As a general rule, the first residence card is issued automatically; to obtain a subsequent document, you must submit the appropriate application.
Introduction
Purpose of the document
- confirms the foreign national’s identity and citizenship during their stay in Poland;
- confirms possession of a residence permit in Poland;
- allows for multiple crossings of the Polish border without the need to obtain a visa or meet the entry requirements for visa-free travel, upon presentation of a valid travel document;
- entitles the holder to travel within the Schengen Area for a period not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period, provided the holder meets the entry and short-term stay requirements of another Schengen country;
- confirms the holder’s specific rights, e.g., it may include a notation indicating full access to the labor market (“access to the labor market”) or a notation confirming the ability to exercise mobility in another EU country (e.g., “researcher”).
Sample residence card:
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Eligible persons
- third-country nationals and stateless persons who have been granted:
- a temporary residence permit;
- a permanent residence permit;
- an EU long-term resident’s residence permit;
- permission to stay on humanitarian grounds.
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A residence card is also issued to foreigners who have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection in Poland. However, the information provided in this article does not cover such cases. An explanation of the procedures related to the issuance of a residence card by the Head of the Office for Foreigners can be found on the Office for Foreigners website—click the link. |
Issuing Authority
| Issuance of the card | |
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| Card replacement | |
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Validity period
- corresponding to the validity period of the temporary residence permit (3 months – 3 years);
- 10 years—in the case of a permanent residence permit;
- 5 years—in the case of an EU long-term resident permit;
- 2 years—in the case of a residence permit granted on humanitarian grounds.
Possibility of reissuance
- In cases involving temporary residence permits, the issuance of the card requires re-obtaining the temporary residence permit. Once obtained, the card is generally issued without the need to submit an application to the provincial governor. An application is submitted if the card needs to be replaced, e.g., due to loss or damage.
- In cases involving permits granted for an indefinite period, a new residence card is not issued ex officio but is subject to replacement upon the holder’s request.
Document issuance
First residence card
First residence card is in most cases issued ex officio, therefore without the necessity of submitting an application for its issuance.
This tocument zostanie ci wydany topiero wtedy, gdy decyzja orzekająca o udzieleniu tytułu pobytowego stanie się ostateczna, a ty uiścisz konieczną opłatę. If chcesz, aby karta zawierała informację o adresie zameltowania, together with the fee, deliver to the authority responsible for issuing your card a confirmation of registration for a stay lasting longer than 2 months.
About the fact that the card is ready for collection - the voivode / Border Guard authority will inform you, in accordance with the atopted practice of informing (e.g. by SMS, email or via a message sent through the application handling system). The notification will contain instructions regarding the location and date for collecting the card.
To collect it you will have to appear in person - unless the card is issued to a child under 6 years of age or to a person who, due to illness or disability, cannot appear to collect it.
If the card is being issued to a minor who has not reached the age of 13, the card is collected by their legal representative
The residence card is issued za okazaniem valid travel tocument - if you to not have it and cannot arrange for someone to collect the card on your behalf, you will be able to collect it on the basis of another identity tocument.
Submission of the application for the issuance of a residence card is necessary in the case ofconsent to stay for humanitarian reasons and if the application o udzielenie zezwolenia na pobyt czasowy was submitted outside MOS.
This applies to the situation when:
- the foreigner has been granted a temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification or a temporary residence permit for the purpose of stay with a Polish/EU citizen (Art. 160 points 1, 3, 4, 6 of the Foreigners Act), and on the day of filing the application for such permit was outside Poland
- the foreigner has been granted a temporary residence permit for the purpose of work within an intra-company transfer or for the purpose of long-term mobility of a managerial staff member, specialist or trainee employee within an intra-company transfer.
Submission of the application for the first residence card is also required in the case of a foreigner who has been granted permanent residence permit as a close family member of a repatriate.
Application form for the issuance or replacement of a residence card you can download in the Case Management Module — click Application, to go to the forms.
Completed and signed submit the application in person, after previously arranging an appointment at the voivodeship office or SG post/branch.
Next residence card
Apply to the voivode for the issuance of a subsequent residence card, if the card issued after the granting permanent residence permit or EU long-term resident permit.
Submit the completed and signed application to the voivodeship office, in accordance with the current place of residence, on a special form. Do thisin person at least 30 days before the expiry of validity of the card held. Submit the application together with a current photograph, confirmation of payment and confirmation of registration.
Proceed similarly in the case of a card issued in connection with granting consent for stay for humanitarian reasons, but in that situation submit the application to the commander of the Border Guard post or division competent for your place of stay in Poland.
Application form for the issuance or replacement of a residence card you can download in the Case Management Module — click Application, to go to the forms.
Replacement of a document
Circumstances under which a document must be replaced
- changes to the information contained in the document;
- damage;
- loss;
- a change in facial appearance significant enough to hinder or prevent the identification of the foreign national based on the document.
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Failure to comply with the obligation to replace a residence card constitutes a misdemeanor (Article 465(1)(4) of the Act on Foreigners), as does failure to report its loss (Article 465(1)(5) of the Act on Foreigners). |
Document Replacement Procedure
Submit an application for the replacement of a residence card within 14 days of the occurrence of any of the above-mentioned grounds for its replacement, using a special form.
