The Polish Ministry of Interior suggests strengthening citizenship requirements by introducing a country knowledge test, a higher language proficiency level, and a more thorough income verification process. Initiative UD491 has been added to the government's list of legislative works, but the new rules are not yet in effect. This is reported by the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland.
Polish citizenship: what requirements are proposed to be tightened in 2026
The main changes concern the procedure for recognizing a foreigner as a Polish citizen. They should not be automatically applied to all ways of acquiring citizenship, including its grant by the president.
The Ministry proposes:
- to raise the required level of Polish language from B1 to B2;
- to introduce a test on knowledge about Poland and a loyalty declaration to the state;
- to increase the minimum period of legal residence;
- to verify whether the center of vital interests of the applicant is located in Poland, including through tax residency;
- to determine a minimum income;
- to require confirmation of sources of support and legal right to housing from all applicant groups in this procedure.
The publicly released description does not yet specify the new residence period or minimum income amount. There is also no list of the future exam questions.
Currently, the existing conditions for obtaining citizenship apply. The mere inclusion of the initiative in the government’s list does not change the requirements for applicants.
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Refusal and cancellation of citizenship decisions: what the project entails
The Ministry of Interior wants to expand the list of mandatory grounds for refusal. Among them, false information, forged documents, and circumstances indicating a threat to national security or public order have been named.
Additionally, it is proposed to allow the cancellation of decisions on recognizing citizenship or restoring citizenship if it was obtained through deception. This includes, in particular, fake documents, false statements, or concealment of important information during the citizenship process, residence legalization, or obtaining the Pole's Card.
This is a proposal for reviewing decisions made on false grounds. It is incorrect to exercise the existing right to arbitrarily deprive individuals of Polish citizenship.
For simplified restoration of citizenship under Article 38 of the law, it is proposed to establish a deadline for submitting applications: December 31, 2030. This date is also currently part of the planned changes.
The consideration of the project by the Council of Ministers is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. This is not the date of the law coming into force: no definitive deadlines or transitional rules for already submitted applications have been specified yet.
For Ukrainians planning to live long-term in Poland, the issue of citizenship remains separate from the right to reside and work. As indicated by the stories of Ukrainian families, the decision about citizenship often depends on further family plans.