Polish citizenship in 2026: how to get it
After 3 years with permanent residence, after one year with the Pole's Card, a fee of about $260, and you can keep the Russian passport. Routes, steps, costs and pitfalls.
Polish citizenship is granted by recognition through the voivode after 3 years of living in the country with permanent residence, or after just one year with the Pole's Card. You need a Polish language certificate at least at intermediate level, a stable income and housing. The fee is about $260, and you may keep your previous passport: Poland does not require giving up a previous citizenship.
For a foreigner the main difficulty is not the citizenship law but the first step: permanent residence in Poland has to be earned first, through years of lawful residence or Polish roots.
How to get Polish citizenship: two routes
| Route | Conditions | Review time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recognition as a citizen by the voivode | 3 years of continuous residence with permanent residence or EU long-term resident status, income, housing, language | 6 months by law, in Warsaw over a year in practice | ~$260 |
| Citizenship granted by the President | No formal conditions | No deadline; refusals are not explained or appealable | ~$440 |
The recognition period is shorter in two cases. Spouses of Polish citizens married for 3 years need 2 years with permanent residence. Pole's Card holders need 1 year.
The voivode route step by step
- Temporary residence through work, study, business or family.
- Permanent residence or EU long-term resident status.
- 3 years of continuous residence with that status, 2 years for spouses of citizens, 1 year with the Pole's Card.
- A Polish language certificate at least at intermediate level.
- An application to the voivode with proof of income and housing, and the recognition decision.
The Pole's Card: the shortest route for people with Polish roots
The Pole's Card is issued to people of Polish origin who know the language and traditions. It gives the right to apply for permanent residence straight away and cuts the time to citizenship to one year. Russian citizens without Polish roots get no such shortcut: the route runs through a work or study residence permit, then permanent residence, then 3 years.
A Polish language certificate is required of everyone, including Pole's Card holders. It is an official state exam, not a course certificate.
What happens to your previous passport
The 2009 Polish Citizenship Act does not require giving up a previous passport but sets a rule: a Polish citizen with another citizenship cannot invoke it before the Polish authorities. To the Polish authorities a Polish citizen is only Polish. Russia must be told about the Polish passport through the Interior Ministry within 60 days. More in our article on Poland and Russia dual citizenship.
A child with at least one parent who is a Polish citizen gets Polish citizenship at birth, wherever they are born.
How much Polish citizenship costs
- The fee for recognition as a citizen since 1 August 2025: about $260.
- The fee for citizenship granted by the President: about $440.
- The Polish language certificate, sworn translations and apostille: at the rates of the exam centre and translators.
In total, from $260 in state fees per adult for the voivode route. This excludes the exam, translations, the costs of years of living in the country and Murblz support. A manager will calculate the support fee in chat.
About $260 in fees, but years of residence are easy to reset
The law does not stop you from applying for Polish citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: long absences that reset the continuous period, a language certificate at the wrong level, undocumented income and housing, applying too early, a missed notice to the Russian Interior Ministry. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists check the route, including through the Pole's Card, count the periods, prepare documents and translations and run the application to the voivode's decision. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.
The support fee depends on the route and family size; a manager will calculate it in chat.
What may change and the pitfalls
- The 2026 bills. Proposals for 8 years of residence, a higher language level and an exam have not been passed, and the current rules apply. Those close to the deadline are better off not delaying their application.
- Breaks in residence. The period must be continuous, and long absences reset it.
- Taxes. A Polish resident pays 12% on income up to about $31,000 a year and 32% above. Russia almost entirely suspended its tax treaty with Poland in 2023; see the taxes in Poland page.
- Military service. Conscription in Poland is suspended, but citizens are on the military register, and Russian obligations remain.
Those planning to live in Poland will find our guide to buying an apartment in Poland useful.
Polish roots or the residence permit route? Tell us about your ancestors, your status in Poland and the years you have lived there. We will suggest the shortest route and check the documents before you apply.
FAQ
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