Take this with you

  • The State Commission issues the certificate; session dates are at certyfikatpolski.pl.
  • Recognition as a citizen requires confirmation of at least B1.
  • B1 requires at least 50% in every written module and in the oral part.
  • Exam centres handle registration and fees — check the cancellation rules.

Who issues the certificate

State certificates in Polish as a foreign language are issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (Państwowa Komisja do spraw Poświadczania Znajomości Języka Polskiego jako Obcego). The Commission sets session dates and exam papers; the exams are run by authorised centres, usually Polish language centres at universities. Session dates are published at certyfikatpolski.pl.

Foreigners and Polish citizens permanently living abroad may take the exam, regardless of where and how they studied. In adult groups candidates must be 18 (some centres accept 17-year-olds with a parent's consent).

What B1 is needed for

The most common reason is an application to be recognised as a Polish citizen (uznanie za obywatela polskiego). Voivodeship offices require official confirmation of Polish at least at B1. This can be the Commission's certificate or a school-leaving certificate from a school taught in Polish. The requirement does not apply to some minors.

Before registering for the exam, check your voivodeship office's website for which documents it accepts in your situation. The application fee for recognition as a citizen is PLN 1,000.

What the B1 exam looks like

The exam has a written and an oral part. The written part has four modules: listening, reading, grammatical accuracy and writing. At B1 it lasts 190 minutes. The oral part lasts up to 15 minutes.

To pass B1 you need at least 50% of the points in each written module and 50% in the oral part. This matters: a strong score in one module will not make up for a weak one elsewhere.

Registration and fees

You register at a chosen exam centre, usually online, and pay by a set deadline. The centre sets the fee. Cancellation rules can be strict: in the example rules of Białystok University of Technology, a full refund is given only if you cancel at least 5 weeks before the exam, and after payment you cannot change the centre or level.

Bring a valid passport or other photo ID to the exam. Candidates needing adjusted conditions for health reasons must say so when registering.

A three-month preparation plan

Since every module must be passed separately, start by finding your weakest one. A sample plan for someone who already manages everyday conversations:

  • Week 1: take a sample B1 test and score each module separately.
  • Weeks 2–8: 20–30 minutes a day on the weakest module; twice a week a short written text with error correction.
  • Listening: Polish radio programmes and podcasts with transcripts; note specific facts (dates, numbers, names).
  • Grammar: case endings and verb aspect are typical places to lose points.
  • Final month: full timed tests and speaking practice with another person.

After the exam

The Commission approves results and the certificate is issued in Warsaw — the Białystok centre's rules mention about 30 days from sending the exam report. Candidates who fail receive scores for each module, which helps when preparing for the next session.

Sources & further reading

Prepared with AI assistance using the sources below. Editorial standards ↗