How to Get Polish Citizenship in 2026: A Complete Guide for Foreigners

Polish citizenship is attracting more and more immigrants thanks to the status of EU citizenship and its associated benefits. In 2024 alone, a record 16,342 foreigners received a Polish passport — four times more than a decade earlier. Unlike a temporary (residence permit) or permanent residence permit, citizenship grants the lifelong right to live and work in the country — and almost without restriction throughout the European Union. A Polish citizen does not depend on renewing permits, can vote, and enjoys full legal protection from the state.

Polish citizenship is of interest to various groups of foreigners. Entrepreneurs value the ability to do business freely across the EU. Families and young people gain access to European education, healthcare, and social benefits. Migrants and students already living in Poland seek to change their unstable status to a Polish passport for greater certainty about their future. Poland offers more pathways to acquire its passport than some neighboring countries and does so through simplified procedures. In terms of rights, Polish citizenship is on par with, for example, Czech or German citizenship, since all of them grant EU citizen status. Below we explain how to get Polish citizenship — who is eligible, what pathways are available, the requirements, timelines, and practical steps involved.

Benefits of Polish Citizenship

A Polish passport grants its holder a number of significant benefits that are unavailable to foreigners, including those with permanent residence status:

Freedom of movement and employment within the EU. Polish citizens have the right to permanently reside and work in any EU or EEA member state without the need for additional permits. This provides access to all job markets, freedom to choose a place of residence, the ability to start a business, and full resident rights in 27 countries.
Visa-free travel around the world. The Polish passport ranks among the most powerful globally (7th place in 2025), offering visa-free or simplified access to approximately 180–189 countries. This includes all EU nations as well as many distant destinations — for instance, Polish citizens can travel to the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program.
Diplomatic protection. While abroad, Polish citizens can seek assistance from Polish embassies and consulates, and, if necessary, from other EU member states. This ensures support in emergency situations, legal protection, and evacuation during crises.
Social benefits and entitlements. Citizenship grants full access to Poland’s social support system: free public healthcare, participation in the pension system, various social benefits, and scholarships. Additionally, EU citizens may be eligible for free or subsidized education at European universities, benefit from EU business support funds, and apply for loans and mortgages on the same terms as locals.
Citizenship inheritance and family reunification. Children of Polish citizens automatically acquire citizenship by blood, regardless of their country of birth. This means that by obtaining a Polish passport, you pass it on to your descendants. You can also sponsor family members for relocation to Poland and later assist them in acquiring citizenship.
Possibility of dual citizenship. Polish law allows dual citizenship. Foreigners acquiring a Polish passport are not required to renounce their previous citizenship — unless the country of origin mandates it. Poland is tolerant of its citizens holding a second passport (dual citizenship is not prohibited or penalized). It’s important to note, however, that in legal relations with Polish authorities, citizens must use Polish identity documents (e.g., enter the country using their Polish passport). Nonetheless, having a second citizenship does not affect Polish citizenship status. This allows immigrants to maintain ties with their country of origin, provided its laws also permit dual citizenship.

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Who Is Eligible for Polish Citizenship?

Polish legislation defines several categories of individuals who may obtain citizenship. These include:

Descendants of Polish citizens by blood. Citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) means that a child born to at least one parent who is a Polish citizen automatically acquires Polish citizenship. More distant ancestry may also be considered: for instance, individuals of Polish origin (if their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were Polish citizens) may restore their citizenship or obtain it through simplified repatriation programs. This is a valuable opportunity for descendants of emigrants to reclaim the citizenship of their ancestors.
Foreigners through naturalization. Any foreign national who has lived in Poland for an extended period, integrated into society, and met the established criteria may be naturalized — that is, officially recognized as a Polish citizen. This typically requires several years of continuous residence, knowledge of the Polish language, and a stable legal status. This pathway is open to anyone willing to make Poland their permanent home.
Spouses of Polish citizens. A foreigner married to a Polish citizen becomes eligible for an accelerated path to citizenship. After several years of living together in Poland (and holding a permanent residence permit), the foreign spouse may apply for naturalization under preferential conditions. Marriage itself does not automatically confer citizenship, but it significantly shortens the required period of residence.
Investors and economically significant individuals. Poland does not directly sell citizenship in exchange for investment (there is no official “citizenship by investment” program). However, foreign investors can obtain residence permits and later apply for citizenship under general rules. In certain exceptional cases, the government or the President may grant citizenship for special merits — such as to major investors who create jobs or act as benefactors. These are rare and discretionary decisions made by the authorities.
Children born on Polish territory. Being born in Poland (jus soli) does not automatically confer citizenship if the parents are foreigners. Poland follows the principle of jus sanguinis, meaning the child acquires the citizenship of the parents. An exception applies in cases where the child is born to unknown parents or stateless persons — in such cases, Polish citizenship may be granted to prevent statelessness. Additionally, a foreign child adopted by Polish citizens becomes a Polish citizen.
Service or contributions to the Polish state. In rare circumstances, foreigners who have served Polish interests may be granted citizenship by special order. This includes, for example, foreign military personnel in Polish service, distinguished athletes, scientists, and cultural figures whose citizenship is deemed valuable to the nation. Such decisions are made individually by the President of the Republic of Poland and fall outside the standard naturalization criteria. A typical example would be granting citizenship to a promising athlete to represent Poland in international competitions. However, there is no guarantee of citizenship for such contributions — it remains a matter of state discretion.

