Close to 20,000 people applied for Polish citizenship in 2025. Well, if Poland’s government has its way, it will mean at the very least demonstrating loyalty to the Polish state and knowing that one shouldn’t bribe a police officer to get out of a traffic fine. That is thanks to new legislation being considered by the government that would impose additional conditions on migrants in the country looking to naturalize as Polish citizens. Poland’s Interior Ministry announced last year that it is working to tighten the process to obtain Polish nationality, including by raising language proficiency requirements and introducing a new citizenship exam. The proposals are part of moves by Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, to implement a tougher immigration policy; reflecting a broader trend among Europe’s centrist parties looking to hold onto voters increasingly attracted by the anti-migrant rhetoric of the far-right. ‘Four pillars’ of Polishness The Interior Ministry has said that its new system would consider applicants based on “four pillars” – the length of a person’s stay in Poland, their tax residence status, a citizenship exam and their “loyalty to the Polish state.” The proposed test would likely be similar to ones in place in countries like Germany and the UK, which are designed to ensure that new citizens can demonstrate basic knowledge of the fundamental values, history, politics and culture of the country they are becoming part of. One potential – and rather unconventional – example question given by the ministry was: “Is it customary to give small amounts of money to police officers to avoid receiving a fine for an offense, such as for speeding?” In apparent contrast to Germany and the UK, however, which use multiple-choice-style questions on their citizenship exams, the Polish Interior Ministry said in October that its version would “also include open-ended questions” on topics including “basic values and principles of Polish social life.” When asked about what these questions could look like, the ministry told TVP World that it is “too early” to discuss specific details because the draft law is still undergoing consultations, adding: “the format of the exam and the types of questions may change.” ‘Exploitation of Polish citizenship’ In what is perhaps an indication of the current administration’s close ties with Brussels, however, the ministry said that the test would “confirm that a future citizen understands and accepts the foundations” of not just Poland, but the EU as well. As the strength of the Polish passport continues to rise, that burgundy-colored booklet looks increasingly enticing to people who would enjoy a gateway to the EU’s 27 member states and visa-free access to more than 180 countries around the world – a figure which makes the Polish passport the sixth strongest globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index rankings. The Ministry seems to agree with this sentiment, telling TVP World that “the new regulations are intended to… effectively counteract the exploitation of Polish citizenship solely as a tool for easily obtaining an EU passport and legalizing residence within its territory. “The obligation to submit a loyalty certificate and the requirement of tax residency guarantee that the candidate’s life and economic interests are solely with Poland,” it added. What does the system look like now? Many countries across the continent – such as Germany, France and the UK – require most migrants to be legally resident for at least five or six years before they can apply to naturalize as a citizen. In Poland, that stipulation is three years for most applicants – less in certain cases, such as for refugees or people who have been married to a Pole for at least three years. However, some argue that the three-year condition does not provide the full picture, as most migrants have to live in Poland for several years in order to receive permanent residence status in the first place. A non-Polish EU citizen, for example, can acquire the right of permanent residence in Poland only after living in the country legally for five years, after which the three-year countdown to citizenship eligibility begins – meaning the total residency commitment can be at least eight years. The Interior Ministry told TVP World that it wants to officially extend the legal residence threshold to eight years – three years of temporary residence and five years of permanent residence. It argues that this “will allow for a reliable assessment of the candidate’s attitude” with regard to ties to Poland. Current language requirements for people wishing to naturalize as Polish citizens are comparable to many other European countries, with applicants needing to prove that they can speak Polish to the equivalent of a B1 level – or lower intermediate – on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. However, changes being considered by the Polish government could see language requirements raised to an upper intermediate B2 level – which would make Poland’s language requirements for new prospective citizens among the strictest in Europe. When asked for comment on the matter, the Ministry told TVP World that it is working toward the “elimination of communication barriers”, adding that tightening language requirements to the “level of proficiency” is “essential for full functioning in society.” The cost of applying for citizenship is lower in Poland than in many other European countries, at 1,000 złoty in most cases (€235). Prior to changes implemented in August last year, the cost was even lower at just €51. In contrast, applying for citizenship in Germany costs €255. In Ireland the process for most people costs €1,125, while becoming British would set you back a whopping £1,839 (€2,127). Warsaw has not indicated, however, whether it plans to change its pricing as part of its tightening of the naturalization process. ‘Mistakes of the past’ The Ministry told TVP World that it wants to put an end to what it calls “automatism” and instead create a new model that “genuinely integrates foreigners into Polish society, but only after meeting rigorous criteria.” “This protects us from the mistakes made in the past by other countries… The Ministry is preparing a package of legislative changes to ensure that Polish passports are granted to individuals associated with our culture and state.” Warsaw’s desire to change citizenship legislation is rooted in a shift in the position the country holds on the international stage. Poland is a far cry from the struggling, ‘second world’ state it was under communist rule and in the years immediately following the collapse of communism. In the more than two decades since it joined the EU, Poland has grown into one of the economic powerhouses of Europe. Gone are the days of mass Polish emigration, with many Poles returning home from abroad and foreigners being increasingly attracted to the opportunities in Poland. “For several years now, the number of foreigners acquiring Polish citizenship in Poland has been growing, a direct result of our country’s growing economic and social attractiveness,” the Interior Ministry told TVP World. Number of new Poles climbs According to data provided by the ministry, the number of applicants for Polish citizenship has increased rapidly in recent years. In 2022, the number of naturalized citizens exceeded 10,000 for the first time in the country’s history. That number nearly doubled just three years later, reaching close to 20,000 people in 2025. With the prospective number of new Poles continuing to climb, discussions on Polish citizenship naturalization are likely to continue. The Polish government and President Karol Nawrocki each have their own ideas on how to change the system, with the conservative head of state putting forth proposals for even stricter measures than the administration of centrist Tusk. While it is not yet clear exactly what Warsaw will ask of people who want to become Polish in the future, what is clear is that, as the desire to join the Polish family grows, so too will the bar be raised.