Polish citizenship in 2025: all paths for foreigners

Obtaining a Polish passport opens doors to all EU countries, gives the right to live and work anywhere in Europe. Over the past 5 years, more than 50,000 foreigners have received Polish citizenship, and this number grows every year. Let’s analyze all legal ways to become a Polish citizen in 2025.

7 ways to obtain Polish citizenship

Polish law provides several paths to citizenship. Each has its own requirements, timelines and difficulties. Here are all possible options:

1. Naturalization (based on residence time)

Main requirement: 3 years of continuous legal residence

For whom: most foreigners with residence cards

Processing time: 12-24 months

Success rate: 75% approvals

2. Recognition as a citizen (uznanie za obywatela)

Requirement: proof of Polish origin

For whom: descendants of Poles

Timeline: 6-12 months

Success rate: 90% with documents

3. President’s decision (nadanie obywatelstwa)

Requirement: special merits or Poland’s interest

For whom: outstanding personalities, investors

Timeline: 6-18 months

Success rate: individual

4. Repatriation

Requirement: Polish roots + residence in former USSR countries

For whom: ethnic Poles from CIS

Timeline: citizenship immediately upon arrival

Success rate: 100% when conditions met

5. Through Polish Card

Requirement: one year of residence with Polish Card

For whom: Polish Card holders

Timeline: 3-6 months after one year of residence

Success rate: 95%

6. Restoration of citizenship

Requirement: loss of Polish citizenship in the past

For whom: former citizens and their descendants

Timeline: 6-12 months

Success rate: high with documents

7. By birth

Automatically: if at least one parent is a Polish citizen

Or: birth on Polish territory if parents are stateless

From our practice: in 2024, 60% of our clients obtained Polish citizenship through naturalization, 25% – through Polish Card, 15% – through recognition as a citizen.

Naturalization – the main path for most

This is the most popular way to obtain Polish citizenship for those without Polish roots. Let’s analyze all requirements for 2025 in detail.

Basic conditions for naturalization

1. Residence period – minimum 3 years

According to Art. 20 of the Citizenship Act, you need to live in Poland:

• 3 years continuously based on permanent residence card or EU resident card
• 2 years – if married to a Pole for at least 3 years
• 2 years – for refugees with uchodźca status
• 1 year – with Polish Card
• 10 years – on any legal basis (including temporary cards)

Important nuance: departures from Poland up to 6 months per year don’t interrupt the period. A client from Belarus worked on rotation 3 months in Poland, 1 month at home – the period counted.

2. Stable income

Minimum 4242 PLN net per person (2025). For a family of 3 – 12,726 PLN combined income. Counted:

• Salary from employment contract or civil contract
• Business income (JDG, company)
• Pension, scholarship, alimony
• Real estate income

3. Housing in Poland

Need legal title to accommodation:

• Ownership (ownership deed)
• Rental agreement (umowa najmu)
• Right to live with a relative

4. Polish language knowledge

Minimum level B1 confirmed by certificate. Where to take exam:

• State Commission (official exam) – 420 PLN
• Universities with certification rights – 300-500 PLN
• Polish certificate or diploma – automatically accepted

Real case: programmer from India lived in Poland 5 years but failed B1 exam three times. Hired a tutor for 2000 PLN, passed on fourth attempt.

5. No criminal record

They check Polish and foreign criminal records. Minor fines don’t count, but criminal cases are an obstacle. Criminal record expiry period in Poland – from 3 to 15 years depending on severity.

Documents for naturalization

Complete package in 2025:

Recognition as a citizen – for those with Polish roots

If you have Polish ancestors, the path to citizenship can be significantly simpler and faster. This method doesn’t require long residence in Poland.

Who can apply

By law, you can be recognized as a Pole if:

• At least one parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was Polish
• You can document this
• You know Polish at B1 level
• You have connection with Polish culture

Important: Polish origin must be in direct line. Uncles, aunts, cousins don’t count.