Thus, Polish citizenship may be granted to individuals with Polish roots or family connections, as well as to foreigners who have lived in Poland for several years, integrated into the community, and fulfilled the naturalization requirements. The following sections will explain the main pathways to citizenship in more detail, along with specific criteria for each route.

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Ways to Obtain Polish Citizenship

Polish law provides several pathways for acquiring citizenship. The appropriate route depends on your personal circumstances — such as your ancestry, marital status, duration of residence, and other factors. Below are the main ways to obtain Polish citizenship for foreigners, along with the conditions for each.

By Birth (Right of Blood and Right of Soil)

Being born into a Polish family automatically grants a child citizenship by the right of blood (ius sanguinis). This is the fundamental principle: if at least one parent is a Polish citizen, the child automatically acquires Polish citizenship, regardless of where they are born. This rule also extends to subsequent generations, though it is important to document an unbroken line of citizenship through ancestry.

By contrast, the right of soil (ius soli) applies only in limited cases. Birth on Polish territory does not confer citizenship if both parents are foreigners. For example, if a tourist gives birth in a Polish hospital, the child will not automatically become a Polish citizen. Exceptions apply in humanitarian situations — when a newborn would otherwise be left stateless. Under Polish law, a child born or found in Poland automatically acquires citizenship if both parents are unknown or stateless. This safeguard prevents cases of statelessness. In all other situations, a child’s citizenship is determined by that of the parents.

It is also worth noting that children of Polish citizens born abroad are still considered Polish citizens — they simply need to complete the necessary administrative steps, such as registering the birth at a Polish consulate, obtaining a Polish birth certificate, and applying for a passport.

Thus, citizenship by birth is granted only if the child’s parents hold Polish citizenship or in specific humanitarian cases (unknown or stateless parents). All other foreign-born children must acquire citizenship through other means — such as ancestry or residence.

By Descent (Repatriation and the “Pole’s Card”)

If you have Polish ancestry — even through your grandparents or great-grandparents — you may qualify for simplified citizenship procedures. Poland values its diaspora and the descendants of its citizens, offering special programs such as Repatriation and the Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka) to facilitate a return to the historical homeland.

Repatriation is the fastest way to become a Polish citizen by descent (“by roots”). It is designed for descendants of Poles who live in territories of the former USSR that did not belong to modern Poland. According to the Repatriation Act of 2000, an applicant must:

Prove Polish ancestry (at least one parent, grandparent, or two great-grandparents of Polish nationality or citizenship);
Have resided permanently before 2001 in one of the designated countries — particularly those in Central Asia, the Caucasus, or the Asian part of Russia.

Successful repatriates receive Polish citizenship almost immediately after relocating to Poland. The process typically looks like this: you obtain a repatriation visa at a Polish consulate, arrive in Poland, register your civil documents (birth, marriage, etc.) at the civil registry, and the voivodeship office issues an official certificate confirming the acquisition of citizenship. The entire process usually takes around one year.

A key advantage is that repatriates are not required to pass a Polish language exam. The state recognizes them as citizens out of respect for their heritage. Repatriation is an excellent opportunity for individuals from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Belarus, and other countries with Polish roots to obtain a Polish passport quickly and lawfully.

The Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka) is an alternative for ethnic Poles who do not qualify for repatriation — for instance, because their ancestors lived elsewhere or they are not ready to move permanently to Poland. The Pole’s Card confirms belonging to the Polish nation and is available to descendants of Poles from the former USSR and Baltic states. To obtain it, you must prove Polish ancestry or demonstrate strong cultural ties, as well as basic knowledge of the Polish language.

While the Pole’s Card itself does not grant citizenship, it offers significant privileges: a free long-term national visa to Poland, the right to work without a permit, to study, and to engage in business. Most importantly, after one year of residence in Poland as a holder of the Pole’s Card, you may apply for permanent residence (Pobyt Stały), and after another year with permanent residence, you may apply for citizenship. Essentially, the Pole’s Card is a stepping stone toward citizenship through naturalization but with reduced waiting periods.

Unlike repatriation, this program has no restrictions on the country of residence of your ancestors — it is available to descendants of Polish emigrants from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, or Lithuania, even if they do not plan to relocate to Poland immediately.

