B1 Polish unlocks your long-term residence and citizenship applications — NAWA runs the only state-recognised exams.
Overview
State certification in Polish as a foreign language is administered by the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under the authority of the State Committee for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (Państwowa Komisja do spraw Poświadczania Znajomości Języka Polskiego jako Obcego). Examinations are offered at five levels: A1, A2, B1, B2 and C2 — broadly following the CEFR framework, though Poland uses a non-standard C2 rather than C1 as its top level. The B1 certificate is the threshold required for applications for the long-term EU resident permit and for recognition as a Polish citizen. There is no mandatory written citizenship knowledge test in Poland. All foreigners and Polish citizens permanently residing abroad may sit the exams. Exam sessions are typically held three times per year at authorised examination centres across Poland and, in some sessions, at Polish cultural and consular posts abroad. Verified against nawa.gov.pl and gov.pl/mswia-en as of June 2026.
Exam Levels & Immigration Milestones
| Level | CEFR Equivalent | Immigration Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | A1 — Beginner | No immigration requirement; useful for basic communication |
| A2 | A2 — Elementary | No immigration requirement |
| B1 | B1 — Intermediate | Required for EU long-term resident permit and Polish citizenship recognition |
| B2 | B2 — Upper Intermediate | Not currently an immigration threshold, but preferred by employers |
| C2 | C2 — Mastery | Highest state certification; relevant for academic/professional purposes |
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
What Polish language level is required for a long-term EU resident permit and citizenship?
A certificate confirming Polish language proficiency at B1 level (intermediate) is required for both the EU long-term resident permit application and for recognition as a Polish citizen. The certificate must be the state-issued NAWA/State Committee certification — not an internal school assessment. The B1 exam tests reading, writing, listening and speaking; all four components must be passed. There is no higher language requirement for permanent residence or citizenship, though individual circumstances are assessed by the relevant authority.
Who runs the official state Polish language exams and where are they held?
The State Committee for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language sets the exams; NAWA (National Agency for Academic Exchange) provides administrative support and issues the certificates. Exam sessions are held at authorised examination centres in Poland (including in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań and other cities) and at select Polish cultural and diplomatic posts abroad. Registration, the current exam calendar and a list of authorised centres are available at nawa.gov.pl/en/the-polish-language/certification.
Does Poland require a knowledge-of-Poland test (like the UK Life in the UK test) for citizenship?
No. Poland does not have a separate citizenship knowledge or civic test. Language proficiency confirmed at B1 level by the state certificate is the primary language-related requirement for citizenship recognition and naturalisation applications. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MSWiA) reviews the overall application, which includes length of residence, stable income and other factors, but there is no separate written Polish history or civic knowledge examination.
I completed my degree at a Polish university taught in Polish — do I still need a language certificate?
Possibly not. Completion of a degree at a Polish university with instruction in Polish is generally accepted as evidence of language proficiency by Polish authorities, and the voivodeship office or MSWiA may waive the NAWA certificate requirement in such cases. However, this is assessed on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Before applying for a long-term EU resident permit or citizenship without a NAWA certificate, confirm with the relevant voivodeship office or MSWiA that your diploma will be accepted as sufficient language evidence.
Are NAWA Polish language certificates time-limited — do they expire?
No. State certificates issued by the NAWA/State Committee do not carry an expiry date and are considered permanently valid evidence of proficiency at the tested level. This differs from some other immigration language tests (e.g., IELTS, which is valid for 2 years in many countries). A B1 certificate obtained in any prior year remains fully valid for Polish residence permit and citizenship applications, unless future legislation specifies otherwise.
Can I sit the NAWA Polish language exam outside Poland?
Yes, in some exam sessions. NAWA and the State Committee periodically authorise Polish cultural institutes and consular posts abroad to host exam sessions. The availability of overseas centres varies by session and location. Check the examination schedule published at nawa.gov.pl/en/the-polish-language/certification well in advance, as overseas sessions are fewer and fill quickly. If no overseas centre is available near you, you may need to travel to Poland to sit the exam; budget for this in your application timeline.