When applying for a permit, please follow the checklist and the information provided for this procedure. We also encourage you to review the infographic.

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Introduction

Permanent residence permit to uprawnienie to bezterminowego (stałego) pobytu na terytorium Polish granted to foreigners who intend to settle in Poland. 

This permit is granted upon application, in cases specified by law.

Unlike an EU long-term resident permit, a permanent residence permit is not governed by EU law, and prior stay in Poland for a specified period before submitting an application for such a permit is not always required.

Foreign nationals enjoying temporary protection in Poland may apply for a permanent residence permit – provided they belong to one of the categories of foreigners entitled to obtain such a permit listed below. The regulations to not provide for an obstacle to initiating proceedings due to enjoying temporary protection.

 

  Child of a citizen of the Republic of Poland
⇒ the foreigner is a child of a Polish citizen who remains under their parental authority;

 

  Child of a foreigner settled in Poland / long-term resident

⇒ the foreigner is a child of a third-country national or a stateless person who has been granted a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident's permit in Poland, remaining under their parental authority, born (a, b or c):

  1. after granting this foreigner this permit;
  2. during the validity period of the temporary residence permit granted to this foreigner;
  3. during the period of the foreigner's stay in Poland on the basis of consent to stay for humanitarian reasons, consent to tolerated stay, or in connection with being granted refugee status/subsidiary protection.

 

  A person of Polish origin or holding the tocument "Karta Afterlaka"
⇒ the foreigner holds a valid Afterle's Card or is a person of Polish origin - and intends to settle permanently in Poland;

 

  Spouse of a Polish citizen

⇒ the foreigner is in a marriage recognised by Polish law with a Polish citizen and simultaneously meets both conditions, namely: 

  • remained in this marriage for at least 3 years before the date of submission of the application for a permanent residence permit and
  • immediately before submitting this application resided continuously in Poland for a period of not less than 2 years on the basis of a temporary residence permit granted in connection with being in a marriage with this Polish citizen or in connection with obtaining refugee status, subsidiary protection or consent to stay on humanitarian grounds.

 

  Victim of human trafficking

⇒ is a victim of human trafficking within the meaning of Art. 115 § 22 of the Criminal Code and cumulatively meets three further conditions:

  • has resided in the territory of the Republic of Poland immediately before submitting the application for a permanent residence permit for a period of no less than 1 year on the basis of a temporary residence permit for victims of human trafficking,
  • cooperated with law enforcement authorities in criminal proceedings concerning an offence referred to in art. 189a § 1 of the Penal Code and
  • has well-founded fear of returning to the country of origin.

 

  Beneficiary of forms of protection 

⇒ directly before submitting the application for this permit resided continuously in Poland for a period of not less than:

  • 5 years – in connection with being granted refugee status, subsidiary protection or permission to stay on humanitarian grounds;
  • 10 years – based on tolerated stay granted pursuant to Art. 351 point 1 or 3 of the Aliens Act;

 

  Holder of a temporary residence and work permit in a profession desired for the Polish economy (Article 114(1a) of the Foreigners Act)

⇒ meets all of the following conditions:

  • immediately before submitting the application for this permit resided continuously in Poland for a period of not less than 4 years on the basis of a temporary residence permit and work permit granted pursuant to Art. 114(1a) of the Foreigners Act;
  • has a source of stable and regular income sufficient to cover the costs of maintaining themselves and their dependent family members;

Granting permanent residence permit on this basis is currently not possible, because no ministerial regulation has been issued yet

 

  Asylum seeker 
⇒ they were granted asylum on the territory of the Republic of Poland pursuant to Art. 90 para. 1 of the Act of 13 June 2003 on granting protection to foreigners in the territory of the Republic of Poland;

 

  UK citizen

⇒ is a citizen of the United Kingtom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, referred to in Art. 10 para. 1 lit. b and d of the Withdrawal Agreement, who until 31 December 2020 performed work in the territory of the Republic of Poland as a worker posted by a foreign employer to the territory of the Republic of Poland and simultaneously meets three further conditions: 

  • resides legally in Poland and continuously for at least 5 years directly prior to the submission of the application, including on the basis of a temporary residence permit referred to in Art. 186 para. 1 point 8,
  • has a source of stable and regular income sufficient to cover the costs of maintaining themselves and their dependent family members and
  • has health insurance within the meaning of the Act of 27 August 2004 on health care services financed from public funds, or confirmation of coverage of treatment costs in the territory of the Republic of Poland by the insurer.

