Proposed changes to Polish citizenship law – what about the language requirement
As of 3 October 2026, the level required for recognition as a Polish citizen is B1 – the Act on Polish Citizenship has not changed in 2026. A presidential bill (print no. 1759) is pending in the Sejm; according to its description on the Sejm website, it extends the required period of residence from 3 to 10 years. Since 4 November 2025 it has been referred to committees for first reading. The Sejm rejected a bill submitted by MPs (print no. 1888) at first reading on 9 January 2026. The outline announced by MSWiA (the Ministry of the Interior and Administration), with level B2, 8 years of residence and a civic knowledge test, has not been submitted to the Sejm as a bill. So there is no point in waiting: a B1 certificate obtained now meets the current requirement, and at a trial lesson we will check how far you are from the exam.
What applies today
Today the requirement is at least B1, proven by a state certificate or a school-leaving certificate (Article 30(2) of the Act on Polish Citizenship). The most recent amendment to the act came into force on 1 August 2025 (Dz.U. 2025 item 921), and since 1 July 2025 a post-secondary school certificate no longer proves knowledge of the language. Check which documents the office accepts for citizenship; you will find all the language requirements in our guide to Polish in residence and citizenship matters.
Bills and announcements – as of 3 October 2026
Three different things get mixed up in the debate about citizenship: a bill in progress, a rejected bill and an announcement that is not a bill. Only a bill in progress can become law today.
| Document | What it concerns | Status on 3.10.2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Presidential bill – print no. 1759 (submitted on 29 September 2025) | according to the Sejm description: extending the minimum period of continuous residence from 3 to 10 years | referred to committees for first reading on 4 November 2025 – still in progress |
| MPs’ bill – print no. 1888 | according to the Sejm description: among other things, extending this period from 3 to 10 years and changing the rules for acquiring and losing citizenship | rejected at first reading on 9 January 2026 |
| MSWiA outline | 8 years of residence, level B2, civic knowledge test | not submitted to the Sejm as a bill |
A bill is not law. A change will apply only once the act has been passed, published in the Journal of Laws (Dziennik Ustaw) and has come into force. Until then, the authorities apply the act in its current wording.
Two myths worth knowing about
The confusion arises because both bills – the presidential one and the MPs’ one – concerned extending residence to 10 years.
- ‘The Sejm rejected the presidential bill on 10 years for citizenship’ – not true. It was the MPs’ bill (print no. 1888) that was rejected. The presidential bill (print no. 1759) is in committee.
- ‘B2 is already required for citizenship’ – not true. B2 appears only in the MSWiA outline, which has not reached the Sejm. B1 applies.
Does the presidential bill change the language requirement?
According to the description of the bill on the Sejm website, print no. 1759 concerns the period of residence, and the description does not mention any change to the language level. If the bill were passed in this form, you would have to wait longer before you could apply – but a B1 certificate would still be needed. Remember also that from 1 January 2027 the Polish exam itself changes (age groups, fees, the role of NAWA) – this is a separate amendment to the Act on the Polish Language, which does not affect the B1 requirement for citizenship. See what is changing in the exam.
What this means for your learning
The changes being talked about are no reason to put off the exam. Quite the opposite – a B1 certificate obtained today meets the current requirement, and studying for B1 is a step on the way to B2 anyway.
| Your situation | A sensible plan |
|---|---|
| You already meet the residence conditions | prepare for the next B1 session – today’s law applies |
| You have a few years left before you can apply | pass B1 now, then keep developing your language towards B2 |
| You already have a B1 certificate | you meet the current requirement; if you want a margin for any scenario, the next step is B2 |
The difference between B1 and B2 is clear: at B2 it is not enough to talk about yourself – you have to argue a point and understand opinion pieces. An example of a B2-level sentence: Choć przepisy mogą się jeszcze zmienić, uważam, że warto już teraz systematycznie rozwijać język, ponieważ przyda się on niezależnie od wymogów. – a complex sentence with ‘choć’ and ‘ponieważ’, an opinion with reasons.
Glossary: how to read news about bills
Reports on changes in the law are full of words that are easy to confuse – and they determine whether something already applies. This vocabulary is also useful before the B1 and B2 exams, because opinion pieces often deal with public affairs.
| Word or phrase | What it means |
|---|---|
| projekt ustawy | a bill: a proposal for a new law – not yet in force |
| druk (e.g. druk nr 1759) | the print number under which the Sejm handles a bill |
| pierwsze czytanie | first reading: the first stage of work on a bill in the Sejm |
| skierować do komisji | to refer a bill to a Sejm committee for further work |
| odrzucić projekt | to end work on a bill without passing the act |
| uchwalić ustawę | to pass an act in a vote |
| wejść w życie | to come into force |
| założenia | an outline: a preliminary idea for changes – not yet a bill |
Projekt został skierowany do pierwszego czytania w komisjach. – passive voice: ‘został’ + participle.
Nowe przepisy jeszcze nie weszły w życie. – past tense of the verb ‘wejść’ in the plural.
How to check the status of a bill yourself
- Go to the Sejm page showing the course of the legislative process (print no. 1759 – link in the sources).
- Check the latest stage: ‘skierowano do I czytania’ (referred for first reading), ‘I czytanie’ (first reading), ‘uchwalono’ (passed).
- You will find the current text of the act in the ELI service – a change applies only after it has been published in the Journal of Laws.
The rules may change, but your Polish stays with you. Book a trial lesson – we will assess your level and plan your study for the next B1 session.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth taking B1 now if there is talk of B2?
Yes. Today the requirement is B1, and the outline with level B2 is not a bill in the Sejm. A B1 certificate meets the current requirement.
Where can I check what stage the presidential bill is at?
On the Sejm website, on the page showing the course of the legislative process for print no. 1759 – the link is in the sources.
Does the presidential bill raise the required level of Polish?
According to the Sejm description, the bill concerns extending the period of residence from 3 to 10 years; the description does not mention any change to the language level.
Is the civic knowledge test already in force?
No. The civic knowledge test appears only in the MSWiA outline, which has not been submitted to the Sejm as a bill.
Can the MPs’ bill that provided for 10 years of residence come back?
Print no. 1888 was rejected at first reading, so work on it has ended. Similar changes can only return as a new bill – as of 3 October 2026, the only bill in the Sejm is the presidential one (print no. 1759).
Sources
- Act on Polish Citizenship (Ustawa o obywatelstwie polskim), consolidated text Dz.U. 2025 item 1611 – Article 30(2) and (2a) (current law)
- Sejm of the Republic of Poland – course of the legislative process, print no. 1759 (presidential bill amending the Act on Polish Citizenship) – status on 3.10.2026
- Sejm of the Republic of Poland – course of the legislative process, print no. 1888 (MPs’ bill amending the Act on Polish Citizenship) – rejected on 9.01.2026
- Act of 25 June 2025 amending the Act on Repatriation and certain other acts, Dz.U. 2025 item 921 – most recent amendment to the Act on Polish Citizenship
- Act of 30 April 2026 amending the Act on the Polish Language and the Act on the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, Dz.U. 2026 item 676 – changes to the exam from 1.01.2027
Online B1 course with mock exams and feedback on writing and speaking. Start with a trial lesson and a level diagnosis.
See also
- B1 for citizenshipApplying for citizenship? Check which documents prove B1 and which the office will reject.Read →
- B2 examGoing to study in Polish? Check the parts of the B2 exam, the 60% threshold, sessions for adults and fees.Read →
- Exam changesWhat the amendment to the Polish Language Act changes for candidates: age groups, fees, the certificate, NAWA and exam centres.Read →