Poland Imposes Stricter Requirements for Citizenship

Name: Poland Imposes Stricter Requirements for Citizenship | IaM (Immigration and
Uploaded: 2024-10-24T16:00:00+00:00
Description: In an effort to tighten immigration policies and address misuse of the Polish Card Act, the Polish government

In an effort to tighten immigration policies and address misuse of the Polish Card Act, the Polish government is set to implement more rigorous requirements for those seeking Polish citizenship.

The move, part of Poland’s broader migration strategy, includes new demands for language proficiency and clearer proof of Polish heritage, according to local reports.

Launched in 2007, the Polish Card, or Karta Polaka, provides a pathway to Polish citizenship for individuals who can demonstrate Polish ancestry. It allows applicants to become Polish citizens if they can prove descent from at least one Polish parent, grandparent, or two great-grandparents.

Over 206,000 people currently hold the Polish Card, with the largest numbers from neighbouring Belarus and Ukraine.

While the initiative was designed to reconnect people with Polish heritage, concerns have grown over abuses within the application process. Allegedly, some individuals have used forged documents to claim eligibility, particularly in Belarus and Ukraine, leading to renewed calls for stricter oversight and verification.

Stricter Language and Proof of Heritage Requirements

The planned reforms aim to address these concerns by setting higher standards. Citizenship applicants under the Polish Card Act will soon need to meet specific Polish language requirements to demonstrate their genuine connection to Poland. This change is part of a broader effort to ensure that applicants genuinely identify with Polish culture and history.

Furthermore, reports reveal that the Act allowed certain individuals to bypass strict proof of Polish heritage if they were active in Polish organisations for three years. Data from the Centre for Migration Research shows that out of 162,000 Polish Cards issued by June 2022, fewer than 7,000 went to individuals who had proven Polish ancestry, further highlighting the potential for abuse.

PiS MEP Michał Dworczyk emphasised that while the Act remains essential, improvements are necessary to close these gaps and ensure the program's integrity.

A Growing Trend Across Europe

Poland’s move to tighten citizenship requirements mirrors actions taken across Europe in response to rising concerns over national security and irregularities.

In Sweden, for instance, new rules mandate that foreigners seeking citizenship demonstrate a clear commitment to integration, including language skills and a minimum residency of eight years. Swedish authorities have also introduced measures to disqualify applicants with a history of certain criminal offences or those deemed national security risks.

Finland, too, has raised its residency requirement for citizenship to eight years, with similar language proficiency expectations for applicants. These changes reflect a growing trend among EU countries to secure citizenship processes while emphasising national ties and integration.

With these reforms, Poland joins its European neighbours in striving for a more stringent and transparent citizenship process, aiming to uphold the integrity of national heritage while curbing irregularities in immigration.

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