 

Granting authority

  • the competent voivode with jurisdiction over the foreigner's place of residence;
  • Head of the Office for Foreigners (as the appeals authority, 2nd instance).

Form of granting

  •  administrative decision delivered outside MOS. 

Period for which granted

  • indefinitely
 

After udzieleniu zezwolenia wydawana jest residence permit card for a period of 10 years. After this period, a new card is issued upon the foreigner's request. The card is issued each time for a period of 10 years.

Once granted, the permit will remain valid and you to not need to apply for it again, unless it is revoked or the decision to grant it is annulled.

 


Regulations

Statutory Regulations

The permanent residence permit is regulated by the provisions of Chapter 1, Section VI of the Act of December 12, 2013, on Foreigners.

The substantive and legal requirements for granting such a permit are set forth in Article 195(1) of the aforementioned Act.

With regard to the granting of the permit, the Act refers to:

  • the Act of November 9, 2000, on Repatriation—regarding the determination of Polish origin (Article 5(1) and Article 6(1) and (2));
  • the Act of July 14, 2006, on the entry into, residence in, and departure from the territory of the Republic of Poland of citizens of European Union member states and members of their families—regarding the determination of the period of uninterrupted residence of United Kingdom citizens (posted workers).

Implementing acts to the Act

  • Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of [...] 2026 on applications for permanent residence permits for foreigners;
  • Regulation of the Council of Ministers of July 12, 2024, on verified income criteria and the amounts of cash benefits from social assistance;
  • Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs of July 26, 2022, on fees charged in the Republic of Poland to foreigners for the issuance and replacement of documents that may be issued to foreigners, and the procedure for their payment.


Requirements

The foreigner is a citizen of a third country or a stateless person and, at the time of the application, is legally staying on the territory of Poland (except for, inter alia, stay for humanitarian purposes) andfalls into the category of aliens to whom a permanent residence permit may be granted (as explained in the section: Introduction).

- including depending on the obligations imposed on them and the defined method of their fulfilment :

  • submitted through MOS an application for a permit in electronic form in the manner specified in the provisions together with the necessary annexes;
  • paid the due stamp duty;
  • appeared at the appointment at the provincial office, in accordance with the summons, and during it:
    • presented a valid travel tocument (or in justified cases, if they to not have a valid travel tocument,
    • submitted fingerprints;
    • submitted a signature specimen.
Detailed explanation taking into account exceptions to general rules can be found in the step: Filling in and submitting the application and in the step: Proceedings - in the Personal appearance section.

 

Further conditions:

 

An uninterrupted stay does not mean the absence of any trips from Poland. Trips that fall within a certain time frame or are justified (allowed by law) do not interrupt the continuity of residence in Poland.

An uninterrupted stay means that:

  • none of the breaksin residence on the territory of Poland in itwas no longer than 6 months;
  • all breaks did not exceed a total of 10 months(when added together) during the periods which form the basis for his/her permanent residence permit (e.g. 2 years in the case of a spouse);

 

Exception! An interruption that was caused and is therefore excused is permissible:

  • the performance of professional duties by the foreigner or the provision of work by the foreigner outside Poland on the basis of a contract concluded with an employer whose registered office is in Poland;
  • accompanying such a foreigner by his/her spouse or minor child;
  • a particular personal situation which requires the foreigner's presence outside Poland and has lasted no longer than 6 months;
  • leaving Poland to do an internship or take part in activities provided for in the course of study at a Polish university (e.g. travel as part of the Erasmus programme).
In the case of a refugee or a person who has been granted subsidiary protection, the entire period of stay in Poland during the proceedings for granting international protection is counted towards the required stay, even if the foreigner stayed in a guarded centre or a detention centre for foreigners during that period.

In order for the permit to be granted, a foreigner must remain in in a genuine and duly tocumented marriage with a Polish national, and that relationship must be recognised under Polish law. It must therefore be a union registered in accordance with the law, non-polygamous, heterosexual, not exclusively religious in character, of persons having the legal capacity to contract it. 

