Polish language requirements for residence and citizenship — what changed in 2026
If you plan to stay in Poland for good, at some point an office will ask you to prove your Polish. Since 30 June 2026 the rules are stricter: post-secondary school certificates are no longer accepted, and for most people the state B1 certificate exam is now the only realistic route. Here is exactly which permit requires what — explained by a state-exam examiner.
The short answer
The EU long-term resident permit and Polish citizenship by recognition require documented Polish at B1 level or higher. Since 1 July 2025 post-secondary school (szkoła policealna) certificates are not accepted in new applications, and after 30 June 2026 they are not accepted at all. The document that works in every procedure is the state certificate in Polish as a foreign language, level B1 — obtained by passing the state exam.
Which permit actually requires Polish?
People say "permanent residence" about two different permits — and only one of them has a language requirement. Check which one applies to you:
| Procedure | Polish language requirement |
|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy) | none |
| Permanent residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) — e.g. Karta Polaka, Polish roots, marriage | none |
| EU long-term resident permit (pobyt rezydenta długoterminowego UE) — the standard route after 5 years of residence | documented Polish, minimum B1 |
| Polish citizenship by recognition (uznanie za obywatela) | documented Polish, minimum B1 |
Most foreigners who settle in Poland through work go down the EU long-term resident route — which means the language requirement applies to them.
What changed — the timeline
- 24 June 2023 — the catalogue of accepted documents for the EU long-term resident permit was extended: besides the state certificate, TELC and ECL certificates and university confirmations became acceptable.
- 1 July 2025 — certificates of completing a post-secondary school (szkoła policealna) stopped being accepted in new applications. This closed a popular workaround: enrolling in a post-secondary school mainly to obtain a language-proof document.
- 30 June 2026 — the transition period ended. Post-secondary school certificates are no longer accepted in any proceedings, including those already in progress.
Which documents count now?
For the EU long-term resident permit
- the state certificate in Polish as a foreign language, minimum level B1, issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language;
- a TELC or ECL certificate, minimum level B1;
- a confirmation issued by a university after completing courses of Polish as a foreign language;
- a diploma of a school or university with Polish as the language of instruction (in Poland or abroad) — with the post-secondary school exception described above.
For citizenship by recognition — the list is shorter
- the state certificate, minimum level B1, or
- a certificate of completing a school in Poland, or a school abroad with Polish as the language of instruction.
Important: TELC and ECL are not accepted for citizenship by recognition. If citizenship is your long-term goal, take the state exam — it is the one document that works in both procedures. Always confirm the current document list with your voivodeship office before applying.
Citizenship rules may get stricter
A reform of the citizenship law is being discussed publicly: proposals include raising the language requirement to B2, adding a test on Polish history and culture, and extending the required residence period. None of this is law yet — but it is a strong argument for not postponing the exam. Candidates who obtain the B1 certificate under the current rules will have their document in hand.
What this means in practice
If your residence in Poland is heading towards the EU long-term resident permit or citizenship, the state B1 exam is now a fixed point on that road. Two things are worth knowing before you start:
- The exam has five components — listening, reading, grammar, writing and speaking — and you need at least 50% in each of them separately. Preparation has to cover all five, not only speaking.
- Places sell out fast. You register directly with an exam centre, and in popular cities registration can close within hours. The next sessions: 17–18 October 2026 (registration from 17 August) and 5–6 December 2026 (registration from 5 October). In 2027 the first session is 6–7 February.
The full exam format, fees and examiner's tips are in the complete B1 exam guide.
Prepare for B1 with a state examiner
I am a state-exam examiner and a member of the certifying committees — I know exactly what the exam requires. We build a realistic plan up to your exam date and train every component above the 50% threshold. The first lesson is free.
Book a free trial lessonFrequently asked questions
Do I need a language certificate for the permanent residence permit (karta stałego pobytu)?
No — the permanent residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) has no language requirement. The B1 requirement applies to the EU long-term resident permit and to citizenship by recognition.
Can I still use a school certificate?
Diplomas of schools and universities with Polish as the language of instruction still count. The exception is post-secondary schools (szkoły policealne): since 30 June 2026 their certificates are not accepted in these proceedings at all.
Are TELC or ECL certificates enough?
For the EU long-term resident permit — yes, at minimum B1. For citizenship by recognition — no; there you need the state certificate or a Polish-language school diploma.
How fast can I get the state B1 certificate?
The next exam sessions are 17–18 October and 5–6 December 2026. How much preparation you need depends on your level — after a free consultation I'll tell you honestly which session is realistic for you.