Poland Proposes 10-Year Residency Rule for Foreigners Seeking Citizenship
Poland Considers Extending Citizenship Residency Requirement to 10 Years
Poland, currently known for having one of the most liberal citizenship policies in the EU, may soon adopt stricter rules for naturalisation. Under current law, foreign nationals can apply for Polish citizenship after just three years of legal residence. However, a new proposal backed by the opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) seeks to extend this requirement to ten years of uninterrupted residence.
According to Rzeczpospolita, the authors of the proposed amendment argue that a longer residency period is necessary to address rising immigration levels and ensure better linguistic, cultural, and legal integration of applicants. They contend that three years is insufficient for most foreigners to achieve B1-level proficiency in Polish, adapt to the country’s social and legal systems, and fully embrace Polish cultural values.
They believe a ten-year residency threshold would give future citizens the time needed to adequately prepare for full civic participation.
Citizenship Beneficiaries: Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russians Lead
Data from the Polish Ministry of Interior show that the majority of citizenship grants go to Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russians. In total:
- 3,509 Ukrainians, 3,126 Belarusians, and 440 Russians were granted citizenship historically.
- In 2024 alone, 5,533 Ukrainians, 4,096 Belarusians, and 559 Russians received Polish citizenship.
Authorities cite these growing figures and ongoing immigration pressures as key motivations for revising the law.
Legislative Timeline and Fee Increases
While the Ministry of Interior supports reform, it has indicated that work on new citizenship rules will begin only after the election of a new president.
In addition to stricter residency requirements, the government also plans to increase fees related to the submission and processing of citizenship applications, including the confirmation of citizenship status.
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