You can download it in the Case Management Module—click Application to access the forms.
When submitting the application, follow the same procedure as if you were applying for a new residence card.
Fee
- 200 PLN – in the case of replacement due to culpable loss or culpable damage;
- 300 PLN – in the case of replacement due to a subsequent culpable loss or culpable damage.
- 100 PLN - in the remaining cases concerning the issuance or replacement of the tocument.
No fees are charged for issuing or exchanging a residence card in the case of:
- issuing the first residence card to a foreigner who has been granted permission to stay on humanitarian grounds;
- issuing the first residence card to a foreigner who has been granted a permanent residence permit as the immediate family member of a repatriate;
- issuing a residence card to a foreigner who has been granted a temporary residence permit referred to in art. 186 para. 1 point 8 or 9 of the Foreigners Act;
- issuing the first residence card to a foreigner who has been granted a permanent residence permit on the basis of art. 195 para. 1 point 10 of the Foreigners Act;
- when the issued or replaced tocument contained technical defects;
- exchange of the residence card due to the circumstances referred to in art. 241 point 5 or 6 of the Foreigners Act.
A discount on the fee (of 50%) for issuing or replacing a residence card is available to foreigners:
- who are in difficult financial circumstances;
- whose purpose of stay is education in a post-primary school and a higher education institution on the territory of the Republic of Poland;
- minors who, on the date of submitting the application for a tocument, had not yet reached the age of 16.
The tocuments required to obtain a reduction in the fee for issuance or replacement of a residence card are:
- certificate from the competent social welfare authority on the use of social welfare at that time
- certificate confirming studying at a secondary school at that time
- copy of the birth certificate of the minor foreigner, or if impossible to obtain – another tocument confirming
Supplementary information
What to to in such a situation?
Notify the voivode or the Border Guard commander who issued you this tocument of the loss or damage of the residence card.
Registration form - open the link.
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Failure to notify of the loss of the residence card and evasion of the obligation to replace it constitute petty offences (Art. 465 para. 1 points 4 and 5 of the Foreigners Act). |
How to file a notification?
To obtain the tocument again, submit an application for tocument exchange and pay the fee. In the justification of the exchange application, tick the appropriate field: "Loss of tocument" or "Damage of tocument". You can deliver it to the e-delivery address or to the address of the reception office of the voivodeship office.
Application form - open the link.
What next?
- After delivering the notification you will receive a certificate confirming the fact of reporting the loss or damage of the tocument. It will be issued to you free of charge. The certificate will be valid for the waiting period for the tocument replacement, but not longer than 2 months.
- Upon positive consideration of the application, a new tocument will be issued to you, and in the case of refusal, the voivode or the commander of the Border Guard unit or post will issue an administrative decision. The damaged tocument must be returned and is invalidated. The lost tocument is also invalidated.
- If you find the lost tocument, notify the competent voivode or commander of the Border Guard post
In what situation do I have to return the document?
- if you acquire Polish citizenship;
- if a decision has been made that it is invalid;
- if a decision has been made to revoke the grant of you:
- temporary residence permit;
- permanent residence permit;
- long-term resident's EU residence permit;
- residence permit for humanitarian reasons;
- if the decision to grant him/her a temporary residence permit, to grant him/her a permanent residence permit or to grant him/her a residence permit for humanitarian reasons has expired by operation of law.
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Evasion of the obligation to return a documentconstitutes an offence (Article 465(4) of the Aliens Act). |
What is the deadline for returning the document?
Return the document immediately, no later thanwithin 14 daysfrom the date on which:
- you will be served with a document confirming the acquisition of Polish citizenship;
- the decision to annul the document has become final;
- the decision to revoke your residence permit or permit (j/w) has become final or has expired.
To whom should the document be returned?
- to the voivode or the commanding officer of the Border Guard post or branchwho issued the document.
What next?
When returning a document, you can requestwith a request for a certificate confirming its return. It is issued free of charge and remains valid for 30 days.
The residence card is invalidated:
- as of the date of reporting her loss or damage;
- as of the date of collection of the new card in the case of its replacement due to a change of data or such a significant change in facial appearance that identification would be difficult or even impossible;
- in the case of acquisition of Polish citizenship, after the expiry of the return deadline;
- as of the date of obtaining information about the death of the tocument/card holder;
- as of the date on which the decision revoking the foreigner's residence permit or humanitarian residence permit expired or became final – if the foreigner did not fulfil the obligation to return the tocument;
- after the deadline for returning the tocument following the issuance of a decision declaring the invalidity of that tocument.
If you found someone else's residence card, transfer it immediately to:
- with the voivode;
- to the voivodeship Afterlice commander;
- to the district Afterlice commander;
- to the commander of the Afterlice station;
- to another public administration body - in the country, or to the consul of the Republic of Poland - abroad.
If you keep the tocument, you will commit a crime. Misappropriation of a tocument is punishable by a fine,
If during a border check or a check on the legality of residence you present the residence card that you were obliged to return, that tocument will be retained. In its place you will receive a free certificate confirming its retention.
The tocument will then be forwarded to the voivode or commander of the Border Guard division/post that issued it
Both the appropriation and the use of another person's residence card is a criminal offence that is subject to a fine, restriction of liberty or imprisonment of up to 2 years (art. 464 of the Act on Foreigners).
