Last Chance for Szkoła Policealna Graduates? Should Citizenship Applications Be Made Before June 30, 2026?

For many foreigners planning to apply for Polish citizenship, the year 2026 brings significant changes.

Particularly for those with a Szkoła Policealna diploma who meet the Polish language requirement, June 30, 2026 may be a critical turning point.

So if you haven't yet completed the required residence period, can you still apply?

We explain in detail this topic that has recently been discussed by lawyers and migration experts.

What's Changing?

According to the new regulations, in some cases a Szkoła Policealna diploma will no longer be usable as proof of Polish language proficiency in citizenship applications.

However, there is an important transitional provision.

According to the general accepted interpretation:

✅ If the diploma was obtained before July 1, 2025

and

✅ If the citizenship application is submitted by June 30, 2026

The Szkoła Policealna diploma can be evaluated within the existing rules.

For this reason, many people are planning to submit their applications before the deadline.

If Your 3-Year EULT Period Has Not Yet Expired?

One of the most frequently asked questions is:

"I have Long-Term EU Residence (EULT), but I haven't yet completed 3 years. Can I apply?"

Similarly, some people:

• have not completed 10 years of residence,
• recently obtained EULT card,
• are a few months short

are wondering what they should do.

Are Conditions Examined at the Time of Application or at the Time of Decision?

This is one of the important discussions in citizenship applications.

In practice, many experts argue that a significant portion of the conditions required for citizenship should be evaluated at the time of decision, and this is indeed the case. It is sufficient that you meet the conditions at the time of decision.

For this reason, some people:

• apply today,
• complete the required period while the process is ongoing,
• can meet all conditions when the decision is made.

For example:

If you obtained your EULT card 2 years ago and apply for citizenship today, if the file takes 1 year or longer, you may have completed the 3-year requirement by the time of decision.

How Long Do Citizenship Processes Actually Take?

Although the law anticipates shorter decision-making periods for the administration, in practice many states' citizenship files can take quite long.

In some regions:

• 12 months,
• 18 months,
• or even exceeding 24 months

examination periods can be seen.

For this reason, some duration conditions that appear insufficient today may be completed by the time of decision.

Is It Possible to Suspend a File?

In some cases, the applicant can request that the ongoing process be suspended for a certain period.

This strategy is being evaluated by some lawyers for applications during the transition period.

However, each file is different and the results of a suspension request may vary depending on the specific characteristics of the case.

For this reason, professional evaluation is important.

Who Should Particularly Check Their Situation?

For the following people, the opportunity to apply before June 30, 2026 may be particularly important:

✅ Those with a Szkoła Policealna diploma

✅ EULT holders who have not yet completed 3 years

✅ Those approaching 10 years of residence

✅ Those planning citizenship applications but will be affected by the new regulations

Can Applying Early Provide an Advantage?

In many cases, yes.

Because opening an application can provide the opportunity to benefit from some transitional provisions.

However, each file's:

• residence history,
• residence type,
• diploma date,
• citizenship basis

must be evaluated separately.

For this reason, there is no single solution applicable to all applications.

What Do We Recommend as Kalaycı Consulting?

If:

• You have a Szkoła Policealna diploma,
• You are considering citizenship,
• You have an EULT card,
• But you have not yet completed the required periods,

it may be beneficial to have your file analyzed individually.

The rules that will be applied after June 30, 2026 may directly affect the citizenship process for many people.

For this reason, instead of waiting until the last minute, it is important that you evaluate your situation now.