changes are adopted, the procedure for obtaining citizenship will become more demanding for the preparation of the candidate. Ukrainians will have to confirm long-term residence, language proficiency, tax connection with Poland, basic knowledge of the country, and willingness to fulfill the duties of a citizen.
