Ukrainians top the list: how many foreigners were granted Polish citizenship in 2025

Poland is preparing a sweeping reform of its immigration rules, which will make it more difficult to obtain passports. This comes against the backdrop of new statistics: in 2025, thousands of foreigners were granted Polish citizenship, with Ukrainians leading the way. Find out the official figures from the Ministry of the Interior and the legislative changes in the pipeline

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Poland remains one of the main destinations for migration in Eastern Europe. In 2025, over 19,000 foreigners were granted Polish citizenship. The Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) presented the latest demographic statistics at a meeting of a parliamentary subcommittee and announced upcoming legislative changes that will make it more difficult for new applicants to obtain citizenship, reports InPoland.

How many foreigners obtained Polish citizenship in 2025

According to official data from the ministry, Ukrainians traditionally make up the largest group among new citizens. In 2025, over 10,000 decisions to grant citizenship concerned Ukrainian citizens.

Belarusians took second place in terms of the number of passports issued, and they also account for a significant proportion of migrants in the country. In addition, 759 Russian citizens were granted Polish citizenship this year. An important statistical detail is that over 5,000 of the approved decisions concerned minors — their applications were submitted by parents who had already gone through the naturalisation process.

Read also: Residence card for Ukrainian refugees: how to obtain a temporary residence permit in Poland in 2026?

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How to obtain Polish citizenship: the most popular methods

Many are interested in which routes to legalisation work the fastest. The Ministry notes that the lion’s share of successful procedures is linked to the ‘Polish Card’ scheme. Foreigners with Polish roots receive the Card, use it to obtain a permanent residence permit (PRP), and then apply for citizenship. According to representatives of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA), this route remains one of the most common and reliable.

At the same time, the Polish Ministry of the Interior has made an important clarification regarding refugees. The Ministry has reminded that the mere fact of staying in the country under temporary protection status does not grant Ukrainians automatic privileges nor does it expedite the process of obtaining a Polish passport. Standard immigration rules continue to apply to this category of persons.

The issue of legalizing residency status remains one of the key concerns for Ukrainians in EU countries today. That is why an increasing number of people are seeking advice from immigration lawyers. On the Visit Ukraine platform, Ukrainians can receive professional assistance regarding document processing, legalizing their stay, employment, and residency rules in Poland and other European countries.

New rules for obtaining Polish citizenship

It will soon become more difficult to become a Polish citizen. The Polish government is already preparing a series of stringent amendments to citizenship legislation, which will affect all foreigners without exception.

Among the main proposed changes, the following requirements stand out. Firstly, there are plans to increase the minimum period of legal residence in the country to eight years. Secondly, the language barrier will be raised: applicants will be required to demonstrate proficiency in Polish at the advanced B2 level (the current requirements are less stringent). And finally, applicants will have to sit an additional state exam on their knowledge of Polish history and its constitutional principles, bringing the procedure into line with the practice in many Western European countries.

Please note! If you are planning to travel from Ukraine to Poland in your own car, you should familiarise yourself with the country’s driving regulations to avoid any unpleasant situations. Find out more about checkpoints, necessary documents, convenient routes and the main provisions of the highway code.

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