A new record of 16,342 foreign nationals received Polish citizenship; about half of the recipients were Ukrainian – Notes from Poland reported.
This was the highest growth rate in over a decade, with a 37 percent increase from the previous year. The same figure was 2,794 in 2012.
In recent years, the annual number of foreigners obtaining Polish citizenship has increased consistently, more than quadrupling since 2012. Poland has encountered unprecedented immigration rates during this period.
The interior ministry of Poland reported that 8,219 Ukrainians were granted citizenship, rendering them the largest immigrant group. Belarusians (5,666) made the second largest group, with Russians (726), Vietnamese (371), Bolivians (171), Armenians (147), and Turks (95) following in that order.
The number of Israelis who applied for Polish citizenship based on their family’s origin increased from approximately 2,500 in 2021 to over 9,000 in 2024.
How to Obtain Polish Citizenship?
There are two primary methods by which foreigners who are not eligible for citizenship due to their Polish descent can obtain it.
The most prevalent method is to submit an application to the governor of the province in which they reside. This necessitates that applicants exhibit secure income, housing, and Polish language proficiency, in addition to satisfying the minimum residency requirement.
For the majority of applicants, the duration of permanent, continuous residence is three years; however, this figure may be lower in certain circumstances, such as for spouses of Polish citizens. Recently, Karol Nawrocki, the new president of Poland, submitted a bill that would extend the period to ten years.
The second alternative is to submit an application for citizenship directly to the president. There is no requirement for a specific duration of residency for this route; the president’s decision is entirely discretionary. However, applicants are required to provide evidence of their connections to the country, as well as their personal histories and the reasons for their desire to become a citizen.
Vladimir Semirunniy, a former Russian speed skating champion, is a recent example of an individual who has taken this route. He escaped to Poland following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Nawrocki granted him citizenship this week, which enables him to represent Poland at the Winter Olympics.
Another famous applicant who was granted citizenship is Hollywood star Jesse Eisenberg, whose ancestors were Polish Jews.
In 2024, the presidential route granted 1,514 citizenships, while 14,828 citizenships were granted through applications to provincial governors during the tenure of Nawrocki’s predecessor, Andrzej Duda.
What’s Behind in the Large Increase?
Poland was for a long time a country of emigration, with Poles heading west in search of better opportunities. But over the last decade, the country’s booming economy has been attracting foreigners to Poland. Moreover, the Polish passport, as an EU document, also makes it easier to live, work and study across the bloc.
According to last year’s data, around 1.13 million foreigners registered for social insurance. The number of foreign workers registered has risen around six-fold since 2015, when it stood at less than 200,000.