The union cannot be fictitious – it cannot be contracted or exist for the purpose of circumventing the provisions defining the rules and conditions for the entry of foreigners to Poland, their transit through that territory, stay thereon and departure therefrom. 

Additional conditions that must be met (a+b+c):

  1. the foreigner declares that they are of Polish nationality;
  2. at least one of his parents or grandparents or two great-grandparents were of Polish nationality;
  3. the foreigner demonstrates their connection to Polish heritage.

  • the foreigner hasa source of income that is stable and regular (i.e. characterised by relative permanence and continuity),and sufficientto cover the living expenses of himself and his dependent family members;

      Level of income required
    • PLN 1010 per month - if you have no dependants;
    • PLN 823 per month/person. - for yourself and for each dependent family member, i.e. 823 + 823 * X (1,2,3...).

    ⇒ the requirement is also deemed to be fulfilled if the maintenance costs of the foreigner will be covered by a family member obliged to support the foreigner who resides in Poland;

  • the foreigner has health insurance within the meaning of the Act of 27 August 2004 on health care services financed from public funds or a confirmation of coverage by the insurer of the costs of treatment in Poland;

  • a minimum of 5 years uninterrupted residence is required means in this case that the intervals in the residence of the UK citizen did not exceed a total of 6 months per year, unless the interval was due to and thus justified by compulsory military service or an important personal situation requiring the foreigner's presence outside Poland (related, in particular, to pregnancy, childbirth, illness, studies, vocational training, secondment) and lasted no longer than 12 months.

  • foreignerhas a source of income that is stable and regular (i.e. characterised by relative permanence and continuity), and is sufficient to cover the living expenses of himself and his dependent family members;
  Level of income required
  • PLN 1010 per month - if you have no dependants;
  • PLN 823 per month/person. - for yourself and for each dependent family member, i.e. 823 + 823 * X (1,2,3...).

⇒ the requirement is also deemed to be fulfilled if the maintenance costs of the foreigner will be covered by a family member obliged to support the foreigner who resides in Poland;

 

The granting of a permanent residence permit on this basis is currently not possibleas no decree of the minister in charge of labour defining the professions desirable for the Polish economy has been issued so far, temporary residence and work permits have not been granted on the basis of Article 114(1a) of the Act on Foreigners. 

 


Documents

1. Necessary tocuments when submitting the application – sent via MOS

These tocuments are necessary for the application to be processed.

 

Fill in the form in MOS electronically, in accordance with the instructions. Then sign it with a trusted signature or qualified electronic signature via login.gov.pl, after adding the necessary attachments.

In a particularly justified case, if a foreigner toes not possess a valid travel tocument and it is not possible to obtain one, they may attach a scan of another tocument confirming their identity beyond any toubt. At the same time, they should tocument (by adding an additional attachment) the inability to obtain a travel tocument and the efforts made to obtain one.

- showing the facial image of the foreigner, without head covering and darkening glasses. The photo should meet the detailed criteria set by law.

Additionally you (but you don't have to at this stage) file with the application:

  • proof of payment of stamp duty;
  • documents proving that you meet the requirements for authorisation

- in the form of electronic documents or scans of documents you have in hard copy. Attach them in PDF format. 

2. documents necessary for the application - to be provided during a personal visit to the office

Once the application has been sent to the MOS, await a summons from the provincial governor to appear in person at the provincial office. The appointed visit will take place no sooner than 7 days after service of the summons.

During the visit, present:

  • original travel document  - so that the proceedings are not discontinued;
  • proof of payment of stamp dutyif not attached as an electronic document to the application - so that the application is not returned.
  • Check the exceptions, including for signature design.
  • Present the same documents, scans of which you have attached to your application.

3. other documents - delivered during a personal visit to the provincial office, submitted to the provincial governor's office or sent by post to the address of the provincial administration office

The governor will call on you for documents necessary to confirm the data contained in the application and the circumstances which justify the granting of authorisation, if you did not attach them when submitting your application, and if youyou have attached scans  you will be asked to produce originals or certified copies of these when submitting your application. 

Documentsdeliver by the deadline (this will be no less than 14 days)to the registry office of the provincial office or send it to its address. If the provincial governor allows you to do so, you can also present your documents during a designated visit to the provincial office - then you can count on the official to carry out an initial verification of them and inform you if and which documents are missing for the application to be granted.

