Foreigners who at the time of submitting the application are staying in Poland, among other things, on the following bases are excluded from the possibility of obtaining this permit:

• for the purpose of completing studies, vocational training, education;
• in connection with being granted consent to stay for humanitarian reasons, consent to tolerated stay, asylum or temporary protection, or applying for international protection (refugee status, subsidiary protection) or asylum;
• on the basis of temporary residence permits: for the purpose of intra-company transfer (Article 139a(1)), for the purpose of long-term mobility of a senior employee, specialist or trainee within an intra-company transfer (Article 139o(1)), due to circumstances requiring a short-term stay of a foreigner in the territory of the Republic of Poland (Article 181(1)).

Foreigner is a third-country national or a stateless person, and at the time of applying and during the ongoing administrative proceedings up to the issuance of the decision on granting the EU long-term resident permit resides legally in the territory of Poland (with the exclusion of certain grounds of residence).

The foreigner was staying:

• in Poland legally and continuously for at least 5 years immediately preceding the application for authorisationor

• has resided legally and continuously for at least 5 years in the EUimmediately preceding the application for authorisation, including the last two years spent in Poland on the basis of a Blue Card. Further information can be found under: Special residence rules for Blue Card holders.

Does not apply to foreigners who had not reached the age of 16 at the time of submitting the application.

Knowledge of the Polish language is confirmed in a manner prescribed by law. Othis means that even if you speak Polish very well, you must present specific tocuments listed in the act for this.

The foreigner hasa source of stable and regular income (therefore characterised by relative stability and continuity)sufficient to cover the living expenses of himself and his dependent family members.

Period under review

The foreigner should have had such a source of income in the period immediately preceding the application by:

• 2 years - if he/she has been residing in the EU for at least 5 years on the basis of residence permits with the annotation "EU Blue Card", including at least 2 years on the territory of Poland;
• 3 years - in other cases.

- and in the course of administrative proceedings.

Level of income required

The amount of income held in the period from 1 January 2025 must be higher than:

• PLN 1010 per month if the foreigner manages independently and has no dependants;
• PLN 823 per monthper family member.

- within the meaning of the Act of 27 August 2004 on healthcare services financed from public funds or confirmation of the insurer covering the costs of medical treatment in the territory of the Republic of Poland

- 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,
  • presented a current legal title to occupy the residential premises in which they will reside;
  • 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.

The required period of residence in Poland toes not include the foreigner's stay:

• who is an employee posted for cross-border service provision or a service provider providing such services;
• on the basis of a Schengen visa issued for the purpose referred to in Article 23 of the Foreigners Act (i.e. arrival for humanitarian reasons, in the interest of the state or international obligations);
• during the period of their studies in Poland;
• who was obliged to return and the period of voluntary return specified in the decision on this matter has not yet expired, including in the event of extension of that period;
• who is obliged to leave the territory of Poland in the event of refusal to grant or withdrawal of a residence permit, or in the event of refusal to grant or withdrawal of international protection;
• who is a member of a diplomatic mission or consular office of a foreign state or another person equated with them under laws, international agreements or custom;
• on the basis of a temporary residence permit: for the purpose of intra-company transfer or for the purpose of long-term mobility of a senior employee, specialist or trainee within an intra-company transfer, or due to circumstances requiring a short-term stay;
• during the proceedings for refugee status, if they ended with a refusal to grant refugee status or subsidiary protection;
• on the basis of a permit to cross the border under the local border traffic scheme.

Furthermore, the following stays are not counted:

• related to the use of temporary protection.

The 5-year required period of residence in Poland includes:

• the entire period of stay in Poland during the proceedings for granting international protection – if it exceeded 18 months or half of that period, if it is shorter than 18 months;

• half the period of stay in Poland on the basis of a visa issued for the purpose of studies, education in a toctoral school or vocational training;

• half the period of stay in Poland on the basis of a temporary residence permit issued for the aforementioned purposes (i.e. Articles 144, 187(1)(b) of the Aliens Act).

If you are staying in Poland on the basis of a "Blue Card" and have previously resided in another EU country on certain grounds, the legal and uninterrupted 5-year residence required to acquire resident status will be counted, according to the "2+3" rule(last 2 years in Poland plus the preceding 3 years in the EU outside Poland ).

The "2+3" rule - explanation

The stay is uninterrupted if none of the breaks:

• was not longer than 6 months at one time, and all interruptions together did not exceed 10 months in the period required for granting the permit – in the case of a foreigner's stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland;
• did not exceed 12 months, and all interruptions did not exceed 18 months in total during the period required to grant the permit – in the case of a stay in the territory of another EU state by a foreigner holding a Blue Card.

The stay is also not interrupted by a temporary absence from Poland caused by:

• the foreigner performing professional duties or providing work abroad under a contract concluded with an employer whose registered office is in Poland;
• accompanying the foreigner on such a business trip by his/her spouse or minor child;
• a specific personal situation requiring the foreigner's presence outside Poland, provided it lasted no longer than 6 months (e.g. a specific health situation preventing return, occurring after an accident or related to a sudden deterioration in health);
• completion of internship or participation in classes provided for in the course of studies at a Polish university

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 have 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.

Legal title to the premises is the right to use a given premises or property. The tocument confirming it may be, for example:

• title deed, 
• lease agreement,
• a cooperative ownership right to a dwelling,
• lease or loan agreement (but the Foreigners Act allows only the situation where the lender is a descendant, ascendant, spouse, spouse's parents or sibling of the foreigner),
• a court judgment or administrative decision that constitutes the basis for the right to use the premises.