It is also important not to confuse restoration of citizenship with repatriation. Restoration (or reintegration) applies to individuals who themselves, or whose parents, were Polish citizens but lost their citizenship (for example, through emigration or acquiring another nationality before 1951). Such individuals can petition the President of Poland to restore their citizenship. The process requires proof of former citizenship and its lawful loss. Successful applicants regain Polish citizenship without a residency requirement.

In summary: If you have Polish roots, determine whether you qualify for Repatriation or the Pole’s Card. The first option grants citizenship almost immediately (upon relocation to Poland), while the second provides a faster and simplified path to citizenship through residence. In both cases, proving your Polish ancestry significantly eases your journey toward obtaining a coveted EU passport.

Naturalization (Through Residence in Poland)

Naturalization is the standard route to Polish citizenship through long-term residence, integration, and adherence to Polish law. It is suitable for foreigners who do not have Polish ancestry or family ties but have successfully settled in Poland. Although this path takes the longest, it is universal and accessible to anyone willing to go through the full journey from temporary resident to citizen.

In general, one becomes eligible for naturalization after at least 3 years of permanent residence in Poland (on the basis of a permanent residence permit or long-term EU resident status). However, these 3 years are just the final stage — before that, one must first obtain permanent residence (PR), which typically requires 5 years of legal stay in Poland on the basis of a temporary residence permit (e.g., for work, business, or study followed by employment). Therefore, from the time of initial arrival to eligibility for citizenship, the process usually takes around 7 to 8 years.

For example, a foreign professional may move to Poland for work, stay legally for 5 years, obtain permanent residence, and then apply for citizenship after 3 more years of living with PR status. Some temporary residence programs allow this timeline to be shortened — for highly skilled professionals, graduates of Polish universities, refugees, etc. — but in general, one should expect at least 7 years of residence.

There are favorable conditions for certain categories:

Spouses of Polish citizens: as mentioned earlier, marriage reduces the required time. It is enough to have 2 years of residence on the basis of PR, provided the marriage has lasted for at least 3 years. This means that by marrying a Polish citizen, you could obtain PR in around 2–3 years and citizenship another 2 years later.
Refugees and stateless persons: they are also eligible after 2 years of permanent residence, as Poland aims to integrate individuals without a homeland or who were forced to flee it.
Persons with special merit: may apply regardless of the length of stay, based on a discretionary decision by the President. However, this is outside the scope of standard naturalization.

To successfully naturalize, it is not enough to simply live in Poland for the required period. The law sets specific requirements for applicants, which include (explained in more detail elsewhere): at least B1-level knowledge of Polish, stable income and housing in Poland, and a clean legal record. Essentially, the applicant must demonstrate integration into Polish society — that they are part of the country, speak the language, work or run a business, pay taxes, and respect social norms. Only when authorities are satisfied with your integration will they approve the application.

Importantly, Poland does not require you to renounce your previous citizenship when naturalizing — you may keep your original passport (as long as your home country allows dual citizenship). For example, many Ukrainians and Belarusians naturalized in Poland retain their original nationality, effectively holding dual citizenship. However, in the eyes of the Polish state, you will be treated solely as a Polish citizen.

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Through Marriage to a Polish Citizen

Marriage to a Polish citizen is one of the most common paths to simplified naturalization. While marriage alone does not automatically confer citizenship, it creates the basis for faster access to both permanent residence and a Polish passport.

Key Conditions: at the time of submitting your application, you must be legally married to a Polish citizen for at least 3 years, and have resided continuously in Poland for at least 2 years on the basis of a permanent residence permit.

The typical sequence is as follows: after the marriage is registered, the foreign spouse receives a temporary residence permit (usually for 1–2 years, with extensions). After 2 years of living together in Poland, you can apply for permanent residence on the basis of marriage. Then, after another 2 years of permanent residence, you may apply for citizenship. In total, from marriage to passport, the process usually takes about 5 years, which is significantly faster than the general route.

Important Note: The marriage must be genuine, and cohabitation must be continuous. Authorities closely examine applications for signs of fraudulent marriages. You’ll be expected to provide documents proving joint living arrangements — such as shared address registration, joint bank accounts, children, etc. If the marriage ends before citizenship is granted, the benefits of the simplified path may be revoked.

When applying for citizenship via marriage, you’ll still need to meet standard integration requirements — including Polish language proficiency (B1 certificate) and evidence of income, housing, and law-abiding behavior. That said, living with a Polish spouse typically helps accelerate language learning and cultural immersion, making this path one of the most comfortable and natural options.

Also keep in mind: the marriage must still be valid during the application process. While you’re not required to remain married after receiving your Polish passport, a divorce or separation before the citizenship is granted may lead to your case being re-examined. In general, however, Poland takes a favorable view of foreign spouses and seeks not to burden genuine families with bureaucratic obstacles.