  In the case of a minor child of a Polish citizen, present:
  • the child's birth certificate;
  • a copy of the parent's identity card proving their Polish nationality.

 

  In the case of a minor child of a foreign national, present:
  • the child's birth certificate;
  • a copy of the decision to grant the parent a permanent residence permit or a long-term resident's EU residence permit.

 

  When applying for a permit in connection with the possession of a Pole's Card, present:
  • a copy of a valid Pole's Card (original to be presented)
  • a declaration of intention to settle permanently in Poland.

 

  When applying for a permit in relation to the Polish origin of the representation:
  • a declaration of intention to settle permanently in Poland;
  • documents confirming Polish ancestry referred to in Articles 5(1) and 6(1) and (2) of the Repatriation Act of 9 November 2000;

Evidence of Polish ancestry may include documents issued by Polish state or church authorities, as well as by the authorities of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, concerning the applicant or his parents, grandparents or great-grandparents, in particular:

  • Polish identity documents;
  • civil-status records or copies thereof or baptismal certificates attesting a connection with Poland;
  • documents confirming military service in the Polish Army with an entry indicating Polish nationality;
  • documents confirming the fact of deportation or imprisonment, containing an entry stating Polish nationality;
  • identity cards or other official documents containing an entry indicating Polish nationality.

Evidence of Polish origin may also include other documents, in particular:

  • rehabilitation of a deportee, containing an entry stating his or her Polish nationality;
  • confirming the persecution of a person because of his or her Polish origin.

 

  When applying for a permit on the grounds of marriage to a Polish citizen, present:
  • an up-to-date copy of the marriage certificate; if there are any doubts as to the authenticity of the civil-status record presented, the governor may additionally require that the document be certified in the form of aApostille or its legalisation by a Polish consul after prior authentication by the competent authority of the country of origin.
  • a copy of your spouse's identity card;
  • documents confirming that the stay on the territory of Poland was uninterrupted or documents stating the reasons for any interruptions in the stay.

 

  In the case of trafficking victims, present: 
  • documents proving cooperation with law enforcement authorities and having a well-founded fear of being returned to the country of origin;
  • a copy of the decision to grant a temporary residence permit for victims of human trafficking.

 

  For beneficiaries of international protection (refugee status, subsidiary protection) and national forms of protection (humanitarian residence permit, permit for tolerated stay)present:
  • documents confirming that the stay on the territory of Poland during the required period was uninterrupted or documents stating the reasons for any interruptions in the stay;
  • a copy of the decision to grant refugee status in Poland, to grant subsidiary protection, to grant one of the abovementioned consents.

 

  In the case of UK nationals, posted workers are presented:
  • documents confirming that the foreigner was performing work on the territory of the Republic of Poland as a posted worker until 31 December 2020;
  • documents confirming that the stay on the territory of Poland was uninterrupted or documents stating the reasons for any interruptions in the stay;
  • a copy of the decision to grant a temporary residence permit pursuant to Article 186(1)(8) of the Aliens Act;
  • documents confirming having a source of stable and regular income sufficient to cover the costs of living for oneself and dependent family members (for a person running a household alone - in an amount higher than PLN 1010 net per month, for a person in a family - in an amount higher than PLN 823 net per month);
  • proof of health insurance.

 

⇒ Submit tocuments in originals or in copies certified as conforming to the original by a notary or a representative (provided they are an advocate or a legal adviser). Certification of conformity of the copy with the original may also be made by an authorised employee of the voivodeship office at the registry, provided you show them the original tocument.

⇒ Documents in a foreign language must be presented together with a sworn translation into Polish. The register of sworn translators is maintained by the Ministry of Justice and is available here;

⇒ Documents must be current at the date of issuing the decision on the permit.

⇒ Depending on the circumstances of the case, it may be necessary to present other evidence to prove the existence of grounds for granting a permanent residence permit, in particular at the request of the authority conducting the proceedings.


Filling out and submitting the application

In-person action

The Act on Foreigners requires that a foreigner personally sign an application for a permanent residence permit in order for the application to be processed. The application cannot be signed by a representative. 

An application concerning a foreign national who is:

  • a minor—is submitted by their parent or guardian;
  • a person who is completely incapacitated—is submitted by their guardian; 
  • an unaccompanied minor—is submitted by a guardian.

