A quiet amendment to Poland’s Act on Administrative Fees has doubled the cost of acquiring Polish citizenship. As of 21 November, applicants pay PLN 1,669 when seeking the President’s discretionary grant and PLN 1,000 for voivode-level recognition—up from PLN 800 and PLN 600, respectively. Simultaneously, the Interior Ministry unveiled a four-pillar naturalisation model that extends the permanent-residence requirement from three to five years, raises the compulsory Polish-language exam from B1 to B2 and introduces a mandatory “loyalty declaration.”
Officials argue that stricter criteria will encourage deeper integration at a time when naturalisation applications—particularly from Ukrainians—are at record highs. Migrant-rights NGOs counter that higher fees and subjective loyalty tests could slow full inclusion just as the labour market depends on foreign talent.
![Citizenship Fees Double as Poland Toughens Naturalisation Rules]()
For employers, the change is more than symbolic. Many mobility policies reimburse citizenship fees as a retention incentive; HR departments must immediately update policy caps and warn employees who planned to file in Q4 that their budgets have effectively doubled. Legal advisers also stress meticulous document preparation—the new, higher fee is non-refundable if an application is rejected on technical grounds.
The reform brings Poland closer to Germany and the Netherlands, both of which have recently tightened naturalisation rules, signalling a broader European shift from rapid absorption toward measured long-term integration. Companies with multicultural workforces are revisiting long-term incentive plans, while relocation providers are updating FAQs and cost estimates for employees eyeing a Polish passport.
Officials argue that stricter criteria will encourage deeper integration at a time when naturalisation applications—particularly from Ukrainians—are at record highs. Migrant-rights NGOs counter that higher fees and subjective loyalty tests could slow full inclusion just as the labour market depends on foreign talent.
For employers, the change is more than symbolic. Many mobility policies reimburse citizenship fees as a retention incentive; HR departments must immediately update policy caps and warn employees who planned to file in Q4 that their budgets have effectively doubled. Legal advisers also stress meticulous document preparation—the new, higher fee is non-refundable if an application is rejected on technical grounds.
The reform brings Poland closer to Germany and the Netherlands, both of which have recently tightened naturalisation rules, signalling a broader European shift from rapid absorption toward measured long-term integration. Companies with multicultural workforces are revisiting long-term incentive plans, while relocation providers are updating FAQs and cost estimates for employees eyeing a Polish passport.
