A Polish B1 certificate without the exam: when a school certificate will do
Published 29 October 2026
There is no B1 certificate without the exam, but in two cases another document stands in for it. To be recognised as a Polish citizen, a certificate from a school in Poland or a school abroad taught in Polish is enough. For the EU long-term resident's permit, such a certificate or a degree taught in Polish. A certificate from a szkoła policealna (post-secondary school) counts in neither.
In short
- Citizenship (recognition by the voivode): the state certificate at B1 or above, or a certificate from a school in Poland or a school abroad taught in Polish.
- EU long-term resident: a B1 certificate from the minister's list, a school certificate or a degree taught in Polish; children under 16 need nothing.
- Karta Polaka: no certificate — the consul or voivode checks basic Polish in a conversation.
What replaces the certificate in each case?
| Case | What replaces the certificate | Who is exempt |
|---|---|---|
| Recognition as a Polish citizen | a certificate from a school in Poland; a certificate from a school abroad taught in Polish | minors one of whose parents is a Polish citizen or has had citizenship restored (art. 30(1)(4) and (5)) |
| EU long-term resident's permit | a certificate from a school in Poland taught in Polish; a degree from Poland taught in Polish; their equivalents abroad | children under 16 |
| Karta Polaka | no certificate — a conversation in Polish with the consul or voivode | — |
Citizenship without the exam
The Polish Citizenship Act (art. 30(2)) names three documents: an official certificate of Polish at B1 or above — that is, the state exam's certificate — a certificate from a school in Poland, or a certificate from a school abroad taught in Polish. It does not name a university degree. A telc certificate does not count for citizenship. Every route to recognition is in citizenship: requirements.
The EU long-term resident card without the exam
The permit comes after 5 years of legal, uninterrupted stay, and one condition is proven Polish (art. 211 of the Act on Foreigners). It is proven by a certificate at B1 or above from the list in the minister's regulation, a certificate from a school in Poland taught in Polish, or a degree from Poland taught in Polish — and their equivalents from Polish-language schools and universities abroad. Here, unlike citizenship, a degree counts too. Which certificates are on the list is on Polish for a residence card.
Why not a szkoła policealna?
Since 1 July 2025 both acts exclude the certificate of a szkoła policealna. A transitional rule still accepted such certificates gained by 30 June 2025 in cases opened by 30 June 2026; that date has passed. Today a szkoła policealna replaces the certificate for neither citizenship nor the resident card.
When can't you get round the exam?
Without a Polish school certificate or degree, the certificate it is. For citizenship, only the state one. The state certificate does not expire; details in how long the certificate is valid. The Karta Polaka is covered in Karta Polaka.
The law as of 29 October 2026. Confirm the requirement with the voivodeship office handling your case.