Investment in the Economy (Business Immigration)

Many people wonder whether it is possible to buy Polish citizenship through investment in 2025. Unlike some other countries, Poland does not offer a formal “citizenship by investment” program, meaning you cannot obtain a Polish passport in exchange for a large financial contribution. Polish citizenship is not for sale — it must be earned by fulfilling specific legal requirements.

That said, affluent individuals do have access to business immigration pathways, which can indirectly lead to citizenship. If you invest in Poland — by opening a company, creating jobs, or investing in real estate — you may first obtain a national visa, followed by a residence permit for business activity. If your business operations are successful, you may apply for permanent residence (PR) after several years, and later for citizenship via naturalization. In practice, investment enables you to live and work in Poland legally, after which you can follow the standard route to citizenship.

Poland offers several types of residence permits for investors — including options for company managers, startup founders, and large investors. Typically, investments of around 100,000 PLN or more are expected, along with meeting conditions related to business turnover or employee hiring. After 5 years of uninterrupted business operations, you may apply for permanent residence, and after another 3 years, for citizenship (assuming other requirements are met). While Poland does not label this process as a “golden visa,” the structure is quite similar in practice.

In exceptional cases, if your investment significantly impacts the economy — for example, by revitalizing a region or creating many jobs — the President of Poland can grant citizenship at his discretion. However, these are rare and purely political decisions — you should not rely on financial contribution alone to gain citizenship.

✅ Summary: There is no direct way to “buy” a Polish passport, but investing in Poland helps you establish legal residence and eventually qualify for citizenship. If you have capital, you can integrate faster, obtain resident status, and later pursue naturalization. The key is to avoid scammers promising a Polish passport “guaranteed for money” — this is not legal, and such offers are fraudulent. Only use official and lawful business residence programs intended for investors and entrepreneurs.

Special Merits and Accelerated Citizenship

Polish law allows for the possibility of acquiring citizenship by exception, bypassing standard requirements and timelines. This right belongs solely to the President of the Republic of Poland, who may, at his discretion, grant citizenship to any foreigner — even if they have not met the usual residency or language criteria.

Such decisions are typically made in cases of special service to Poland or when it is deemed to be in the country’s national interest.

Examples of cases where accelerated citizenship may be granted:

Outstanding athletes invited to represent Poland in international competitions (as has happened with several athletes from Russia, Belarus, and other countries).
Renowned scientists, artists, or cultural figures, whose presence enhances Poland’s prestige.
Individuals who have saved Polish lives or shown heroism in relation to Poland.
People who lost Polish citizenship for historical reasons — in such cases, the process resembles restoration, but still requires a presidential decree.
Political dissidents or figures from other countries to whom Poland wants to show solidarity (e.g., granting asylum and citizenship).

How does the process work? An application is submitted directly to the President of Poland — either through a Polish consulate abroad or via a Voivodeship Office in Poland. The application must outline your merits or justification for the request. Every case is considered individually, and there are no fixed deadlines — decisions may take several months to over a year. The President issues the final decision in the form of a presidential decree. The procedure is free of charge (no government fees for the decree), but requires strong justification.

It’s important to note that citizenship through special merit is not easy to obtain — a refusal without explanation is common, especially if there are no evident or exceptional reasons. However, if your situation is truly extraordinary, this path may be worth exploring as a way to bypass bureaucratic hurdles.

According to immigrant testimonials, this route occasionally works: individuals who don’t meet the naturalization criteria but are considered valuable to the country have been granted a Polish passport “out of turn.”

✅ Conclusion: Applying for citizenship by special merit is reserved for a very limited group of people. For the vast majority of applicants, the more formalized paths — such as ancestry, marriage, long-term residence, or business — remain the most realistic and reliable routes to Polish citizenship.

Procedure for Obtaining Polish Citizenship

Having reviewed the grounds, let’s move on to how to obtain Polish citizenship in practice. The procedure depends on the chosen path (naturalization through the voivode or granting by the president), but the main steps are similar. Below is a general step-by-step guide:

