Permanent residence and Polish – do you need a B1 certificate?

Where the ‘B1 for permanent residence’ myth comes from

The myth comes from confusing three different cases, which in conversations and on forums are often simply called ‘permanent residence’. All of them concern people who want to stay in Poland long-term, but their language requirements are completely different.

• EU long-term resident – a separate permit, also ‘permanent’. Here B1 is required.
• Citizenship after permanent residence – after a few years, a person with permanent residence can apply for recognition as a Polish citizen, and then B1 is required.
• Karta Polaka – often leads to permanent residence. For the Karta Polaka itself, a basic knowledge of the language is checked, but this is not a B1 requirement.

You will find a full overview of the requirements in our guide to Polish in residence and citizenship matters.

Permanent residence, EU long-term resident and citizenship – language requirements compared

The difference is easiest to see in a table – only one of these three cases does not require any language document.

The Act on Foreigners has been amended since the consolidated text was published (Dz.U. 2025 item 1794 and Dz.U. 2026 item 203), but these amendments do not concern language. Check which documents the office accepts for EU long-term residence.

When B1 becomes necessary after permanent residence

Permanent residence is often a stage, not the goal. If you are thinking about citizenship, from the day you receive permanent residence you are also counting the time you have to get your certificate.

The time limit is particularly short for Karta Polaka holders: a year passes quickly, and you have to register for the exam at an exam centre well in advance. See which language documents the office accepts for citizenship.

Polish at the office – useful even if not required

The lack of a legal requirement does not mean you will not need Polish. At the office, Polish is the everyday language – in writing and in conversation at the counter. These phrases are worth knowing regardless of any certificate:

We have collected more official vocabulary in our guide to Polish at the office.

How to describe your situation in Polish

At an office, at a notary or at the bank, you often need to say briefly who you are and on what basis you live in Poland. It is also a good warm-up for the oral part of the B1 exam. A sample answer:

Note: od sześciu lat (genitive), najpierw… a od zeszłego roku… (order of events), pracuję jako elektryk (nominative after ‘jako’), chciałbym ubiegać się o + accusative.

Words you will find in official letters

Even without a language requirement, you will receive letters in Polish. These words appear in them most often – it is worth knowing them before your first visit to the office.

Watch the endings: złożyłem wniosek (accusative – for masculine inanimate nouns it is the same as the nominative), but nie złożyłem wniosku (after a negation – genitive). This is one of the most common mistakes in conversations at the counter.

How to plan your learning

1. Set your goal – permanent residence only, EU long-term residence or citizenship. This determines whether you need a certificate at all.
2. Check your level – a placement test or a trial lesson with a level assessment will show whether you are close to B1.
3. Choose one certificate for several cases – a state B1 certificate meets the requirement both for EU long-term residence and for citizenship.

If your goal is EU long-term residence or citizenship, book a trial lesson – we will assess your level and draw up a study plan for the exam session you choose.