What this reform is and why it's being talked about
Poland's Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) is preparing a reform of the citizenship law — separate from the change to the Karta Polaka law itself, which we already covered in our article on the MSZ bill's 7 changes. MSWiA presented the idea on October 15, 2025, and a public debate involving the president and all parties took place on October 27, 2025. The ministry's main message: end the "automatism" of granting citizenship and actually check a candidate's integration into Polish society.
What exactly changes for Karta Polaka holders
The most important part for anyone who already holds a Karta Polaka: the minimum residency period in Poland before applying for citizenship is proposed to rise from 1 year to 3 years. Currently a KP holder gets permanent residence (stały pobyt) roughly a year after getting the card, and can apply for citizenship after just one more year of residence on that permit — it's exactly this fast track that's proposed to triple.
The reform's four pillars
For the general track of foreigners (without a Karta Polaka), the reform rests on four conditions at once.
8 years for the general track (3 years of temporary plus 5 years of permanent residence), 3 years for Karta Polaka holders, 1 year for repatriates instead of immediate citizenship today.
Around 40 questions on Polish history, constitutional values, how the state and the EU function. Held twice a year.
No lower than B2 — higher than current requirements.
Akt lojalności wobec państwa polskiego — an official oath of loyalty to the Polish state, mandatory for every candidate. The general track also mentions a Polish tax-residency requirement.
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Check your level →A separate, already-rejected proposal — don't confuse the two
Independent of the MSWiA reform, the Sejm separately considered a bill from PiS members of parliament, which proposed raising the residency period for citizenship from 3 to 10 years for all foreigners on the general track, with no separate allowance for Karta Polaka holders. The Sejm rejected that specific bill in its first reading on January 9, 2026. President Karol Nawrocki separately submitted his own bill with similar ideas to the Sejm — but the January 9 vote concerned the PiS bill, not the presidential one. Blogger videos on this topic often blend both initiatives into one story — they're different documents.
When does this take effect?
As of mid-August 2026, neither of these bills has become law. The MSWiA reform remains at the proposal stage following the October 2025 public debate — there's still no official text with article-by-article wording, and the ministry hasn't named a specific effective date.
What to do now
Until the law changes, current rules apply: a Karta Polaka holder gets permanent residence a year after getting the card, and can apply for citizenship after just one more year of residence on that permit. If you're planning to take this path soon, the reform doesn't affect you yet — but it's worth following official sources for updates, not just blogger videos.
Frequently asked questions
Is the citizenship reform for Karta Polaka holders already in effect?
No, it's still a government proposal from MSWiA following the October 2025 public debate, not a law. There's still no official bill with article-by-article wording.
How much longer will the residency period be for KP holders' citizenship applications?
The proposal would raise the minimum from 1 year to 3 years of residence on the permanent residence permit obtained through the Karta Polaka.
What is the citizenship test MSWiA is proposing?
Around 40 questions on Polish history, constitutional values, and how the state functions, held twice a year, plus a Polish language requirement of no lower than B2.
How does the MSWiA reform differ from the bill the Sejm rejected?
They're two separate initiatives. The PiS members' bill proposed 10 years for all foreigners and was rejected by the Sejm on January 9, 2026 (President Nawrocki submitted a separate, similar bill that wasn't the subject of that vote). The MSWiA reform is different, still at the proposal stage, with different numbers (3 years for KP holders, 8 years overall).
Will this reform eliminate the Karta Polaka itself?
No. This is about changing the path to citizenship for people who already hold a KP and permanent residence — nobody is eliminating the Karta Polaka program itself.