How to Register for the Polish B1 Exam — Step-by-Step Guide 2026

You’ve decided to take the Polish B1 exam. Good. Now you need to actually get registered — and the process has enough steps that it’s worth knowing in advance.

This guide covers everything: who can sit the exam, all 2026 dates, how to find a center, how registration works, what you’ll pay, what to bring on exam day, and what happens after.

Who Can Take the Polish B1 State Exam?

The Polish state language certification exam (Certyfikat znajomości języka polskiego) is open to:¹

• All foreign nationals, regardless of residency status
• Polish citizens who reside permanently abroad

Minimum age: 16 years old for the B1 level.

No prerequisite certificates are required. You don’t need to prove A2 level first — you simply register and sit the exam.

Important: This is the only state-issued document confirming Polish language proficiency that is recognized by Polish government offices. Certificates from private language schools, universities, or commercial providers are not accepted for residence permit applications, permanent residency, or citizenship. Only the certificate from the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language (Państwowa Komisja do spraw Poświadczania Znajomości Języka Polskiego jako Obcego) counts.¹

What the certificate is used for:

• EU long-term residence applications (karta pobytu stałego)
• Polish citizenship applications
• Enrollment in some post-secondary Polish educational institutions
• Employment purposes requiring documented Polish proficiency

The certificate has no expiry date. Pass once, you’re done.

2026 B1 Exam Dates — Full Schedule

The State Commission runs 5 exam sessions in 2026:²

Registration opens approximately 2 months before each session. The list of accredited centers is published at that time on the BIP page of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSzW) and linked from certyfikatpolski.pl.

How to choose your session:

Work backwards from your deadline. Results take approximately 3 months after the exam date. If you need the certificate by September, the April session is your latest safe option. If you’re applying for permanent residency in Q1 2027, the October session works.

Also consider your preparation state. If you’re not ready, registering for April and then failing costs you €170 and pushes you to June. Be realistic about where you are.

Step 1 — Find an Exam Center

Accredited exam centers (ośrodki uprawnione) are located across Poland and internationally. The main centers in Poland include:

• Instytut Języka Polskiego (Polish Linguistic Institute, Warsaw) — one of the primary centers, offers online registration
• Universytet Gdański (University of Gdańsk)
• Various language schools — Vitas, Together, and other accredited providers

Centers outside Poland operate in European cities, North America, and other regions with Polish diaspora presence.

How to find a center:

1. Go to certyfikatpolski.pl
2. Navigate to the Rejestracja (Registration) section
3. The list of active centers for the upcoming session appears once registration opens (~2 months before each exam date)

Important: The center list is not always online year-round. It appears when registration opens. If you visit certyfikatpolski.pl and see no center list yet, check the date — registration likely hasn’t opened for the next session.

Each center runs its own registration process. There is no central national registration system — you register directly with the center you choose.

Step 2 — Register at Your Chosen Center

Registration processes differ slightly between centers, but the pattern is consistent:

Typical registration flow:

1. Visit the center’s website (linked from certyfikatpolski.pl when registration is open)
2. Find the registration form for the upcoming exam session
3. Fill in your details: full name, date of birth, identity document number, contact email, level (B1 in your case)
4. Select your exam location if the center has multiple venues
5. Submit the form and receive confirmation of your registration
6. Pay the exam fee to complete enrollment (bank transfer or card, depending on center)

Gdańsk example: For the April 25–26 session, registration opened on February 25, 2026 at 12:00 noon. Spots filled in hours. If a session you want is popular, don’t wait until the last day.

What to have ready when registering:

• Passport number or national ID number (karta pobytu number is also acceptable)
• Contact email address (confirmation and results communications go here)
• Payment method (card or bank transfer details)
• Your target exam level (B1)

Step 3 — Pay the Exam Fee

Standard fee: €170 at most centers (covers both the exam and the certificate).²

Some centers charge in PLN — the equivalent at current exchange rate. Always check the center’s current fee page when you register; fees can change between sessions.

Refund policy (Polish Linguistic Institute as reference):

Other centers may have different policies — check before you pay.

If you fail the exam, you retake at the next available session and pay the full fee again. Partial results are not carried over. Each sitting is a fresh exam.

What Documents to Bring on Exam Day

Required identity documents (bring one):

• Valid passport
• National identity card (for EU citizens)
• Polish residence card (karta pobytu — temporary or permanent)
• Other valid government-issued photo ID

For candidates under 18:

• Signed parental/guardian consent form (downloadable from instytutjezykowy.pl)
• Minor’s own consent form (separate document, also available on the site)

Disability and dyslexia accommodations: If you require extra time, a separate room, larger print, or other accommodations — submit an accommodation request form to your center in advance (typically at least a few weeks before the exam). Don’t arrive on exam day expecting accommodations that weren’t pre-arranged.

Important: Bring your original identity document — not a photocopy. Examiners verify identity before you enter the examination room. If your document is expired, you will not be admitted.

What not to bring:

• Mobile phones must be turned off and stored (not just silenced)
• Dictionaries, notes, or any reference materials
• Electronic devices

What Happens After the Exam — Results & Certificate

Results timeline: Approximately 3 months after the exam date.² The State Commission processes results centrally after each session. You’ll be notified by email through your registered center.

Passing threshold: ≥50% in each section independently:

• Written exam: ≥50% in listening, reading, grammar, AND writing sections individually
• Oral exam: ≥50% separately

A strong performance in reading cannot compensate for a failed grammar section. All parts must pass, and they’re evaluated independently.

The certificate:

• Issued by the Państwowa Komisja (State Commission)
• No expiry date — valid indefinitely
• Recognized across the EU for residency and citizenship purposes
• ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) audited and certified as meeting Council of Europe standards since 2008¹

If you fail:

• No waiting period to retake
• Next available session is open to you
• Full exam fee applies again
• No partial credit from previous attempt — you sit the complete exam

Summary: Registration Checklist

• Check certyfikatpolski.pl for when registration opens for your target session
• Choose an accredited center (center list appears ~2 months before exam)
• Register on the center’s website with your ID details and email
• Pay the exam fee (typically €170) to confirm enrollment
• Prepare original identity document for exam day
• If under 18 or requiring accommodations, download and submit the required forms in advance
• Mark your exam date — written exam is typically Day 1, oral exam Day 2

The administration is straightforward once you know the steps. The only common mistake is missing the registration window — spots at popular centers fill up fast, especially for April and June sessions.

Important: Start preparing your documents the moment you register, not the week before the exam. Residence card expired? Renewal takes time. Parental consent form missing? It requires a guardian signature. Handle paperwork early.