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Polish citizenship: the two routes, fees and requirements

By MałgorzataPublished Updated

There are two main routes to Polish citizenship. Grant by the President of Poland can be requested at any time by someone who never held Polish citizenship, and costs 1,669 zł at the voivodeship office. Recognition as a Polish citizen is decided by the voivode, costs 1,000 zł, and usually needs 3 years on a permanent or EU long-term resident permit and Polish at B1 level.

Short answer. Recognition has set conditions and a 6-month decision time. Grant by the President has no binding deadline. Which fits you depends on your permit and years in Poland.

Route 1: grant by the President

  • For a person who never held Polish citizenship. You may apply at any time.
  • You file the application with the voivode for your place of residence (or with a consul if you live abroad).
  • Fee: 1,669 zł when filed at a voivodeship office. Translations and certified copies cost extra.
  • Foreign documents need a translation by a sworn translator or a Polish consul. If you send the application by post, your signature must be certified by a notary or consul.
  • The President is not bound by any deadline. You receive either the act of grant or a certificate of refusal from the authority where you filed.

Route 2: recognition by the voivode

The voivode recognises you as a Polish citizen if you meet one of the conditions in the Act on Polish Citizenship (art. 30(1)). The main ones listed by the Ministry are:

  • 3 years of uninterrupted stay on a permanent residence permit, an EU long-term resident permit or a permanent right of residence, plus stable regular income and a legal title to housing.
  • 2 years of such stay if you have been married to a Polish citizen for at least 3 years, or you have no citizenship.
  • 2 years on a permanent permit obtained as a refugee in Poland.
  • 10 years of uninterrupted legal stay, with a permanent or EU long-term permit, income and housing.
  • 1 year on a permanent permit granted because of Polish origin or a Karta Polaka.
  • Special rules apply to minors.

You also need Polish at B1 level with an official certificate. The voivode may refuse if recognition would threaten defence, state security or public order.

Fee, time and appeals

  • Recognition: 1,000 zł for the decision.
  • The voivode has 6 months, which can be extended in justified cases, and checks with the police and security agencies.
  • Appeal to the Minister of the Interior and Administration within 14 days, then a complaint to the administrative court within 30 days of the Minister’s decision.

How to prepare

Most people first need a permanent or EU long-term resident permit. See permanent residence and EU long-term resident permit. Check the exact list of documents on your voivodeship office’s website.

Not legal adviceThis guide explains formalities. It is not legal advice from an attorney and does not replace the official instructions on gov.pl.

Sources

Facts checked against the official MOS portal on 25 Oct 2026. Rules and amounts change, so check the source before you act.

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