Checking eligibility and meeting the requirements. First of all, make sure that you meet the criteria for citizenship. Choose on what basis you are applying – long-term residence, marriage, Polish origin, Pole’s Card, etc. Check that you have met the minimum period of residence (if required) and all other conditions: having permanent residence, the necessary length of marriage, language knowledge, stable income, no violations of the law. For example, for naturalization, you need to have lived for 3 years with permanent residence, have housing and a job; for marriage – 3 years of marriage and 2 years of permanent residence; for the Pole’s Card – 1 year with permanent residence. If some conditions are not yet met (e.g., you haven’t received the language certificate yet), postpone the application until they are fulfilled.
Collecting and preparing documents. The list of documents depends on your situation, but typically you will need: The official application form in Polish; A current application for recognition as a citizen; A passport-format photo; A copy of all pages of your passport; A copy of your permanent residence card (or another document confirming permanent residence); Birth certificate (translated into Polish); Marriage certificate (if applicable); Documents regarding children (if you want to include a child in the application: child’s birth certificate and consent of the other parent); Documents confirming the Polish citizenship of relatives (if you are applying based on origin); Proof of Polish language knowledge (B1 certificate or a document of education in Poland); Proof of income and housing (e.g., employment certificate with salary, employment contract, bank statement, real estate document or rental agreement); Proof of payment of the application fee. All foreign documents must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator. Please note: the application must be completed in Polish only, so if you are not fluent, it is better to involve a translator or a lawyer.
Submitting the application. In Poland, applications for citizenship by naturalization are submitted to the Voivodeship Office at the place of residence (to the department for citizenship and foreigners). If you live outside Poland and are applying through the president, documents must be submitted through the Polish consulate at your place of residence. The consulate receives the application and forwards it to Warsaw for consideration by the president. Submission can be in person or by post (but a personal visit is usually required to confirm identity and signature). In some voivodeships, you must make an appointment in advance (online via e-konsulat or regional electronic queue systems). When submitting through a proxy – a notarized power of attorney and additional fee payment will be required. The consul or official will check the completeness of the documents and may ask clarifying questions. If something is missing, you will be given time to provide it.
Paying the state fee. The state fee for considering a citizenship recognition application is 219 PLN. Payment is made before submission – the receipt must be attached to the documents. Bank details are usually provided on the voivodeship’s website. If submitted through a consulate, a consular fee may be charged according to the tariff. Additionally: 17 PLN – if the power of attorney is not for a close relative; About 5 PLN per page – for certifying copies if you submit uncertified ones. Translations are paid separately to the translator. Keep in mind that in case of refusal, the fee is non-refundable.
Application review and verification. After submission, the waiting period begins. The voivode or the President (depending on the path) considers your case. For recognition by the voivode, the decision should be made within a reasonable time (usually up to 2 months from the moment all necessary information is received). In practice, the processing time varies: the voivodeship requests information about you from the police, border guard, Internal Security Agency, and other authorities to ensure you do not pose a threat to the country. This may take several months. If additional documents or information are required, you will be notified. As a result, the voivode issues a decision to recognize you as a Polish citizen or a refusal. If applying through the president, the timeframes are longer and less defined – from several months to over a year, as the decision is political and not strictly regulated. You will simply be notified when the president’s decree is signed or refused.
Decision and oath. If a positive decision is issued by the voivode to recognize citizenship, it comes into force immediately after signing. Note: Poland does not require a citizenship oath – this procedure is absent. This distinguishes it from many other countries. Receiving the official decision is sufficient. If citizenship is granted by presidential decree, no oath is needed either – the decree itself is the act of granting citizenship.
Receiving citizen documents. After recognition of citizenship, the next step is to obtain documents: passport and ID card (Dowód osobisty). With the citizenship decision, you go to the city office (urząd) or consulate, and submit an application for the Polish passport and ID card. You will be assigned a PESEL number (if you don’t already have one) – this is an identification number required for citizens. The passport is usually issued within 1 month. The state fee for a biometric passport is around 140 PLN (for adults). You should also register your place of residence as permanent (meldunek) – this is a formality, but useful for dealing with government institutions.
Refusal and appeal. If the voivode refuses you citizenship, this is not the end. You have the right to appeal to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration through the same voivode, within 14 days from receiving the refusal. The Ministry will review the case and issue a final decision. If the refusal is confirmed, in theory you can challenge it in an administrative court, but this is difficult and rarely effective, as granting citizenship is the state’s prerogative. If the President refuses, no appeal is provided (the president’s decision is final). However, you may apply again later if you correct the reasons for refusal (e.g. insufficient language skills or income – after improving these aspects).

In general, the procedure for obtaining Polish citizenship is quite transparent. The main task is to properly prepare all documents and evidence confirming your right. It is recommended to carefully study the guidelines on the website of your voivodeship or consulate, where it clearly states where to apply and what to prepare. Thorough preparation is the key to success, as errors or missing papers are often the cause of delays or refusals.

Requirements for Applicants for Citizenship

Poland sets a number of requirements for foreigners who wish to become its citizens. These conditions confirm that the applicant has successfully integrated and will be a reliable citizen. Below are the main requirements and conditions that must be fulfilled:

