Poland is moving toward a sweeping overhaul of its citizenship law in 2025, proposing tougher rules that would dramatically lengthen the path to naturalization for most foreigners. The most far-reaching change under debate would raise the minimum residency period for standard applicants from three years to ten years, with officials signaling that a final package of reforms could be unveiled by the end of October 2025. While the reforms are not yet law, several versions are advancing through the legislative process, and supporters say the goal is to bring Polish standards closer to stricter European models.
Under the presidential bill and aligned proposals circulating in parliament and ministries, the core shift is simple and stark: a new, minimum residency requirement of ten years of uninterrupted, lawful stay for foreigners holding a permanent residence permit, EU long-term residence permit, or a permanent right of residence. A competing concept from the Ministry of Interior envisions eight years in total—three years of temporary stay followed by five years of permanent residence—but the presidential draft sets the bar at a decade.
Authorities emphasize that the longer clock would apply only to applications filed after the new law takes effect; filings submitted earlier would remain under the current three-year rule.
New conditions beyond residency
The proposals go beyond time in country and would add conditions meant to test deeper ties to Poland:
- Citizenship exam expanded: B1-level Polish language requirement remains, but the test would add integration, knowledge of Polish values, law, and history.
- Loyalty declaration: Officials have floated a formal pledge or oath to the Polish state to be signed by applicants.
- Tax residency: Proof that the applicant is tax resident in Poland would be required.
- Income and housing: Existing demands for a stable source of income and a legal title to housing would continue.
- Stricter vetting: Tougher criminal record checks, closer review of spousal relationships, and greater scrutiny of humanitarian cases.
Policy drafters say these changes respond to public concerns about large-scale immigration and aim to align with stricter standards seen in countries such as Italy and Austria.
Political context and timeline
Poland hosted an estimated 1.5 million Ukrainians in 2023, according to official estimates, fueling debate over the pace and scale of integration. The political stakes are high: Law and Justice figures and President Karol Nawrocki have pressed for stricter rules, while the government and the interior ministry work to shape a version that can pass and hold up in court.
- The Ministry of Interior plans a public debate on October 27, 2025, to gather support and keep the discussion from becoming a partisan fight.
- Officials have signaled a full package could appear by the end of October 2025.
- A critical procedural point: if adopted, the law would start 30 days after publication in the Journal of Laws. Applications filed before the effective date would be reviewed under current rules.
Important: Applications filed before the publication/30-day effective window remain under the existing three-year standard. That cut-off could determine outcomes for thousands of pending applicants.
Policy changes overview (as of October 13, 2025)
- Minimum residency: From three years now to ten years (presidential draft); eight years under the interior ministry’s alternative. The period is measured as uninterrupted lawful stay tied to permanent status or an EU long-term residence permit.
- Citizenship test expanded: B1 language level retained; additional testing of integration, values, law, and history.
- Loyalty declaration: Formal pledge to the Polish state proposed.
- Tax residency: Applicants must show they are tax resident in Poland.
- Income and housing: Proof of stable income and legal housing title continues to be required.
- Stricter vetting: Tighter criminal record checks; stronger verification of genuine marriages; increased scrutiny of humanitarian/special cases.
Special categories and exceptions:
- Ethnic Poles (including Pole’s Card holders and repatriants) would keep shorter tracks.
- Spouses of Polish citizens would still need at least three years of marriage and two years of legal residence; the timeline remains unchanged but vetting would be stricter to prevent fraud.
- Refugees would see their residency clock extended from two to four years in 2025.
Impact on applicants
The shift to a ten-year minimum residency would create a major barrier for many foreign residents:
- Recent arrivals and many non-EU nationals would face long delays before eligibility.
- Families planning to apply within a year may need to reset timelines by several years.
- Students hoping to convert study time into permanent status and then citizenship will likely need to plan for a longer path.
- Skilled workers on temporary permits may encounter extended routes to permanence and naturalization.
Refugees would have to wait four years (up from two) before applying—doubling the wait for this vulnerable group, though still shorter than the standard track.
Spouses of Polish citizens retain the existing residency timeline, but expect more document requests and interviews due to tougher relationship vetting.
Ethnic Poles and Pole’s Card holders would continue to benefit from faster routes, reflecting Polish diaspora reconnection policy.
Practical implications and preparations
Officials argue tax residency and a loyalty declaration better link citizenship to real-life participation in Poland—paying taxes, civic engagement, and shared values. Critics counter these steps could disadvantage:
- Low-income workers
- Long-term residents who split time across borders
- Those who struggle with a values-based assessment even if they speak Polish and contribute economically
Key procedural rules for applicants:
- The law applies only after it is published and then after 30 days.
- Any application filed before that date remains under the old three-year framework.
Because of these rules, lawyers and migrant groups urge eligible residents to gather documents and apply now rather than wait. Many applicants need months to collect language certificates, tax proofs, housing documents, and secure appointments.
Suggested documents applicants should prepare:
- B1 Polish language certificate
- Tax residency certificates
- Employment records and proof of stable income
- Housing deeds or leases
- Criminal record statements
- For spouses: shared bills, leases, photographs, and other proofs of a genuine relationship
- For humanitarian applicants: detailed personal documentation and case files
Wider effects
Employers and local governments may experience ripple effects:
- Longer paths to citizenship can slow long-term settlement and impact workforce stability.
- Integration programs and city services may see higher demand for language and civic courses if the exam broadens.
- Nonprofits assisting refugees and family applicants will likely need to adjust counseling and timelines.
Negotiations between the presidency, parliament, and the interior ministry will determine whether the final residency requirement is eight or ten years, and how broad the new test and loyalty pledge will be.
Where to follow official updates
Readers seeking official updates can follow notices on the Ministry of Interior and Administration: https://www.gov.pl/web/mswia.
The ministry has said it will host a public debate on October 27, 2025, to build broad support. VisaVerge.com reports that a full package could appear by the end of October, suggesting lawmakers may push for rapid adoption.
Bottom line
If adopted largely as drafted, the reform would be one of the most consequential shifts in Poland’s citizenship system in years. Moving to a ten-year minimum residency (or even eight years) would:
- Reset timelines for naturalization
- Reshape planning for families, workers, and institutions
- Put more weight on integration, tax ties, and civic values
Supporters view it as protecting the meaning of citizenship. Critics see a barrier that could leave long-term residents in limbo. The final law’s shape and timing will decide which vision prevails—and how many people can still file under the existing three-year standard before the window closes.
This Article in a Nutshell
Poland is moving toward significant changes in its citizenship law that would substantially lengthen the residency requirement for naturalization. The presidential draft sets a new minimum of ten years of uninterrupted lawful stay for holders of permanent or EU long-term residence; the interior ministry favors an eight-year pathway (three years temporary plus five years permanent). Reforms—expected as a package by late October 2025 and applied to filings after the law’s effective date—would also expand the citizenship exam to test integration and Polish values, require tax residency and a loyalty declaration, and tighten background checks. Special tracks would remain for ethnic Poles, spouses of Polish citizens retain a three-year marriage and two-year residence rule albeit with stricter vetting, and refugees’ residency clocks could rise from two to four years. The changes would delay naturalization for many, prompting lawyers and migrant groups to advise eligible applicants to file under current rules before the transition.