⇒ Submitting an application via MOS means sending the application via MOS along with the necessary attachments, after it has been fully completed in Polish and signed with a trusted or qualified electronic signature on login.gov.pl, and receiving an official acknowledgment of receipt from the provincial governor. An application submitted by a Polish citizen on behalf of a minor or a person who has been completely incapacitated may also be signed with a handwritten signature.

⇒ The application is not considered submitted unless the applicant has received an official acknowledgment of receipt. The acknowledgment must be downloaded and retained.


Application deadline

- during a legal stay in Poland. 

The deadline requirement does not apply to:

  • a minor child of a Polish citizen who remains under their parental authority;
  • a minor child of a foreign national born in Poland who holds a permanent residence permit or is an EU long-term resident, provided the child was born after the permit was granted or during a prior stay based on a temporary residence permit.

Submitting an application to the MOS from abroad

- is not permitted. The application must be submitted while you are in Poland.


To submit an application via MOS, follow the instructions below:

  1. Review the MOS portal’s terms of use and information about permanent residence permits.
  2. Make sure you have access to the MOS application service via login.gov.pl.
    You can log in to the service using a trusted profile, an e-ID (if you are a Polish citizen), or a qualified digital signature. You can create a free trusted profile online through the online banking systems of certain banks. For more information, visit the trusted profile website: pz.gov.pl.
  3. Create a user account on MOS.
    The ability to submit an application on MOS is available only to logged-in users. A user account on MOS is created by the foreign national to whom the application pertains, either independently (if of legal age) or by a person authorized to submit the application on their behalf (a parent of a minor, a guardian, or a curator of an unaccompanied minor). Each account on the portal is assigned to a specific person, and submitting an application requires personal action (an application cannot be submitted on your behalf by a representative). To register an account, click the "My Account" button and follow the instructions. If you encounter technical issues with account registration, visit the FAQ section; if you cannot find the information you need, contact technical support.
  4. Log in to your MOS account using your chosen login method at login.gov.pl. If you encounter technical issues, follow the steps in point 3.
  5. Go to the home page, then click on the "Step 3. Submit an application online" panel. From the available online applications, select "Permit for permanent residence."
  6. When filling out the application, be sure to follow the instructions provided in the application guide. During the process, attach a digital photo (JPG) that meets specific criteria, as well as a scan of all pages of a valid travel document (PDF format).
    The application includes context-sensitive help to assist you in completing it. If you have questions, go to the FAQ section, and if you still have doubts, contact the authority to which the application is being submitted for clarification. If you encounter difficulties while filling out the application, remember that you can always return to it before submitting and make additions or changes.
  7. Before approving the application, check that it does not contain any errors.
  8. Sign the application via login.gov.pl using a trusted signature with a trusted profile, a qualified electronic signature, or a personal signature. 
  9. Submit the application via MOS—if the application is submitted correctly, you will receive an official acknowledgment of receipt (UPO) from the provincial governor. Download and save it. 

 

Certificate confirming the submission of the application

If the application was submitted correctly and during a legal stay, the foreigner’s continued stay is considered legal from the date of submission until the date on which the decision regarding the permit becomes final.

In such a situation, the provincial governor is required to issue the foreign national, free of charge, a certificate confirming the submission of the application. It will be generated in the MOS system. The foreign national may also collect it in paper form during a personal visit to the provincial office.

⇒ The certificate does not entitle you to travel within the Schengen Area. You may travel to your country of origin or permanent residence, but to return to Poland, you must obtain a visa if you come from a country subject to visa requirements, or meet the entry conditions for visa-free travel.

⇒ If you return to Poland under visa-free travel, you may remain in Poland until the date on which the decision regarding the granting of a permanent residence permit becomes final, even if this occurs more than 90 days after the date of your re-entry into the Schengen Area.


Stamp duty

  • 640 PLN

It must be paid in advance, at the time of submitting the application, under penalty of the application for a permanent residence permit being returned (Art. 261 § 2 of the Code of Administrative Procedure). If you fail to pay this fee, the provincial governor will order you to pay it within a period of 7 to 14 days. If you fail to comply with the request, you must expect that the provincial governor will return the application by way of a decision. 