Long‑term legal residence. The applicant must have resided continuously in Poland for the prescribed period before applying for citizenship. In most cases – at least 3 years with permanent residence status. This period is reduced to 2 years for spouses of citizens and refugees, 1 year for holders of the Polish origin status or the Pole’s Card, and increases to 10 years when no other basis exists. It is important that the residence be continuous and legal – you cannot leave the country for long periods without valid reasons, and you must hold valid permits for the entire period.
Holding permanent residence. You can only apply for citizenship if you hold a permit for permanent residence (PR) or EU long‑term resident status. The exception is for children born to citizens or repatriates, who may acquire citizenship immediately. An adult foreigner must first obtain PR (after 5 years of residence, or 2 years via marriage, or immediately through Polish roots), and only from that moment does the counting of the period begin. Holding PR confirms your settled status.
Knowledge of the Polish language. A mandatory requirement – proficiency in Polish at at least level B1 according to the Common European Framework. You must have an officially recognised certificate: a B1 level exam certificate or a diploma issued after education in Poland. Without this document, the voivode has no right to recognise you as a citizen. Exceptions apply for children under 16 years and possibly for disabled persons or the elderly (these specifics are negotiated – in practice many pension‑age applicants are exempt). But for the vast majority of applicants, the language requirement is mandatory. Bear in mind: B1 is an intermediate level of communication; you will need to prepare and take the exam in advance.
Law‑abiding behaviour and integration. The applicant must demonstrate reliability: no criminal convictions or serious public‑order violations. During the review of your case the authorities check with police and security services. They also verify that you do not pose a threat to national security – e.g., involvement in extremist or anti‑state organisations is unacceptable. Financial discipline is also important: tax arrears, fines, unpaid alimony can be grounds for refusal. Overall, you must show respect for Poland’s laws and values.
Stable income and housing. Informally – “not to be a burden for the state”. You must have a permanent source of income in Poland and a place of residence (either owned or rented). You need to show you can support yourself and are economically integrated. Acceptable proof includes employment certificates showing salary, bank statements showing incoming funds, business registration certificates, tax returns, etc. The level of income should be at least the subsistence minimum (ideally – the average salary for the region). Ownership of home or rental agreement (or sub‑lease contract, confirmation of living with family) is needed too – provide your registration address, attach a copy of the deed or rental contract.
Renunciation of foreign citizenship (if required). Poland, as mentioned, allows dual citizenship and does not require you to renounce your current citizenship. However, some countries of your origin may automatically revoke citizenship upon acquiring another, or simply do not recognise dual status. Therefore this point is more for your attention: check with your country’s consulate whether you can keep the original passport. If not – you must decide if you are willing to relinquish your previous nationality for Polish citizenship. Polish authorities will not force your renunciation, but will ask to state which citizenships you hold and whether you have ever lost citizenship. Note: if you must renounce your previous passport, you should do it before your citizenship oath or the issuance of your Polish passport (to provide proof of renunciation, if required by your home state).
Other requirements. In the application you will be asked about other aspects – for example, marital status, children, involvement in community or political life. These are routine questions. The main thing – answer truthfully. If you have Polish ancestors, provide documents. If you once held Polish citizenship and lost it – indicate the details. All information must be supported by documents. The application must be completed accurately: any inaccuracies or false statements may lead to refusal or even legal consequences. It’s better to double‑check the form and translations several times.

Meeting all the above requirements almost guarantees the success of your citizenship application. Poland follows the principle: if a foreigner has proven loyalty and attachment to the country, contributed (by work, taxes, integration), there is no reason not to grant them citizenship. On the contrary, failing to meet even one criterion may be a reason to defer issuance of citizenship “until better times”. Therefore, prepare in advance: learn the language, regularise everything legally, keep proof of income and housing, obey the law – and after the required years your path to citizenship will be open.

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Processing Time and Costs

The questions “How long does it take?” and “How much does it cost?” inevitably concern all applicants for citizenship. Let’s examine the timeframes at each stage and the financial costs involved in obtaining a Polish passport.

Minimum Residency Period

As previously noted, standard naturalisation requires about 8 years of residence (5 years before obtaining permanent residency + 3 years with PR status). This assumes continuous presence in the country. However, many applicants obtain citizenship faster due to preferential conditions:

By marriage – approximately 5 years from the wedding (2–3 years until PR + 2 years after obtaining PR).
By Polish descent with a Pole’s Card – also around 2–3 years (immediate PR, then citizenship after one year).
Through repatriation – 1 year, and sometimes less (visa processing, relocation, and almost immediate citizenship on-site).
By special presidential decree – a few months, if you’re lucky, with no residency requirement at all.

Thus, the timeframes range from 1 to 10 years, depending on the grounds. The most typical path for a foreigner without Polish roots is about 8 years. Poland has long been one of the EU countries with a relatively short residency requirement (3 years with PR compared to 5–7 in many other countries), although there are discussions about tightening the rules to 8–10 years in the future. But as of 2025, the old norms still apply.

Application Processing Times

After submitting all documents, patience is required. Officially, the decision on recognition as a citizen is made within 2 months (by the voivode) from the moment the case file is fully complete. However, in practice, it often takes 3–6 months, and sometimes longer, especially if additional checks are required or during periods of high application volumes. Note that the 2-month period begins from the date the last required document is received — if during the process it turns out that, for example, an additional certificate is needed, the countdown is paused until it is provided. That’s why it’s so important to submit everything at once.

