Poland - Student

Where to apply

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.

Documents to submit

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. A certificate of an entity conducting studies concerning enrolling for their study programme or continuation studies or accepting for a preparatory course;
2. Evidence of payment of the fee for studies if a foreigner starts or continues studies for a fee;
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 covering the costs of medical treatment on the territory of the Republic of Poland;
4. Documents certifying having sufficient financial means to cover the�subsistence costs and return to the state of origin or domicile or the costs of transit to a third state that will permit access and the costs of the studies.

The first permit for educational purposes at a university is granted for a period of 15 months. If the studies justify the stay of a foreigner on the territory of the Republic of Poland for a period shorter than 1 year, the first permit is granted for the term of the academic year or the studies, extended by 3 months.

Subsequent temporary stay permit in order to receive education at university is granted for a period necessary for achieving the goal of stay of a foreigner on the territory of the Republic of Poland, however no longer than 3 years.

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

More on permanent residence permit

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:

1.� 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;

2. 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.