Karta Polaka and Polish citizenship – one year of permanent residence and level B1

The path from the Karta Polaka to citizenship

There are three stages between the Karta Polaka and citizenship, and the language requirements are different at each one. We describe how to prepare for the first of them in our guide to the Karta Polaka interview.

1. Karta Polaka – requires at least a basic knowledge of the language; without a certificate, it is assessed by the consul or the voivode in an interview.
2. Permanent residence permit in connection with the Karta Polaka – the Act on Foreigners sets no language requirement for permanent residence. We explain where the myth about B1 for permanent residence comes from.
3. Recognition as a Polish citizen – after at least one year of continuous residence on the basis of that permit. Here you need a document proving Polish at level B1 or higher.

Language requirements at each stage compared

The most important difference: for the Karta Polaka the consul can assess your language in an interview, while for citizenship only a document counts.

Note: since 1 July 2025, a certificate of completing a post-secondary school (szkoła policealna) does not prove knowledge of the language for recognition as a citizen. Check all the documents the office accepts for citizenship.

Why the interview with the consul is not enough for citizenship

For recognition as a citizen, the law requires an official certificate or a school certificate – it does not provide for an assessment in an interview. The level itself is also different: for the Karta Polaka a simple conversation is enough, while the B1 exam tests five skills separately.

Writing usually requires the most work. Someone who does well in conversation has often never had the chance to write letters or texts on a set topic in Polish. See what the B1 exam looks like.

When to start preparing for B1

Ideally straight after receiving the Karta Polaka – a year of permanent residence is a good time to move from conversation level to B1 and pass the exam before you apply for recognition as a citizen.

1. Check your level after the interview with the consul – take the placement test or book a trial lesson with a level assessment.
2. Choose an exam session. Level B1 is available in every session of the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language. In 2026 you can register only for the 5–6 December session (it is too late for 17–18 October – the centre must register the candidate no later than a month before the exam), and in 2027 sessions are scheduled for 6–7 February, 10–11 April, 12–13 June, 2–3 October and 27–28 November.
3. Budget for the fee. Until 31 December 2026, an exam centre may charge no more than EUR 150 for the B1 exam for adults. From 1 January 2027, the limit will be 7% of the average salary in the third quarter of the previous year, and an additional PLN 100 is paid for issuing the certificate after passing the exam (to the exam centre’s account).
4. Practise writing and speaking with feedback – on the B1 exam preparation course the teacher marks your essays and spoken answers according to the commission’s criteria.

If you have a Polish university diploma, check whether you are entitled to a certificate without an exam.

Will the rules change?

As of 3 October 2026, the Act on Polish Citizenship has not changed in 2026. The presidential bill (print no. 1759) has been in Sejm committees since November 2025, and the Sejm rejected the MPs’ bill (print no. 1888) at first reading on 9 January 2026. The changes announced by MSWiA (the Ministry of the Interior and Administration) – including level B2 and a civic knowledge test – have not reached the Sejm. The reform of the Act on the Karta Polaka is also only a draft for now. Until any changes are passed, the rules described on this page apply. So there is no point in waiting – the year of permanent residence is best used for study, and a trial lesson with a level diagnosis can be the first step.