Holders of the Pole's Card will find it easier to obtain Polish citizenship
According to the head of the committee, deputy of the ruling party "Law and Justice" Michał Dworczyk, the law is intended to help people of Polish origin living in the territory of the former USSR countries to come to Poland and settle here permanently.
"We give them this opportunity, even more – we give them the opportunity to obtain Polish citizenship very quickly. And during the first, most difficult adaptation months, the Polish state will provide them with support so that they feel at home here," Polskie Radio quotes the deputy as saying.
In January of this year, the Polish Sejm supported in the first reading amendments to the law on the Pole's Card, which provide for granting holders of this document almost the same rights as Polish citizens. Thanks to the proposed changes in the law, holders of the Pole's Card will be able to obtain a residence permit in Poland for free, and after one year of residence automatically obtain Polish citizenship. In addition, it is envisaged that the government will partially pay for such persons' Polish language courses and vocational training courses.
The changes to the law also provide legal grounds for the evacuation and provision of effective assistance to holders of the Pole's Card in case their life and health are endangered. In addition, holders of the Pole's Card will be exempt from consular fees for visas and other applications.