Polish B1 for Citizenship and EU Long-Term Residence

Where you need B1 — and where you do not

Temporary and permanent residence have no language requirement. We say so plainly so you do not spend money and nerves on an exam you do not need.

Citizenship: which language document

Recognition as a Polish citizen requires official proof of Polish at B1 or higher (Opolski Urząd Wojewódzki). One of three documents:

• the state certificate (the Państwowa Komisja exam, certyfikatpolski.pl);
• a school-leaving certificate from a Polish school;
• a school-leaving certificate from a foreign school that taught in Polish.

Course certificates, ECL and TELC are not accepted for citizenship, and a szkoła policealna (post-secondary) certificate does not prove language skills (Dolnośląski UW). Only minors in specific cases are exempt.

How long you must have lived in Poland

Language is only one condition. The residence period depends on your grounds (ŚUW service card):

• 3 years of permanent residence (or EU long-term resident status), plus a stable income and a legal title to housing;
• 2 years if you have been married to a Polish citizen for at least 3 years, or are stateless;
• 2 years of permanent residence granted in connection with refugee status;
• 1 year of permanent residence granted on the basis of Polish origin or a Karta Polaka;
• 10 years of continuous legal residence, plus permanent status, income and housing.

You apply in person at the urząd wojewódzki, by appointment; the decision takes up to 6 months (Opolski UW).

EU long-term resident status

The permit is granted indefinitely to those who have lived in Poland legally and continuously for at least 5 years immediately before applying; some periods (such as studies) count at half, others not at all (Zielona Linia). A stable income and health insurance are also required.

Polish is again B1, but more documents are accepted than for citizenship (art. 211(3) of the Act on Foreigners):

• the state certificate at B1 or higher;
• ECL or TELC certificates, university certificates based on the CEFR, sworn translator credentials;
• a diploma from a Polish school or university that taught in Polish;
• a diploma from a foreign school or university that taught in Polish.

Since 27 April 2026, applications for permanent residence and EU long-term resident status are filed online only, through the MOS system; you visit the urząd when summoned, to give fingerprints and show originals (Zielona Linia: MOS). Useful words for that visit: Polish at the urząd.

What may change: the citizenship bills

Citizenship rules are under active debate. As of 12 October 2026, no change has entered into force:

• The President’s bill (print no. 1759, September 2025) — 10 years of permanent residence instead of 3; it leaves the B1 requirement unchanged (Sejm print no. 1759).
• The PiS bill — 10 years and C1. The Sejm rejected it at first reading on 9 January 2026 (Bankier.pl).
• The government (Interior Ministry) plan — 8 years of legal residence (3 temporary and 5 permanent), an exam on history and constitutional values, an act of loyalty; the October 2025 outline named Polish at B2 (money.pl), and in May 2026 the ministry spoke of a “fluent” level (Forsal). No draft has been published yet.

If citizenship is a few years away for you, aim above the minimum: B2 helps at work and in study anyway. We will update this article when the law changes.

Where to start

1. Check which document fits you. A Polish school-leaving certificate may mean you need no exam at all.
2. Check your level with our free level test.
3. Book the exam with time to spare. The certificate arrives weeks after the exam — timing and procedure.