Documents proving Polish origin

From our clients’ experience, suitable documents:

• Polish documents of ancestors: passports, birth certificates before 1939
• Military documents: Polish Army books, AK documents
• Church records: metrics from churches in Second Republic territory
• School documents: certificates from Polish schools and gymnasiums
• Repression documents: certificates of deportation, exile as a Pole

Real story: client from Ukraine found her great-grandmother’s 1895 birth record in Lviv archive, showing nationality as “polka”. This was enough for recognition as a citizen.

Where to search for documents

Archives where you can find confirmations:

• Archive of New Files in Warsaw – documents from 1918
• Voivodeship archives – local documents
• USC (Civil Registry Office) – civil status acts
• Church archives – parish books
• Szukajwarchiwach.pl – online database of Polish archives
• Familysearch.org – international database

Archive search costs: from 50 PLN for certificate in Polish archive to 500 euros for professional genealogical research.

Recognition procedure

Step 1: Collect proof of origin

Step 2: Pass B1 exam (or present Polish diploma)

Step 3: Submit documents to voivodeship office at place of residence

Step 4: Wait 6-12 months

Step 5: Receive voivode’s decision

Step 6: Take oath and receive citizenship

Citizenship for Ukrainians: specifics and benefits

Ukrainians are the largest group of foreigners in Poland (over 1.5 million people). They have special conditions and facilitations when obtaining citizenship.

Benefits for Ukrainian citizens

1. Visa-free regime

Can stay in Poland 90 days without visa. This simplifies first arrival and job search. Visa-free time counts toward naturalization period.

2. Simplified employment

Declaration allows working 6 months without work permit. During this time you can apply for residence card.

3. Polish Card for Ukrainians

Many Ukrainians qualify for Polish Card due to historical ties. Especially residents of western regions. With Polish Card, Polish citizenship for Ukrainians can be obtained after 1 year of residence instead of 3 years.

4. Special law for refugees

Since 2022, Ukrainians with UKR status (temporary protection) can apply for citizenship after 3 years. The UKR time fully counts.

Statistics for Ukrainians

Data for 2024:

• Citizenship applications submitted: 18,500
• Approved: 14,200 (77%)
• Average processing time: 14 months
• Main method: naturalization (65%), Polish Card (25%), recognition (10%)

Typical Ukrainian’s path to Polish passport

Real case of our client from Kyiv:

1. 2019: Arrived visa-free, found IT job
2. 2019: Received one-year residence card
3. 2020: Extended card for 3 years
4. 2022: Applied for permanent residence card
5. 2023: Received permanent residence
6. 2024: Passed B1 exam, applied for citizenship
7. 2025: Awaiting decision (forecast – spring 2025)

Total time from arrival to citizenship: 6 years. With Polish Card would be 4 years.

Common problems for Ukrainians when applying

From Progress Holding’s practice:

• Military booklet – men often required military registration documents
• Criminal record from Ukraine – now issued only in Diia, needs apostille
• Confirmation of Ukrainian citizenship renunciation – Poland allows dual, but may ask about intentions
• Document translation – only sworn translator, regular won’t work

Repatriation and Polish Card

Two special paths for ethnic Poles and their descendants from former USSR countries.

Polish Card – fast track to citizenship

What Polish Card gives:

• Free long-term visa
• Right to work without permit
• Free education
• Free medical care (emergencies)
• Citizenship after 1 year of legal residence

Who can get:

• Descendants of Poles (up to 4th generation)
• Members of Polish organizations (minimum 3 years)
• People actively promoting Polish culture

Where to get:

At Polish consulate in country of residence. Language and culture exam mandatory. Questions like: “Who wrote ‘Pan Tadeusz’?”, “When is Poland’s Independence Day?”.

Tip from clients: prepare with book “Polish History and Culture for Polish Card Holders”. Sold in Polish bookstores for 40-60 PLN.

Repatriation – immediate citizenship

The fastest way – you become a citizen the moment you cross the border!

