Poland - Other worker

The foreigner makes the application personally, no later than on the last day of the lawful residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland to the voivode competent with regard to the foreigner’s place of residence.

Necessary:

1. Completed form of the application for temporary residence permit, in accordance with information;
2. 4 up-to-date photographs;
3. Photocopy of a valid travel document (original available for inspection), in particularly justified case if the foreigner does not have a valid travel document and it is not possible to obtain such document, may present another document which confirms his/her identity.

Note: Lack of any of the aforementioned documents will result in margin call within 7 days from its delivery, under pain of leaving the application without examination.

Standard documents necessary for examination of the application:

Note: Documents listed below attached to the application may reduce the quantity of official correspondence and shorten the time which is necessary to handle the case.

1. Work permit as defined by the Act of 20 April 2004 on Promotion of Employment and Labour Market Institutions or a written statement of the employer of the intention to entrust them with work, if the permit for work is not required. The document is not required for instance, in the case of foreigners eligible for stay and performing work on the territory of a Member State of the EU/EEA/Switzerland, who are employed by an employer having registered office in this state and who are temporarily appointed to Poland to provide services. See the rest cases.
2. a document confirming appointment by a foreign employer on the territory of the Republic of Poland in order to perform work;
3. documents confirming having health insurance as defined by the provisions of the Act of 27 August 2004 on health care services financed from the public funds or the insurer confirming to cover the costs of medical treatment on the territory of the Republic of Poland;
4. a document confirming provided place of residence(e.g. confirmation of residence, lease contract of a flat, another contract that enables disposing of residential premises, or statement of a person authorised to dispose of residential premises on ensuring a foreigner with a place of residence);
5. documents in order to certify a stable and regular source of income adequate for covering the subsistence costs for oneself and dependant family members (for a person managing alone – in the amount higher than PLN 634 net monthly, for a person in the family – in the amount higher than PLN 514 net monthly, e.g. PIT declaration concerning the amount of income of a foreigner for the last tax year or appropriate certificate from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).

Temporary residence permit is granted for a period which is necessary to complete the object of this residence on the territory of Poland longer than 3 months to 3 years, with the possibility to apply for subsequent permits.

It is possible to submit a request for reconsideration of visa application to a consul or appeal a negative decision to grant you a residence permit before the Head of the Office for Foreigners. You can bring a further appeal before the administrative courts.

This permit does not grant the right to work on the territory Poland. In order to employ it is necessary to obtain the work permit, unless it is not required.

Long-term residence

Polish law makes a distinction between a permanent residence permit and the EU long-term residence permit.

Permanent residence permit

A decision on granting a permanent residence permit is issued for an indefinite period. A residence card remains valid for 10 years, which means that it should be replaced every 10 years.

A permanent residence permit issued in Poland does not entitle the foreigner to take up work in another country.

A permanent residence permit entitles the foreigner to travel to other Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for tourism purposes

EU long-term residence permit

The foreigner who has been staying legally and continuously on the territory of the Republic of Poland staying for at least 5 years directly prior to submission of the application for granting this permits and meets the following conditions:

has a source of stable and regular income adequate to cover the means of subsistence for them and their family members who are subsisted by them;

has health insurance as defined by the Act of 27 August 2004 on health care services financed from the public funds or a certificate confirming that the costs of medical treatment on the territory of the Republic of Poland shall be covered by an insurer.

The permit is granted for indefinite time.

Note for important exceptions:

1.In the case of mobile holders of the so-called EU Blue Card: The required 5-year period of residence on the territory of Poland, shall include the total period of legal residence on the territory of the European Union, if the foreigner was staying legally and continuously at this territory for at least 5 years on the basis of the residence document with an annotation ” EU Blue Card ” issued by a Member State of the European Union, including Poland – for at least 2 years directly prior to submission of the application for granting the permit for stay of a long-term resident of EU on the basis of a permit for temporary residence for the purpose of work in profession requiring high qualifications.

2.In the case of foreigners who stay for the purpose of studies or continue their legal residence in Poland after completing these studies: foreigners who stay in Poland for the purpose of studies not may apply for a residence permit for EU long-term resident. Foreigners residing in Poland due to their intention to take up or continue education also cannot apply for this permit. The 5-year period of residence, determining obtaining of the aforementioned permit shall include half of the period of stay on the basis of a visa issued for the purpose of study programs or on the basis of a residence permit for the purpose of receiving higher education.