Changes to the state exam in Polish

What changes and from when – overview

Most of the changes start to apply on 1 January 2027, that is from the first session of 2027 (6–7 February). Exams in 2026, including the session of 5–6 December 2026, are still held under the existing rules. We have gathered general information about the exam in the guide to the B1 exam.

Timeline of changes

The changes come into force in stages, so it is worth knowing a few dates:

• 25 May 2026 – publication of the Act in the Journal of Laws (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 676).
• 9 June 2026 – new levels of the certificate issued without an exam.
• 5–6 December 2026 – the last session under the existing rules.
• 1 January 2027 – new age groups, fee limits, the certificate fee and the role of NAWA.
• 6–7 February 2027 – the first session under the new rules.

New age groups: your age on the day of the exam counts

From 2027 the group is decided by age: if you have turned 16 on the day of the exam, you take the exam in the group aged 16 and over, in which all levels from A1 to C2 are available. People under 16 can take levels A1–B2.

For most candidates – adults who need B1 for citizenship or EU long-term resident status – this change complicates nothing. It matters mainly for people aged 16–17 who took the exam in the young people's group until the end of 2026, and from 2027 will join the same group as adults.

Fees calculated from the average wage

From 2027 the exam fee limit is no longer a fixed amount in euros, but a percentage of the average wage from the third quarter of the year before the exam. As a result the limit will change every year together with wages, not with the euro exchange rate.

• 4% – levels A1–B2, people under 16,
• 6% – levels A1–A2, people aged 16 and over,
• 7% – levels B1–B2, people aged 16 and over,
• 9% – levels C1–C2, people aged 16 and over.

You still register at an exam centre and it is the centre that sets the fee – within the new limit. The certificate is paid for separately: 100 zł. Compare the old and new fee limits.

The role of NAWA

From 2027 the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) takes over handling the applications and fees connected with the exam on the state's side. For candidates this mainly means that matters dealt with directly with the Commission reach it through NAWA. The application for a certificate without an exam is already submitted through NAWA now. However, you pay the 100 zł fee for the certificate after a passed exam to the centre where the exam took place, within 7 days of the information that you passed. You still take the exam itself at the centre where you register, and the certificate is still issued by the State Commission.

Who can organise the exam

The amendment tightens the conditions for exam centres. The right to organise the exam can be granted, among others, to an entity that has taught Polish as a foreign language for at least 4 years, has the staff needed to form an examination board and meets the other conditions in the Act. In practice, the list of centres for the 2027 sessions may differ from the existing one – always check it before a given session on certyfikatpolski.pl.

Certificate without an exam – new levels from 9 June 2026

Part of the amendment came into force earlier – 14 days after the Act was published (it was published on 25 May 2026). Since then a certificate without an exam is issued at a level that depends on the education completed: after a doctorate – C2, after first-cycle studies – B2, after second-cycle or long-cycle master's studies – C1, after some schools – B2, and after other forms of education – B1. Check who can get a certificate without an exam.

What this means in practice

The amendment changes the formalities, not what you have to learn. The legal requirements – for example B1 for citizenship or EU long-term resident status – do not come from this Act and have not changed.

• Planning the December 2026 session? The existing limits apply (150 € for B1). Registration for this session is already open – check the dates and registration.
• Planning to take the exam in 2027? Expect a fee set according to the new limit and an additional 100 zł for the certificate.
• Have a Polish diploma? Check whether you are entitled to a certificate without an exam before you register for a session.

See how the exam runs: time, parts and scoring. If new implementing regulations change these rules for the 2027 sessions, we will update the description before the first session. Draft changes to the rules for granting citizenship are a separate topic – read what is known about the planned changes to citizenship.