What is a Residence Card?
A residence card is an identification document for foreigners in Poland, confirming the right to reside in the country.
Depending on the basis, you can obtain a temporary residence permit (temporary stay) or a permanent residence permit.
Types of Residence Cards
Temporary Residence Card
Issued for up to 3 years. Grounds for obtaining:
- employment in Poland,
- studies,
- starting a business,
- marriage to a Polish citizen,
- family reunification,
- humanitarian or scientific reasons.
Blue Card (Niebieska Karta UE)
Issued to highly qualified foreigners for work in Poland. Validity depends on the contract.
Permanent Residence Card
Grants the right to reside indefinitely, but the card must be renewed every 10 years. Grounds:
- having the Pole’s Card or Polish ancestry,
- marriage to a Polish citizen (3 years of marriage and 2 years of residence in Poland),
- other legal categories.
EU Long-Term Resident Card
Issued to foreigners who have legally resided in Poland for at least 5 years and have income or a business. Legally equivalent to the permanent residence card.
Required Documents
Basic document package:
- application in Polish;
- photo (3.5×4.5 cm);
- passport;
- stamp duty payment;
- rental agreement;
- PESEL number.
Additional documents depend on the basis. For example, a student must provide proof of study and tuition payment.
When submitting to the Voivodeship Office, fingerprints must be provided. Processing takes 2 months or more.
Can They Refuse?
Yes, refusal is possible. Reasons:
- incomplete documentation;
- lack of legal basis;
- forged documents;
- threat to state security.
Refusals can be appealed through the Head of the Office for Foreigners in Warsaw (UDSC) or in court.
Residence Card Without Employment
Some residence cards are not tied to an employer:
- permanent residence card,
- EU long-term resident card,
- residence card based on marriage to a Polish citizen.
In these cases, foreigners can freely change jobs and employers.
Card Replacement
The permanent residence card must be renewed every 10 years, and also in cases of:
- loss or damage,
- change in appearance,
- data changes.
Applications must be submitted to the Voivodeship Office within 14 days, and in case of loss, notification within 3 days.