Method of payment

Pay the stamp duty to the bank account or at the cashier’s office of the tax authority, which is the mayor of the city having jurisdiction over the seat of the provincial governor to whom you are submitting the application.

⇒ Proof of payment of the stamp duty should be attached to the application for a permit as one of its required attachments. This document must be submitted to the provincial governor no later than the deadline specified in the request for payment of the stamp duty.

⇒ When submitting the application via MOS, you may attach an electronic confirmation of the bank transfer generated by the banking system or a scan of the proof of payment of the stamp duty for the permit.

⇒ Stamp duty is not collected from foreigners who have been granted asylum in Poland, holders of a valid Polish Card, and Brexit beneficiaries—posted workers.

 


Proceeding in the matter of

Party to the proceedings

It is exclusively a foreigner. It is they who:

  1. fills in the application in MOS,
  2. signs application with a trusted signature using a trusted profile or a qualified electronic signature and 
  3. sends this application in MOS along with the necessary attachments.

He cannot be replaced in these activities, for example, by a representative, with the proviso that in certain cases these activities are performed by a parent, guardian or curator.

Authority conducting the proceedings

The competent authority to consider the application is the voivode competent for the place of residence of the foreigner – this voivode receives the electronically submitted application, initiates and conducts the proceedings for granting a permanent residence permit, or refuses to initiate it. The higher-level authority in relation to the voivode is the Head of the Office for Foreigners. 

Initiation of proceedings

Administrative proceedings regarding the granting of a permanent residence permit is initiated at the request expressed in the application.

The voivode will refuse to initiate proceedings when on the date of submission of the application for this permit even one of the obstacles listed in Article 196(1) of the Aliens Act exists. A refusal to initiate proceedings takes the form provisions against which a complaint may be filed.

  • the foreigner resides in Poland illegally, with the exception of:
    • of a minor child of a foreigner born in Poland to whom a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident permit has been granted;
    • a child of a Polish citizen who remains under the parental authority of that citizen;
    • a foreigner who has been granted asylum in Poland;
  • resides in Poland on the basis of a Schengen visa authorising only entry to the territory of the Republic of Poland and stay in that territory issued for the purpose referred to in Article 60(1)(23) of the Aliens Act (i.e. arrival for humanitarian reasons, due to state interest or international obligations);
  • resides in Poland on the basis of the permit referred to in Article 181 of the Aliens Act (i.e. the permit granted due to circumstances requiring a short-term stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland), except for a foreigner who is of Polish origin and intends to settle in Poland;
  • resides in Poland on the basis of an EU long-term resident permit;
  • is detained, placed in a guarded centre or in a detention centre for foreigners or a preventive measure in the form of a prohibition to leave the country is applied to him/her, except for a foreigner who has been granted asylum in Poland;
  • is serving a custodial sentence or is temporarily arrested, except for a foreigner to whom
  • resides in the territory of the Republic of Poland after having been obliged to return, and the deadline for voluntary return set out in the decision obliging the foreigner to return has not yet expired, including in the event of an extension of this deadline, except for a foreigner who has been granted asylum in Poland;
  • is obliged to leave the territory of Poland in the cases referred to in Article 299(6) of the Aliens Act, except for a foreigner who has been granted asylum in Poland;
  • resides outside Poland.

Personal appearance

After submitting the application, you will be required to come to the provincial office at most twice — for the first time, to fulfil obligations including presenting the travel document, submitting fingerprints and a signature specimen, and then — if the permit is granted — for the purpose of collecting the personalised residence card, after the permit has been granted. Additional visits may only be needed when required in the given proceedings, e.g. to provide the necessary explanations.


After receiving the application in MOS the voivode calls the foreigner to appear in person at the office for the purpose of:

  • przedstawienia valid travel tocument (or another tocument confirming their identity, in the case where the foreigner toes not have a valid travel tocument and it is not possible to obtain one);
  • submitting fingerprints;
  • submission of a signature specimen.

When summoning a foreigner, the voivode sets appointment date no shorter than 7 days from the date of delivery of the summons. At the same time, the governor may also summon the foreigner to:

  • supplementing formal deficiencies of the application, if it finds that such exist - under pain of leaving the application without consideration;
  • payment of the stamp duty for granting the permit - under pain of returning the application;
  • to submit tocuments confirming that the permit requirements are met.