The procedure through the president usually takes longer – on average 6–12 months, as such cases are not strictly regulated and depend on the schedule of the Presidential Administration. In some cases, people wait up to 2 years for the president’s decision. In general, if after 6 months you haven’t received any updates – you can check the status with your voivodeship office or consulate.

Official Fees

As mentioned, the main mandatory payment is a state fee of 219 zł (about €50) for the review of the application. It is a one-time payment regardless of the outcome (it is non-refundable in case of refusal). Additionally, there are minor fees: 17 zł for a power of attorney (if you’re not submitting the application yourself), 5 zł per page for certified copies (usually copies of your passport, residence card – these documents have several pages, so the total may reach 50–100 zł). If applying via a consulate, there will be a consular fee – as of 2025, the equivalent of 360 zł in local currency, approximately, for forwarding the documents to the President – check the current amount on your consulate’s website.

Document and Translation Costs

A significant expense is document preparation. You need to translate all foreign documents into Polish by a sworn translator. Rates are typically around 30–50 zł per page, depending on the language and country. You will likely need to translate a birth certificate, a criminal record certificate (if requested), possibly a diploma, marriage certificate, name change documents, etc. If you have many documents, translations may cost several hundred złoty. Additionally, some documents must be legalised or apostilled in the country of issue (e.g., birth or marriage certificates) – this also involves an extra fee in your home country. Remember to also factor in postage costs, especially if sending anything from abroad.

The language exam costs around €150 (the official B1 Polish language certification exam) – this fee is paid to the organisation conducting the exam, prior to submitting the citizenship application. Polish language courses, if you choose to attend them, also incur expenses (although that’s optional).

Legal Assistance

The law allows you to complete the process independently, and many people do just that. However, if your case is complex or you have a language barrier, you can hire an immigration lawyer or an intermediary. The cost of assistance with obtaining Polish citizenship depends on the company, some of them offer full-service packages.

Additional expenses: travel to submit the application (if you don’t live in the voivodeship city – transportation), medical certificates if needed, photographs (~30 PLN per set). After obtaining citizenship, you’ll pay for passport issuance (~140 PLN standard state fee for an adult passport, less for children) and the dowód osobisty (usually free for the first issuance).

Overall, obtaining Polish citizenship is not a very expensive process. The main costs go to translations and possible travel. State fees are relatively low (for comparison, in some countries naturalization fees reach hundreds of dollars). The key is to be ready to invest time and effort. As they say, a Polish passport is valuable in itself, but the true cost of citizenship is the years of integration and meeting the requirements — not money.

Can You Have Dual Citizenship with Poland?

The question of dual citizenship concerns many immigrants: will they have to give up their original passport, and does Poland recognize a second passport? Let’s look at Poland’s position and the possible nuances.

Polish law does not prohibit dual citizenship. Moreover, since 1962, Poland does not revoke citizenship from its citizens under any circumstances without their consent. Acquiring another citizenship does not automatically result in the loss of Polish citizenship. The reverse is also true: when acquiring Polish citizenship, you do not have to sever ties with your country of origin — the law does not require this. However, there’s one important nuance: legally, Poland recognizes only its own citizenship. This means that a Polish citizen, even if they hold another passport, is regarded solely as a Polish citizen by Polish authorities (Article 3 of the Citizenship Act). In practice, this means: You must enter and leave Poland using your Polish passport; You cannot address a Polish court or authority as a “foreigner” or on behalf of another country — only as a Polish citizen. In other words, dual citizenship is possible in Poland, but within the country, the second citizenship carries no legal weight.

Citizens of most EU countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, and many others can legally hold Polish citizenship as a second nationality — their countries are tolerant of multiple citizenships. For example: A German citizen who becomes Polish may retain their German nationality (Germany removed its ban on dual citizenship in such cases in 2014). A Russian or Kazakh citizen can also keep their original passport, since these countries do not prohibit second citizenship (though they may require notification to the authorities — like in Russia). Poland also recognizes dual citizenship for children from mixed marriages — a child born to a Polish-American couple, for instance, will have both nationalities from birth.

However, some countries restrict or prohibit dual citizenship: In Austria or Spain, naturalization usually requires renouncing your previous citizenship (though there are exceptions for EU citizens). Belarus and China do not recognize dual citizenship at all — obtaining a Polish passport may be interpreted by those countries as renunciation of their own. India requires you to renounce your Indian citizenship upon acquiring another. Therefore, it’s crucial to check the laws of your own country.

There are important implications when holding dual nationality: In Poland, you will be regarded only as a Polish citizen. For example, if you are a Polish-Kazakh citizen and reside in Poland, the Kazakh consulate cannot assist you, as Polish authorities won’t recognize your other nationality. Outside Poland, the same applies in reverse: the Polish embassy may be unable to assist you if your other country sees you as its sole citizen. This is a standard rule under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Article 36.

