Temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting scientific research

Introduction

A temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting scientific research is granted in the form of an administrative decision to third-country nationals (i.e., persons who do not have the citizenship of one of the EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) and stateless persons if the purpose of their stay in Poland is to conduct scientific research or development works in a scientific unit established on the territory of the Republic of Poland, which has been approved under the relevant procedure by the minister responsible for internal affairs.

This permit may be applied for only by foreigners who have a professional title corresponding in Poland to at least a master's degree or equivalent, enabling them to apply for a doctoral degree and have been admitted conducting scientific research by concluding an appropriate agreement with them by the receiving entity.

Conducting scientific research or development work must also justify a stay of more than 3 months.

This permit is granted by the voivode, competent for the place of stay of the foreigner, and in the case of appeal proceedings – by the Head of the Office for Foreigners, for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of stay – for a minimum period of more than 3 months, but not longer than for a period of 3 years.

This permit is not automatically renewed – a foreigner interested in continuing their stay in Poland before its expiry should apply for a temporary residence permit, e.g. another temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting scientific research or a special permit for the purpose of looking for a job or conducting scientific research (check the Requirements for granting this permit), or an indefinite permit (i.e., a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident's residence permit), provided that it meets the requirements necessary to grant it.

Remember!

If you have already been admitted as a researcher in another EU Member State (i.e., you have a residence permit or a long-term visa with the annotation "researcher") and you intend to conduct only part of the research/development work in Poland, for a period longer than 180 days, but not exceeding 360 days, and conducting this work is your main purpose of stay in Poland, then the appropriate purpose of your stay is "Long-term mobility of the researcher", and not –"Conducting scientific research or development".