The Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration is preparing legislation to make obtaining citizenship more difficult by introducing mandatory language tests, loyalty oaths, and extended residency requirements.
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Proposed Government Requirements for Citizenship
The Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) is working on changes to the Polish citizenship law. Applicants would be required to pass a test consisting of approximately 40 questions and demonstrate Polish language proficiency at least at the B2 level.
The ministry explained that these changes aim to raise the rank of Polish citizenship through clear merit-based criteria to ensure applicants are fully integrated into the national community. Requirements would also include a loyalty oath to the Republic of Poland, a minimum eight-year stay in Poland, and Polish tax residency.
Political Criticism and the “Zero Tolerance” Proposal
PiS Vice-President Przemysław Czarnek commented on the proposals, referencing his own “Zero Tolerance” bill. He stated that Polish citizenship is an honor rather than an administrative formality and should not be handed out like “promotional coupons.”
Czarnek’s project proposes a minimum of 10 years of legal residence in Poland and mandatory high-level language proficiency. Additionally, he suggested that a second offense should result in the deportation of a foreigner.
Legislative Disputes and Alternative Projects
In September 2025, President Karol Nawrocki submitted a proposal to the Sejm to extend the minimum continuous residence period required for citizenship from three to 10 years. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński responded that current practice already requires at least eight years and suggested the President had been misled.
Law and Justice (PiS) lawmakers also submitted a project in October of last year. Their proposal required 10 years of continuous residence with a steady income, or six years for spouses of Polish citizens, along with a mandatory C1 level language certification. The Sejm rejected the PiS project in January, while the government’s own project remains under development.