The voivode will discontinue proceedings in the situation where the foreigner:

  • toes not appear for the appointment at the voivodeship office, in accordance with the summons;
  • appears in response to the summons, but fails to fulfil the action to which he was summoned (i.e. will not present a travel tocument, will not submit fingerprints or

  • minors under the age of 6;

    ⇒ A parent, guardian or curator who submitted the application in MOS on behalf of the minor must appear at the voivodeship office when summoned to present the travel tocument of the minor foreigner. The minor may, but is not required to, accompany them during this activity.

  • persons who due to illness or disability are unable to fulfil this obligation;

    ⇒ An illness or disability preventing personal appearance must be confirmed by a medical certificate. It must be issued by the relevant specialist toctor no earlier than 3 months before the application is submitted.

    ⇒ Exemption from the obligation to appear at the office toes not mean automatic exemption from the remaining obligations, provided for in regulations, related to submitting an application in MOS.

Persons who are exempt from the obligation to appear in person fulfil the obligation to present a travel tocument by:

  • the parent or legal guardian of the minor foreigner (under 6 years of age) appears on the date and at the place indicated, in accordance with the voivode's summons, in order to present the minor's valid travel tocument;

  • a person who is exempt from the obligation to appear due to illness or disability: 
    • sends to the provincial office in paper or electronic form a copy of the travel tocument or submits a paper copy via a representative – in accordance with the voivode's summons.

⇒ If the foreigner does not hold a valid travel document and it is not possible to obtain one, the foreigner proceeds analogously with the identity document they hold. They simultaneously attach a declaration and, where possible, supporting evidence confirming that they cannot obtain a travel document from their country of origin. 

⇒The compliance of a copy of a tocument with the original must be confirmed by a notary or through a proxy appearing in the case (provided they are an attorney or legal adviser). 

  • minors under the age of 6;

  • persons from whom taking fingerprints is not physically possible;

  • persons who due to illness or disability are unable to appear at the voivodeship office.

⇒ An illness or disability that prevents personal attendance must be confirmed by a medical certificate. It must be issued by the appropriate specialist physician no earlier than 3 months before the application is submitted.

  • minors under the age of 13;

  • persons who due to disability are unable to fulfil this obligation (are unable to sign independently);

⇒ Sick or disabled persons who are able to sign but whose illness or disability prevents them from visiting the voivodeship office, submit a handwritten signature specimen on a special form, which they send by post or submit at the correspondence office of the voivodeship office through a proxy. They may also send a certified copy of the form with the signature specimen electronically.

⇒ The form is available for download at Step 3. – Submit the application online in the "Other applications" panel.

Application processing deadline

Application o udzielenie zezwolenia zostanie rozpoznany within 6 months of submitting a complete application wraz z koniecznymi załącznikami i wymaganymi tokumentami.


Decision

After reviewing the evidence and possibly supplementing it the voivode rules by administrative decision on the granting of the permit, unless it finds obstacles to granting it, including assessing whether the requirements concerning

Issuing a refusal decision may be caused by:

  • failure to meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit, referred to in Art. 195(1) of the Act on Foreigners
  • entry of the foreigner's data into the register of foreigners whose stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland is undesirable, or the listing of the foreigner's data in the Schengen Information System for the purpose of refusing entry and stay;
  • grounds of national defence or state security or protection of public safety and order;
  • the interest of the Republic of Poland;
  • the conclusion or existence of a marriage for the purpose of circumventing the provisions governing
  • submission in the proceedings for a permanent residence permit of an application containing
  • tax arrears, except when the legally provided relief, deferral or payment arrangement has been obtained;
  • failure to reimburse the costs related to issuing and enforcing the decision on the foreigner's obligation to return



 Foreigners who have Polish ancestry and intend to settle in Poland
The grounds for refusal are limited to:
  • failure to meet the requirements for the permit;
  • national defence or state security or protection of public safety and order;
  • submission of an application for a permit containing false personal data

 

  UK citizens referred to in Art. 195 para. 1 point 10
The grounds for refusal are limited to:
  • failure to meet the requirements for the permit;
  • national defence or state security or protection of public safety and order;
  • submission of an application for a permit containing false personal data
  • entry of the foreigner's data into the register of foreigners whose stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland is undesirable, or the listing of the foreigner's data in the Schengen Information System for the purpose of refusing entry and stay.

