The Polish government is finalising a major reform of its citizenship law, introducing a mandatory loyalty declaration, a language and history test, and an extended residency requirement of eight years for Ukrainian applicants. The new rules aim to tighten control over the naturalisation process and allow revocation of citizenship for those acting against national security.
According to information published by “Rzeczpospolita”, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration is putting the finishing touches on the bill. Ukrainians, who currently make up the largest group of foreign citizenship applicants in Poland, would be most affected. Poland will not demand the renunciation of a previous nationality, but it plans to introduce a mechanism to verify a candidate’s loyalty to the state.
Key changes to the citizenship process
The draft law extends the required period of legal residence in Poland from the current standard to eight years. Applicants will also have to pass a test on Polish language, history and civic knowledge. The most controversial element is a so-called loyalty oath – a formal document that, once signed, will serve as grounds for stripping citizenship from anyone who later acts against the security or interests of Poland. Currently, even individuals convicted of espionage cannot lose their Polish citizenship under existing legislation.
Prof. Maciej Duszczyk, deputy minister of the interior and administration, said: – The loyalty oath will allow the state to revoke citizenship from a person who has acted against Polish security or interests. Revocation is impossible today, even for those sentenced for spying for foreign powers.
Controversy over the loyalty declaration
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from organisations representing the Ukrainian minority. Mirosław Skórka, president of the Union of Ukrainians in Poland, called the measure unconstitutional. – It introduces something that looks like conditional citizenship. We are moving in an absurd direction with a nationalist undertone – he stated.
Human rights activists warn that the loyalty oath could be interpreted arbitrarily and may deter qualified immigrants from seeking Polish nationality. Others point out that the reform comes at a time when Poland relies heavily on Ukrainian workers to fill labour shortages in sectors such as construction, logistics and services.
Final approval of the bill is expected later this year. If passed, the new regulations will mark the most significant overhaul of Polish citizenship law in decades.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. KPRM / Flickr.com
