Getting a Polish passport will become more difficult. The largest parties in Parliament agree on the changes.
Not three, but ten years of uninterrupted residence in Poland — the Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość) wants to tighten the conditions for obtaining Polish citizenship. The government supports the idea as well, reports the newspaper Rzeczpospolita.
Poland currently has some of the most liberal laws regarding the granting of citizenship. "It is enough for a foreigner to have lived in Poland for three years to be eligible to apply for a Polish passport. Meanwhile, the Polish government wants to raise the requirements for foreigners – in line with the standards of other European countries," the daily writes. "This means extending the minimum period of uninterrupted residence in Poland from three to ten years," it adds.
Polish citizenship can be granted through two procedures. The first is recognition as a Polish citizen – this is handled by the voivode (provincial governor). The second procedure is the granting of citizenship by the President of Poland, who is not limited by any specific criteria. Thus, even a foreigner who has never lived in Poland can receive citizenship.
The Ministry of the Interior and Administration is planning to work on the new conditions for Polish citizenship. They will begin work on tightening the law after the presidential election (June 1, 2025). "We want to consult the changes with the new president, as granting citizenship is one of their prerogatives," explains Prof. Maciej Duszczyk, Deputy Minister of the Interior.
A government bill on repatriation, which also includes changes to citizenship rules, is set to be voted on in the Polish parliament. The bill aims to combat abuses, but it also increases the budget for bringing repatriate families to Poland. It introduces new, higher fees for submitting applications for recognition or granting of citizenship: 1,669 PLN. "Currently, an application for citizenship granted by the president is free of charge," emphasizes Deputy Minister Duszczyk. The fee for confirmation of citizenship will also rise from 58 PLN to 277 PLN.
The government wants to reform the rules regarding citizenship and present them in autumn 2025. "We are aware that Poland has become a country of immigration, and the new law will reflect that," adds Deputy Minister Duszczyk.
Contact us as soon as possible to take advantage of the current simplified regulations before they are tightened by the Polish government.
