The state certificate of Polish language proficiency (certyfikat z języka polskiego jako obcego) is the only official document accepted by voivodeship offices and the Ministry of Interior when you need to prove your Polish for the EU long-term resident card, some grounds for permanent residence, or citizenship. Here’s what level you need, what it costs in 2026, and how the exam works.

Who needs the certificate, and for what

Proving your Polish with a state certificate is required above all when applying for the EU long-term resident card (Karta Rezydenta UE, often confused with pobyt stały). This requirement is explicitly set out in the Foreigners Act (ustawa o cudzoziemcach).

Important: whether you need a language certificate depends on the specific legal ground of your application. For the EU long-term resident card, it is always required. For pobyt stały (permanent residence) and citizenship, it depends on which legal provision you apply under (for example, holders of the Pole’s Card or people of Polish origin are usually exempt). Before filing, confirm the exact requirement with a lawyer or the voivodeship office; don’t rely solely on language school marketing.

Exempt from the exam are people who:

  • completed secondary school (liceum, technikum) in Poland;
  • completed higher education in Poland;
  • completed a post-secondary school (szkoła policealna) in Poland.

If you arrived in Poland after finishing school or university in your home country and didn’t study here, you’ll need to prove your Polish with an official certificate.

What level is required: B1

The minimum level required by state authorities is B1 on the A1-A2, B1-B2, C1-C2 scale (called „Średniozaawansowany” / Intermediate in Poland). Important: passing a test at a private language school is not enough; only a certificate from the official State Certification Commission (Państwowa Komisja Poświadczania Znajomości Języka Polskiego jako Obcego, PKPZJPjO) is accepted. These exams are similar in format to TOEFL, JLPT, or Goethe-Institut and British Council exams, but they are administered by the Polish state itself.

2026 exam fees

According to current data from official exam centres for 2026, the maximum fees are:

  • EUR 150 (~640 zł): B1/B2 exam for adults;
  • EUR 20 (~85 zł): certificate issuance (paid only after passing);
  • roughly 730 zł total for a B1 pass as an adult;
  • lower rates apply for children and youth (A1-B2 levels); check with your specific exam centre.

For the EU long-term resident card application, you need the actual certificate, not just the exam results protocol.

Exam format

The exam has two parts:

  • a written part (~190 minutes), 4 modules: listening, grammar/language use, reading, writing;
  • an oral part (~15 minutes), usually held the day after the written part.

To pass, you need at least 50% in each module of the written part and at least 50% on the oral part: there’s no overall average; failing any single module means failing the whole exam. Rules are set by the current regulation of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education on the Polish-as-a-foreign-language exam.

Exams are held both in Poland and abroad at accredited centres; specific session dates and cities are listed on the official commission website certyfikatpolski.pl.

FAQ

Can I use ECL or TELC instead of the state certificate?


For official legalization procedures (EU long-term resident card, citizenship), the required document is the state PKPZJPjO certificate. ECL or TELC exams can be useful for employers or study purposes, but they don’t replace the officially required document; confirm your specific situation.

Do I need B1 for a regular temporary residence permit (pobyt czasowy)?


No, for a temporary residence permit based on work, business, or study, you don’t need to prove Polish with a certificate.

Author: the Moja Firma team.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Check the exact requirements for your specific legal ground on certyfikatpolski.pl, at the voivodeship office, or with our team: book a free consultation.