Polish Language Certificate Rules From 2027: NAWA, Fees
Short answer: From 1 January 2027 a Polish-language certificate or duplicate costs 100 zł. Education-based applications go to the commission via NAWA, which decides within 60 days.
Poland is changing how the official certificate of Polish as a foreign language is issued and paid for. The amending act of 30 April 2026 (Dz.U. 2026, item 676, published 25 May 2026) changes the Polish Language Act and the act on the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). Most of it applies from 1 January 2027. This guide sets out what the text says. Facts are as of 15 October 2026.
What the act covers
The Polish Language Act already provides for state certificates of Polish as a foreign language, issued after an exam run by authorised bodies, and for certificates issued on the basis of completed education. The 2026 act amends those rules. It adds "official certification of knowledge of Polish as a foreign language" to the list of tasks covered by the Polish Language Act and sets out in more detail how certificates, duplicates and exam fees work.
Article 13 of the act says it enters into force on 1 January 2027. Two provisions (Article 1, point 2, letters b and d) apply 14 days after publication, so from early June 2026.
* Photos: University of Warsaw library hall and a 1928 University of Warsaw graphic collection photograph, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Levels and age groups
The act describes exam levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2, with two groups:
- People aged 16 or over on the day of the exam can sit levels A1 to C2.
- People under 16 on the day of the exam can sit A1 to B2.
Certificate and supplement
A person who passes the exam receives a certificate together with a supplement to the certificate. The act also provides for a duplicate if the certificate is destroyed or lost. The request must be made within 25 years of receiving the original.
The fee for issuing a certificate or a duplicate is 100 zł. For exam-based certificates the fee is paid to the body that organised the exam, within 7 days of being told the person passed. For certificates issued on the basis of education and for duplicates, it is paid to the NAWA bank account, within 7 days of being told the application was approved.
Certificates based on education
People who completed certain Polish-language education can apply for a certificate without sitting the exam. The act adds one more category: graduates of a school in another country's education system that teaches Polish and other subjects in Polish, who hold the relevant secondary-school certificate that takes into account a Polish language exam result.
For these cases the act sets the level of the certificate by the education completed:
- Doctorate: C2.
- Bachelor's degree: B2.
- Master's or long-cycle master's degree: C1.
- Certain Polish-language schools: B2 or B1, depending on the type of school or form of teaching.
How to apply to NAWA
Applications for an education-based certificate go to the commission through NAWA. They can be filed electronically through the NAWA IT system or through the public registered electronic delivery service, or on paper to NAWA's address. The application must include, among other data, the applicant's permanent address abroad where relevant.
The deadlines in the act are:
- NAWA checks the application for formal gaps. If something is missing, the applicant has 14 days from the request to fix it.
- The commission decides within 60 days of the application reaching NAWA.
- NAWA sends the certificate within 14 days of the fee reaching its account. For a duplicate it is 7 days.
Exam fees
The exam fee is set by the authorised body that organises the exam. The act sets upper limits, expressed as percentages of a base amount, that differ by level and age group. We have not listed the percentages here because the base amount is defined elsewhere, so check the organiser's current price list. The act also covers payments in the currency of the country where the exam is held.
What this means for you
- If you plan to sit a certificate exam in 2027, expect the 100 zł certificate fee in addition to the exam fee.
- If you hold a Polish degree or qualifying Polish-language schooling, check whether you can apply to NAWA for a certificate without an exam.
- Keep the certificate safe. A duplicate is possible, but only within 25 years.
- The act does not say which authorities accept the certificate for which purpose. Check the requirements of the office or university you are dealing with.
Frequently asked questions
When do the new rules start?
Most of the act applies from 1 January 2027. Two provisions applied 14 days after publication on 25 May 2026.
How much does a Polish language certificate cost to issue?
The act sets a 100 zł fee for issuing a certificate or a duplicate. The exam fee is separate and set by the exam organiser within the legal limit.
Can I get a certificate without an exam?
For certain completed Polish-language education, yes, through an application to the commission via NAWA. Check the act and NAWA for the full list of qualifying schools.
How long does NAWA take?
The commission decides within 60 days of the application reaching NAWA, and NAWA sends the certificate within 14 days of receiving the fee.
