Residence Card for Board Members in Poland
For regular clients of Progress Holding, we offer a comprehensive service for processing the Temporary Residence Card (TRC) for foreign board members of Polish companies. This is a critically important document that allows you to legally reside and manage a business in Poland on a long-term basis.
We are not an immigration agency and do not engage in client searching. We provide professional legal support services to obtain residence cards for board members already working in your company. As your local finance and HR department in Poland, we ensure full coordination with your headquarters and conduct communication in English, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, relying on our 22 years of experience working with international companies.
Rules and Procedures for Obtaining a Temporary Residence Card (TRC) in Poland
If you are a foreign board member seeking to obtain a Temporary Residence Card in Poland, you must follow the established procedure. In 2024, the rules and procedures for obtaining a TRC include several mandatory stages.
Criteria for obtaining a TRC:
Foreign citizens may be eligible for a TRC for various reasons, such as:
- Employment in a Polish company
- Entrepreneurial activity
- Participation in management bodies, such as a company’s board of directors
Ensure that your situation corresponds to one of the appropriate categories. For board members, the most relevant is the category of participation in management bodies.
Sponsorship by the employer or business:
If you are a board member representing a company or organization, sponsorship of your application is required. The Polish company must provide the necessary documents in support of your application, including:
- Confirmation of your appointment to the position of board member
- Extract from the KRS (National Court Register)
- Company financial statements
- Justification of the need for your stay in Poland
Required documents for submitting the application
To successfully obtain a TRC, it is necessary to prepare a complete package of documents. We ensure professional preparation and verification of each document.
Mandatory documents:
- Passport or other identity document (valid for at least 3 months after the expected date of card issuance)
- Visa (if applicable) or confirmation of legal stay in Poland
- Completed application form for temporary residence
- Biometric photo (compliant with ICAO requirements)
- Confirmation of health insurance (coverage of at least 30,000 euros)
- Certificate of no criminal record from your home country (apostilled or legalized)
- Documents confirming the purpose of your stay:
- Employment contract or resolution on appointment to the position of board member
- Business registration documents (KRS, NIP, REGON)
- Confirmation of having a place of residence in Poland
- Confirmation of payment of the stamp duty (usually 340 zlotys)
Additional documents for board members:
- Extract from the KRS indicating your appointment
- Resolution of the general meeting of shareholders/participants on appointment
- Company financial statements for the last year
- Justification of the need for your physical presence in Poland
Application submission and processing procedure
- Application submission: The application is submitted to the relevant Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) in Poland at your place of residence. The responsibility for processing TRC applications usually lies with the department for foreign affairs.
- Biometric data: You will need to personally provide biometric data (fingerprints) during the application process. This is a mandatory requirement for all applicants over 12 years of age.
- Application processing: The Voivodeship Office will process your application. Processing times may vary, but usually it takes from several weeks to several months (on average 2-4 months depending on the voivodeship and office workload).
- Decision and card issuance: After the decision is made, you will be notified in writing. In case of approval, you will be able to receive your Temporary Residence Card within 30 days after notification. The card is usually issued for a period of 1 to 3 years depending on the basis of stay.
- Extension of residence permit: Temporary Residence Cards are issued for a specific period. If you want to extend your stay, you must submit an application for extension no later than 30 days before the expiration of the current card.
What Progress Holding offers to regular clients
We take on all the complex administrative work, turning a confusing immigration process into a predictable and controlled result for your headquarters.
- Comprehensive situation audit. We check in advance whether your situation meets all the criteria for obtaining a TRC for a board member, minimizing the risk of refusal.
- Preparation of a complete document package. Our specialists professionally prepare all necessary documents, including translations by sworn translators and legalization/apostille.
- Completion of applications. We professionally complete all application forms, eliminating formal errors that can lead to the return of the file.
- Coordination with the company. We work with your Polish company to obtain all necessary corporate documents (KRS, financial statements, appointment resolutions).
- Representation in the Voivodeship Office. We personally represent your interests in the voivodeship office, submit the application, and track the review status.
- Preparation for biometric submission. We inform you of the need for personal appearance to provide fingerprints and coordinate the submission time.
- Transparent reporting for headquarters. We provide CFOs and legal departments with regular reports on the card processing status in a convenient language.
- Consultations on extension. We remind you in advance of the need to extend the card and start the process well in advance.
The cost of the service is transparent and fixed before work begins. No hidden fees.
Why regular clients choose Progress Holding for TRC processing
Progress Holding is not an immigration agency. It is a strategic partner with 22 years of experience working with international companies and foreign entrepreneurs in Poland, which ensures legally flawless processing of residence cards for board members.
- Role of the local finance and HR department. We act as a full-fledged extension of your personnel service, integrating into the processes of the headquarters in Berlin, Amsterdam, London, or New York.
- 22 years of expertise. Our specialists deeply know the procedures of voivodeship offices, requirements for documents for board members, and the specifics of legalizing the stay of foreign managers. We understand what documents and wording voivodeship offices accept.
- Coordination with headquarters. Your HR department and legal service receive transparent and timely information about the status of each residence card processing.
- Support in 4 languages. We work in English, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian. This eliminates any misunderstandings between the headquarters, the Polish subsidiary, and foreign board members.
- Comprehensive accompaniment. We understand that the process can take several months, and we provide professional accompaniment at all stages — from document preparation to receiving the finished card.
- Legal flawlessness. We guarantee that all documents will be prepared in strict accordance with Polish legislation, eliminating the risk of refusal by the voivode.
- Dedicated specialist. A dedicated expert is assigned to your company, who personally supervises the residence card processing.
- Confidentiality. We ensure complete protection of board members’ personal data in accordance with GDPR (RODO).
- Up-to-date information. We track all changes in Polish immigration legislation and promptly inform clients about new requirements.
What are the risks of lacking a residence card for a board member
Staying in Poland without a valid residence card (when this specific document is required) is a serious violation of Polish immigration legislation. The consequences affect both the board member and the company.
For the board member:
- Inability to legally stay in Poland for more than 90 days within 180 days (for citizens of countries not in the Schengen zone)
- Prohibition on performing the duties of a board member in Poland
- Risk of deportation and ban on entry into the Schengen zone
- Problems with opening bank accounts and obtaining financial services
- Inability to legally sign documents on behalf of the company
- Loss of time and money on urgent document processing
For the company:
- Risk of board resolutions being declared invalid due to the illegal status of the board member
- Problems with counterparties and banks requiring confirmation of the legality of signatories
- Reputational losses and problems with investors
- Fines from the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) for violations of immigration legislation
- Difficulties in attracting financing or conducting an audit
Important note on changes in legislation
Laws and procedures in the field of immigration may change. Therefore, we recommend regularly consulting with our specialists to receive the most accurate and up-to-date information corresponding to your specific situation. Progress Holding tracks all changes in Polish immigration legislation and promptly informs clients about new requirements.
Contact us for professional TRC processing
Do not risk the legality of your stay in Poland due to the lack of a residence card. We will promptly assess your situation, prepare a complete document package for the TRC, and submit the application to the voivodeship office — so you can calmly manage your business in Poland, knowing that your stay is fully legal and protected.
Consultation in English, Polish, Ukrainian, or Russian.