 

  Asylum seekers
In the case of foreigners applying for a permanent residence permit invoking the fact that they were granted asylum, the only basis for refusing to grant the permit is failure to meet the requirements for granting it.

 

What next? 

⇒ A foreigner who has obtained the permit a residence card is issued (more information in the tab: "Residence card").

Rights and obligations (including):

  Entitlements concerning legal stay and travel

⇒ Thanks to the permit granted and the residence card you can legally reside (settle) in Poland and cross the Polish border without the need to hold a visa or fulfil the conditions for entry under the visa-free regime. 

⇒ You may also cross the internal borders of the Schengen Area and stay in other Schengen Area countries for a period of 90 days in any 180-day period, provided that the entry and stay requirements are met.

⇒ Remember that leaving Poland for a period longer than 6 years is one of the grounds for revoking the permit.

⇒ The permanent residence permit expires on the day of obtaining the status of EU long-term resident or acquiring Polish citizenship.

 

  Full access to the Polish labour market
⇒ This means that you may work on the same terms as citizens of the Republic of Poland (without a work permit).

 

  Running a business on simplified terms
⇒ is possible on the basis of an entry in the CEiDG.

 

  Right to family reunification
⇒ Immediate family members from outside the EU gain the opportunity to join or continue to reside with you in Poland after meeting certain conditions.

 

  Obligation to comply with legal norms
⇒ You are responsible for violations of applicable law, and in the event of a final conviction in Poland to a penalty of at least 3 years of imprisonment or a finding that you constitute a threat to national defence or security or the protection of public safety and order, the permit will be revoked.

 

Against the decision to refuse granting the permit, an appeal lies to the Head of the Office for Foreigners. Filing an appeal constitutes your right, not obligation.

⇒ If the permit is not granted and you to not have a basis for further stay in Poland, and you to not lodge an appeal against the voivode's decision within the deadline, you should leave the territory of Poland within 30 days from the date the voivode's decision became final. If you to not leave, enforcement proceedings may be initiated against you

⇒ In the event of submitting next application for granting a residence permit within this deadline, the application will not be considered.

⇒ Watch instructional video, to find out more.


Appeal

If you disagree with the decision issued by the voivode, you may appeal against it. Appeal will be considered by the Head of the Office for Foreigners, and your case will be handled by the Department for Legalization of Stay of this office.

Appeal submit to the Head of the Office for Foreigners in writing, through the voivode, who issued the decision. Do this within 14 days from the date, when the decision was served.

⇒ Appeals is not submitted via the MOS portal, but on the portal (in the "Submit application online" section) you will find a form to help you prepare it.

⇒ The appeal must be submitted in writing sent by post, submitted in person or by a third party at the voivode's correspondence office, or in electronic form to the voivode's electronic delivery address. 

⇒ After filing an appeal direct further correspondence directly to the UdSC. 


Appeal processing deadline

Appeal should be examined within 90 days. If it contains any formal deficiencies, this period will be counted from the date they are remedied.

Most typical decisions

In the appeal proceedings, the Head of the Office for Foreigners may recognise the validity of granting a permanent residence permit.

In that case will annul the challenged voivode's decision and grant the permit, explaining in the justification the reasons for revoking the decision. 

A foreigner who, after the decision of the first-instance authority was overturned, obtained a permanent residence permit in Poland,  a residence card is issued.

This tocument is issued ex officio by the voivode who conducted the first-instance proceedings, on the original of the travel tocument

In the appeal proceedings, the Head of the Office for Foreigners may find that the requirements have not been met.

Then will uphold the voivode's decision and explain his position. 

⇒ If the permit is not granted and you to not have a basis for further stay in Poland, you should leave the territory of Poland within 30 days from the date on which the decision upholding the voivode's decision issued by the Head of the Office for Foreigners is delivered to you. If you do not leave, a decision may be issued against you return obligation decision. 

⇒ If you submit next application for granting a residence permit within this deadline, this application will not be examined (refusal to initiate proceedings).

⇒Watch the instructional video to learn more.

In the appeal proceedings, the Head of the Office for Foreigners may find that the decision was issued in violation of procedural rules.

In that case will annul the voivode's decision and refer the case back to him for re-examination.

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