Also note: You may have legal obligations in both countries — such as paying taxes. (There are tax treaties to avoid double taxation, but you’ll need to determine your residency.) You may be eligible to vote in both countries, if permitted by each. Dual citizenship means not only privileges but also responsibilities to two states.

As mentioned, the main risk lies in whether your country revokes your citizenship when you naturalize in another. Be sure to verify this. Weigh the benefits and drawbacks: a Polish passport offers significant advantages, but if your original nationality also holds value (e.g., property, family, pension rights), evaluate carefully. Consulting a citizenship lawyer from your home country may help.

Dual citizenship with Poland is legal and allowed. Thousands of naturalized foreigners keep both their Polish passport and their original one. Poland does not force you to choose one nationality, recognizing that a person may have ties to two nations. However, as a Polish citizen, be prepared to fulfill all obligations under Polish law and not expect to be treated as a foreigner. Whether you can keep your original passport depends entirely on your home country’s laws — check this in advance to avoid surprises.

Obtaining Polish citizenship is an important step, opening broad opportunities for immigrants. A Polish passport means you become a full EU citizen, with all related benefits: freedom of movement, employment, social security, and a sense of belonging in the European community. We’ve reviewed how to become a citizen of Poland — whether through ancestry, years of integration, marriage to a Polish citizen, or other routes. Everyone can find a suitable path based on their situation.

The benefits of Polish citizenship are substantial — from borderless travel to the security of being protected by a strong European state. But citizenship also means responsibility and effort. Time, dedication, and patience are needed to complete the process. Common mistakes made by applicants include: Submitting documents before meeting all requirements (e.g., not completing the required period of permanent residence or lacking a language certificate), Providing inaccurate or incomplete information in the application, Submitting improperly certified documents. These issues often lead to delays or refusals. The key to success is thorough preparation and an honest assessment of your eligibility.

If you’re uncertain or have a complex case, it’s wise to consult a migration lawyer. Experts can check your documents, advise on how to prove income or translate your name properly— in short, they can provide professional support for obtaining Polish citizenship. This can prevent many problems and save time.

In summary, Polish citizenship is an achievable goal for those truly connected to the country and determined to become part of it. Start by assessing your chances: do you have Polish ancestry, how many years have you lived in Poland, how well do you speak the language? Then follow the steps outlined in this guide: gather documents, comply with legal requirements, and work toward your goal. Though the process may not be fast, in the end, you’ll be rewarded with a Polish passport — bringing a new quality of life and confidence in your future.

Frequently Asked Questions about Polish Citizenship

We have compiled answers to the most common questions about obtaining Polish citizenship. If you did not find the information you were looking for or want to learn more about the requirements, timelines, and benefits of Polish passport, contact us for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Poland Citizenship

A fully online submission of the application is not provided. An application for recognition as a Polish citizen must be submitted in person at the Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) in Poland or via a Polish consulate (if you live abroad). However, electronic systems exist for booking an appointment—for example, the e-konsulat portal for consulate visits or regional queue systems for voivodeships. The documents themselves must be filled out in Polish, on a paper form, and signed in person. So, preparing the application must still be done in the traditional format.

No history exam is required, but you must confirm your Polish language skills. There is no special oral exam when applying for citizenship, but you must obtain a certificate in advance confirming your knowledge of Polish at level B1 or higher. This certificate is issued after passing a standardized language exam (written and oral) at an accredited testing center. So yes, a Polish language exam is required, but it must be passed before submitting your application.

Try to collect the full set of documents specified by your Voivodeship Office or consulate in advance. If you are missing something (for example, it’s hard to get a certificate from a problematic country, or a birth certificate of a Polish ancestor was lost), look for alternatives: duplicates via registry offices, notarized statements, archive extracts. In extreme cases, attach a written explanation of why the document is missing and what proof you can offer instead. Do not submit an obviously incomplete application without any explanation—your application may simply be left without review. It’s better to delay the submission than risk a refusal.

No, once you obtain Polish citizenship, you are not obligated to live in Poland. A citizen has the right to reside anywhere—in another EU country, or even return to their country of origin. Polish citizenship is permanent and cannot be revoked due to absence from the country. The Polish Constitution explicitly states that a citizen cannot be deprived of their citizenship except by their own will. Therefore, after receiving your passport, you are free to choose your place of residence without it affecting your status as a Polish citizen.

A rejection is an unpleasant situation, but not the end of the road. Your next steps depend on who issued the refusal: If the Voivode denied your application via the recognition procedure, you have the right to appeal within 14 days through the same Voivode. The complaint will be forwarded to the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry will reconsider your case and either grant citizenship or uphold the refusal. After that, you can file a lawsuit with an administrative court, though this takes time and has limited chances of success. If the President refused your application (in cases submitted via consulate), there is no formal appeal process—the President’s decisions are final. However, you may reapply later, after correcting the reasons for the original refusal.