Residence permit to stay in Poland

Only for regular customers of Progress Holding

Residence permit in Poland

A residence permit in Poland is a legal document issued to citizens who reside in other countries and wish to stay in Poland for a specified period of time. With a temporary residence permit (residence card), you can stay in Poland from 3 to 36 months, while with a permanent residence permit (called Zezwolenie na Pobyt) you can stay in Poland indefinitely; the residence permit can be extended later for 10 years. The conditions for obtaining a residence permit are regulated by the Polish Act on Foreigners of 12 December 2013. The residence card allows free entry and exit from the country and short-term visits to other Schengen countries without a visa, medical care, education in Polish educational institutions, acquisition and rental of real estate and other property. Nevertheless, the residence permit provides the foreigner with a small part of the privileges granted by Polish citizenship.

The most common residence permits in Poland are

Temporary residence permit: granted to non-EU citizens who intend to stay in Poland for more than 90 days. It is valid for up to 3 years and can be renewed. The holder of the residence permit is entitled to work in Poland and benefit from public services, e.g. health care.

Permanent residence permit (Permit to Stay): granted to non-EU nationals who have lived in Poland for at least 5 years on the basis of a permanent residence permit. It is valid indefinitely and allows the holder to work and travel freely in the Schengen area.

The residence permit in Poland gives foreigners the opportunity to integrate into Polish society without fear of deportation. It also helps them gain access to basic services and enjoy the same rights and obligations as Polish citizens.

Grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Poland

Polish resident status is granted in one of the following cases:

Employment or work visa – if you have an employer in Poland who wants to employ you, you can apply for a type D work visa. This type of visa can also be used to obtain a residence permit.

Study – you can obtain a student visa to study in Poland at an educational institution.

Business – you can register your business in Poland and obtain a business visa.

Family ties or marriage to a Polish citizen – if a close relative or spouse lives in Poland, you can apply for a visa to reunite with your family. If you marry a Polish citizen, you can also apply for a residence permit. You do not need to have an immigrant visa beforehand, but you must complete and submit the appropriate application for a residence permit.

if you want to invest or run a business – you can obtain a national visa based on your investment in Poland or the establishment of a business.

Political asylum – you can obtain a visa on the basis of political asylum in Poland.

religious purposes – you can obtain a visa to carry out religious activities in Poland.

For each of the above-mentioned types of residence permits, certain documents are required, such as a passport, photographs, proof of health insurance, as well as proof of financial stability and purpose of travel to Poland. These documents must be submitted with the relevant application

List of documents required to obtain a residence permit in Poland

You will need originals and copies of certificates and other supporting documents:

An application for a residence permit in 2 copies.

Passport valid for at least 3 months after the end of the requested period of stay in Poland. 2 copies of all stamped pages

Two photographs measuring 35 mm by 45 mm.

Birth certificate.

Criminal records from all countries where the applicant has resided in the last five years.

Proof of financial self-sufficiency (e.g. bank statements, employment contract, employment certificate, business certificate, list of assets and their valuation).

Health insurance that covers the cost of medical care in Poland.

A receipt confirming payment of the application fee.

Depending on the specific situation and purpose of the foreigner’s stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland and the place where the application is submitted, additional documents may be required. In such a case, it is advisable to contact the Polish consulate to obtain detailed information on the requirements for obtaining a residence permit.

 

IMPORTANT: Documents drawn up in a foreign language must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator.

 

IMPORTANT: If you are a board member of a company or sole proprietorship, you must have a Type B work permit.

The company owned by the board member must be profitable. The annual profit should be at least 12 times the average salary, i.e. as of February 2023 it is 8164.36 PLN, or 97972 PLN.

The company must employ at least 2 EU citizens for the next 12 months. Otherwise, it must submit a business plan.

IMPORTANT: If a foreigner’s visa entitling him/her to stay in the country expires, the voivodship official inserts a special stamp into the passport when applying for a residence permit. This stamp allows the foreigner to officially stay in Poland for the duration of the application and while the decision is being processed.

Possibilities of obtaining a residence permit

Residence permit through employment

Residence permit on the basis of undertaking business activities

Residence permit through studies

Residence permit with the Card of the Pole

Residence permit on the basis of marriage with a Polish citizen

Residence permit for the purpose of acquiring real estate

Residence permit for the purpose of repatriation.