---
title: "Poland tightens rules: Ukrainians face 'loyalty certificate' for citizenship"
description: "Poland is preparing changes to the citizenship law: Ukrainians wishing to obtain a passport will have to undergo a loyalty check. A new 'loyalty certificate' is being introduced, allowing for the deprivation of citizenship for actions against the country's interests. 🇵🇱📄"
date: 2026-07-13T11:14:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/poland-tightens-rules-ukrainians-face-loyalty-certificate-for-citizenship
tags: [poland, ukraine, maciej-duszyk, migration, citizenship]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Poland tightens rules: Ukrainians face 'loyalty certificate' for citizenship

![Polish flag against the backdrop of a square in Krakow, symbolizing stricter rules for Ukrainians in obtaining citizenship](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/13/polsha-uzhestochayet-pravila-grazhdanstva-dlya-ukrainskih-bezhentsev/polsha-uzhestochayet-pravila-grazhdanstva-dlya-ukrainskih-bezhentsev-1.webp)

Poland is preparing a major change to its citizenship legislation. The Ministry of Interior and Administration is drafting amendments that will significantly complicate the naturalization process for foreigners. Primarily, the new rules will affect Ukrainian citizens, who make up the largest group of applicants for a Polish passport.

### Integration as a condition for obtaining a passport

The essence of the proposed changes lies in strengthening control over the loyalty of new citizens. Maciej Duszyk, the Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration overseeing migration policy, explained that the measures are intended to guarantee the full integration of migrants into the value system of Polish society.

"Polish citizenship provides a number of serious privileges, including the right to vote and the right to be elected. Therefore, we must ensure that a new citizen is integrated into our value system," the official stated.

### Introduction of a 'loyalty certificate'

The key innovation will be the so-called "loyalty certificate." According to Maciej Duszyk, this tool is necessary to protect the national interests of the state. It is important to note that the authorities do not plan to require foreigners to renounce their first citizenship; however, they will introduce a mandatory loyalty check.

"We want to introduce the possibility of checking a person's loyalty to our country. The loyalty certificate will allow us to deprive a person of citizenship who acted against Polish security or interests, for example, by collaborating with Poland's enemies," the deputy minister explained.

Currently, there is a loophole in Polish legislation: it is impossible to deprive a person of citizenship once they have obtained it. This restriction applies even in cases where a citizen is convicted of spying against Poland. The new amendments aim to close this loophole.

### Additional control measures

The tightening of migration policy is taking place against the backdrop of other changes in the labor and registration sectors. As of July 8, 2026, new rules for checking the employment contracts of foreigners will come into force. The Labor Inspectorate has been granted the authority to forcibly convert civil-law agreements into official employment contracts if it is established that the worker is de facto on the company's payroll.

Furthermore, Ukrainians who have temporary protection status in Poland face the need to update their data in the PESEL registry. Ignoring this requirement threatens the loss of UKR status, which would automatically deprive migrants of access to social rights and benefits.