Poland tightens citizenship rules, affecting Ukrainian refugees

Poland is preparing a new law that will extend the minimum residence period required for naturalisation to eight years, a change that will most heavily affect Ukrainian applicants who have sought Polish citizenship since the war began. The proposal follows the election of nationalist president Karol Nawrocki and the recent termination of special support measures for war‑displaced people.

Ukrainian men living in Poland now face heightened legal uncertainty. With Kyiv’s ongoing mobilisation, returning to Ukraine could mean conscription, while their status in Poland remains unclear. The European Commission has signalled plans to remove Ukrainian men aged 23‑60 from the temporary‑protection scheme, prompting many to seek long‑term residence permits. Anti‑Ukrainian incidents have also risen in Poland, adding to the precarious situation for the refugee community.