Repatriation conditions:

• Polish origin (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents)
• Permanent residence in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan or Asian part of Russia
• Polish language knowledge
• Never had Polish citizenship before

What the state provides:

• Moving expenses (tickets, luggage)
• One-time assistance: 4000 PLN per adult, 2000 PLN per child
• Adaptation assistance: 900 PLN/month for 9 months
• Free Polish courses
• Help finding housing and work

Real example: family from Kazakhstan (descendants of those deported in 1936) received repatriation visa in 2024. Upon arrival in Warsaw immediately received passports and 12,000 PLN assistance for family of 3.

Through marriage to a Polish citizen

Marriage to a Pole doesn’t give automatic right to citizenship, but significantly simplifies the process.

Conditions for citizenship through marriage

Requirements according to Art. 20 p. 2 of Citizenship Act:

• Minimum 3 years married
• Minimum 2 years residence in Poland with residence card
• Valid marriage at time of application
• Language knowledge at B1 level
• Stable family income

Important: fake marriage is a criminal offense. Fine up to 10,000 PLN or imprisonment up to 3 years. Voivodeship checks: joint residence, joint budget, photos, neighbors’ testimonies.

Marriage verification procedure

What authorities check:

• Joint registration (meldunek)
• Joint bank accounts
• Joint photos from different periods
• Knowledge of spouse details (may interview separately)
• Testimonies of relatives and friends

Story from practice: couple from Russia and Poland lived separately due to work in different cities. Voivodeship refused citizenship. After appeal and presenting train tickets (traveled to each other every weekend) – decision reversed.

Divorce after obtaining citizenship

Common question: can you divorce immediately after receiving passport? Legally – yes, citizenship won’t be taken away. But if they prove marriage was fake from beginning – can annul decision within 10 years.

Document submission procedure and timelines

Regardless of method, submission procedure is similar. Let’s analyze step by step.

Where to submit documents

Depending on procedure:

• Naturalization and recognition – voivodeship office at place of residence
• President’s decision – President’s Chancellery, Warsaw
• Repatriation – Polish consulate in country of residence
• Through Polish Card – voivodeship office

Processing stages

1. Document submission (day 0)

Book appointment through voivodeship booking system. In Warsaw wait 2-3 months, in small cities – 2 weeks.

2. Formal verification (1-2 months)

Check document completeness. May ask to provide missing items.

3. Substantive verification (6-12 months)

Queries to various agencies: police, tax office, ZUS, ABW (security service). Longest stage.

4. Voivode’s decision (12-18 months)

Voivode makes decision based on collected information.

5. Oath (1-2 months after approval)

Ceremonial event at voivodeship. Oath text:

“I swear to be faithful to the Republic of Poland, guard its honor, protect its good name, observe the law, fulfill civic duties.”

6. Receiving documents (2-4 weeks after oath)

Issue citizenship certificate. With it you get passport.

Real timelines in different voivodeships

Total procedure cost

Complete citizenship expenses:

• State fee: 219 PLN
• B1 exam: 420 PLN
• Document translations: 500-1000 PLN
• Certificates: 100-300 PLN
• Photos: 25 PLN
• Passport after obtaining: 140 PLN
• TOTAL: 1400-2100 PLN

FAQ: answers to common questions

Can you have dual citizenship?

Yes, Poland allows dual citizenship. You don’t have to renounce your previous one. But check your country’s laws – for example, Ukraine formally doesn’t recognize dual citizenship, though doesn’t punish for it.

What to do if refused?

You have 14 days to appeal to voivode, then 30 days to complain to administrative court (WSA). Appeal success rate – about 25%. Main refusal reasons: insufficient income, legal problems, fake documents.

Do you need to serve in the army after obtaining citizenship?

Poland has no mandatory military service since 2009. But men 18-55 automatically go on military register. In case of mobilization (which hasn’t happened since 1945) may be called.

Can the process be accelerated?

Legally – no. Any offers to “speed up for money” are fraud. Only way – submit reminder (ponaglenie) if deadlines exceeded by 3+ months.

Do you lose Polish citizenship when obtaining another?

No, Poland doesn’t revoke citizenship when obtaining another passport. You can only lose Polish citizenship through your own declaration of renunciation.

Do children get citizenship automatically?

Children under 18 are included in parent’s application and receive citizenship with them. Children over 16 must give written consent. After 18 – apply independently.