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

Documents confirming residence:

• All evidence credibly proving, beyond toubt, that the foreigner legally resided in Poland for the required period.
• In the case of highly qualified workers who have moved to Poland from other EU Member States, it is additionally necessary to present the title entitling to stay (in accordance with the explanation in the "Requirements" tab) and evidence of uninterrupted stay in that State;

Evidence of permissible interruptions in residence, e.g.:

• confirmation of foreign business trips;
• certificate from the university on participation in student exchange or internships
• supporting documents confirming a fortuitous event necessitating departure and/or preventing return to Poland, e.g. an accident, death of a close person, serious illness. 

For example:

• tax returns;
• employment contract;
• mandate contract;
• ZUS certificate of the declared monthly contribution base for health insurance
• ZUS certificate of the amount of the received pension or disability pension;
• if you run a business or company – tocuments confirming the income earned from the company / an employment contract if you perform the function of a board member on its basis.
  
  
  

You confirm knowledge of the Polish language for the purpose of obtaining EU long-term resident status exclusively by means of one of the documents listed below. All other tocuments confirming knowledge of the Polish language are not accepted. Please note that post-secondary school certificate no longer constitutes a confirming tocument knowledge of the Polish language. You can confirm your knowledge of Polish by presenting this document only in administrative proceedings that will beinitiated before 30 June 2026., and the certificate confirms completion of a post-secondary school before 30 June 2025.

• the following certificates of Polish language proficiency at the language competency level of at least
• • a certificate of Polish language proficiency issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Polish Language Proficiency [more information: certyfikatpolski.pl];
  • certificate of the European Consortium for the Certificate of Attainment in Modern Languages (ECL);
  •  TELC GmbH, WBT Weiterbildungs-Testsysteme GmbH (TELC);
  • certificate confirming knowledge of the Polish language in accordance with Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the Council of Europe issued after completing Polish or foreign language classes or another form of language education in Polish or a foreign language by a university that has been approved for the purpose of admitting foreigners for study purposes, or, if exempted from this obligation, against which no decision prohibiting the admission of foreigners has been issued;
  • certificate of acquisition of the right to practise the profession of sworn translator issued by the Minister of Justice according to the prescribed form, or a certificate confirming the entry on the list of sworn translators;
• school leaving certificate from a school in Poland (primary, secondary, artistic) with Polish as the language of instruction, except for a post-secondary school, completion of which toes not confirm language proficiency;
• school leaving certificate (primary, secondary, artistic) from abroad with Polish as the language of instruction, except for a post-secondary school, completion of which toes not, in principle, confirm language proficiency;
• diploma of completion of studies in Poland with Polish as the language of instruction;
• diploma of completion of studies with Polish as the language of instruction at a university abroad.

• the foreigner is abroad or is staying in Poland illegally;
• resides in Poland on the basis of a Schengen visa authorising only entry and stay in Poland 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 for the purpose of undertaking studies or vocational training, or in connection with an intention to undertake or continue education (i.e. temporary residence permits referred to in Article 144(1), Article 187(1)(a) and (b) or visas referred to in Article 60(1)(9-11));
• resides in Poland on the basis of temporary residence permits: for the purpose of performing work within an intra-company transfer (Article 139a(1)), for the purpose of long-term mobility of a manager, specialist or trainee within an intra-company transfer (Article 139o(1)) or due to circumstances requiring a short-term stay of the foreigner in the territory of the Republic of Poland (Article 181(1));
• resides in Poland in connection with having been granted permission to stay for humanitarian reasons, tolerated stay, asylum or temporary protection, or applying for international protection (refugee status, subsidiary protection) or asylum;
• is an employee seconded by a service provider for the purpose of cross-border service provision or a service provider providing cross-border services;
• 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;
• is serving a custodial sentence or is temporarily arrested;
• 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 obligation decision has not yet expired, including in the event of an extension of this deadline;
• is obliged to leave the territory of Poland in the cases referred to in Article 299(6) of the Aliens Act.

• 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 these obligations 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 and current legal title to the occupied premises;
  
  
• a person who is exempt from the obligation to appear in person due to illness or disability: 
  • sends to the voivodeship office in paper or electronic form a copy of the travel document or submits a paper copy of this tocument at the registry office using the assistance of a representative or third party – in accordance with the voivode's summons.
  • sends to the provincial office in paper or electronic form a copy of the tocument confirming the legal title to the premises, or submits a paper copy via a representative – in accordance with the voivode's summons.

⇒ If the foreigner toes not have a valid travel tocument and it is not possible to obtain one, they should proceed analogously with the identity tocument they hold. At the same time, they should attach a statement and, if possible, evidence confirming that they cannot obtain a travel tocument from the 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.

⇒ Illness or disability preventing personal appearance must be confirmed by a medical certificate. It must be issued by the competent specialist physician no earlier than 3 months before the application is submitted. ⇒ A scan of the certificate (pdf format) must be sent in MOS together with the application.

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

• failure to meet the requirements for granting a long-term EU resident permit referred to in Art. 211 para. 1 of the Act on Foreigners (listed in the "Requirements" section), 

• national defence or state security or protection of public safety and order.

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

Rights and obligations (including):

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.

In the appeal proceedings, the Head of the Office for Foreigners may recognise the validity of granting an EU long-term resident's 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 long-term EU resident permit,  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.