Karta Polaka vs the B1 certificate — what's actually required
5 min read
Karta Polaka and the B1 certificate are two completely different things. Karta Polaka confirms your Polish ancestry and belonging to the Polish nation, and it is granted after an interview at the consulate — no B1 certificate is required. The state certificate exam (egzamin certyfikatowy), by contrast, is required for citizenship by recognition (uznanie za obywatela) and for the EU long-term resident permit (colloquially karta stałego pobytu). Mixing these up is one of the most common mistakes people make — so let's separate them properly.
Karta Polaka — what it is and what it requires
Karta Polaka is a document confirming Polish ancestry and a connection to Polish identity. A consul decides whether to grant it, and your Polish is assessed in a conversation with the consul — basic command of the language plus knowledge of Polish traditions and customs.
The key point: this is not a certificate exam, and no B1 certificate is needed for it. There are no modules, no points, no 50% threshold.
Karta Polaka can, however, be a basis for applying for permanent residence (pobyt stały) — and that's where the second misunderstanding begins, because permanent residence requires no language exam at all.
When the B1 certificate IS required
The state certificate exam in Polish as a foreign language is required in two situations:
- Citizenship by recognition (uznanie za obywatela, decided by the voivode) — Art. 30(2) of the Act on Polish Citizenship requires an official confirmation (urzędowe poświadczenie) of Polish at at least B1. That means the state certificate, or a school-leaving certificate from a school in Poland or abroad where Polish was the language of instruction.
- EU long-term resident permit (colloquially karta stałego pobytu) — requires Polish at at least B1 (Art. 211 of the Act on Foreigners; only people under 16 are exempt).
When the B1 certificate is NOT required
- Karta Polaka — a consular interview, no certificate.
- Permanent residence (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) — the Act on Foreigners imposes no language-certificate requirement here. Eligibility runs on other grounds: Polish origin, Karta Polaka, marriage, refugee status, and so on. This is the most confused pair of all: in everyday speech karta stałego pobytu usually means the EU long-term resident permit (where B1 is required), not pobyt stały (where it isn't).
- Citizenship granted by the President (nadanie) — a discretionary act; the statute sets no formal certificate requirement.
Comparison — what needs what
| Goal | Language exam required? | What is accepted |
|---|---|---|
| Karta Polaka | No — consular interview | Polish ancestry + knowledge of Polish traditions, assessed at the consulate |
| Permanent residence (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) | No | No language requirement — other grounds (Karta Polaka, ancestry, marriage) |
| EU long-term resident (karta stałego pobytu) | Yes — B1 | State certificate, telc, ECL, plus qualifying Polish school/university diplomas |
| Citizenship by recognition (uznanie za obywatela) | Yes — B1 | Only the state certificate or a school-leaving certificate from a Polish-medium school — telc is not accepted |
| Citizenship granted by the President | No (no formal requirement) | Presidential discretion |
telc does not work for citizenship
This is the most expensive mistake you can make here. Since 24 June 2023 (Act of 9 March 2023, Dz.U. 2023 poz. 547, and the MSWiA regulation of 31 May 2023, Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1076), the list of certificates accepted for the EU long-term resident permit includes the state certificate, telc and ECL.
But that list does not apply to citizenship (uznanie za obywatela) — the Citizenship Act requires an urzędowe poświadczenie, and telc is not one. So if you're considering citizenship now, or might ever pursue it, take the state exam. Passed once, it covers both goals.
Who is exempt from the exam
A school-leaving certificate from a school in Poland or abroad where Polish was the language of instruction replaces the certificate — including in citizenship cases.
An important tightening: since 1 July 2025, certificates from szkoły policealne (post-secondary schools) are no longer accepted in citizenship cases, with a transition window for certificates issued by 30 June 2025. If your exemption rested on exactly that kind of certificate, check your situation with the office before you file.
What to do about it
- If you want Karta Polaka — prepare for the consular conversation, not for the certificate exam. (Learning Polish will help you either way — you can start with our beginner course.)
- If you're aiming for citizenship or the EU long-term resident permit — you need B1. See what the B1 exam looks like, how much it costs and where to take it, then practise on our free sample exam tests.
- A full walkthrough of residence and citizenship requirements: the B1 exam, citizenship and residence. Short answers to common questions: FAQ.
Legal basis: Art. 30(2) of the Act on Polish Citizenship, Art. 211 of the Act on Foreigners, Dz.U. 2023 poz. 547 and Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1076 (ISAP). Polish immigration law is actively changing — this is not legal advice. Always confirm which exact document the voivodeship office handling your case will accept, and check exam details on certyfikatpolski.pl.