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When coming to Poland to live, study, or work, many foreigners first seek to legalize their stay. A residence card in Poland will help confirm the right to stay in the country for a long time. With this document, citizens of other countries can:

• Cross the border multiple times without applying for or extending a visa;

• Purchase real estate and motor vehicles;

• Move freely within the Schengen Area;

• Study at Polish universities free of charge;

• Register their business;

• Obtain a loan.

What is a residence card?

It is a document that can be obtained by foreigners who are legally in the territory of the Republic of Poland. It gives the right to live here for a certain period or permanently.

Main types of residence permits

In accordance with Polish law, there are three main types of such permits:

1. Temporary residence card

• In most cases, it is issued for a period of one to three years.

• It can be obtained by foreign citizens who have come to:

  • work,

  • study,

  • do business,

  • get married.

• It can be a residence card for work or a residence card for study.

2. Permanent residence card

Provides greater stability for representatives of other countries who meet the legal requirements of the Republic of Poland and have a sufficiently strong connection with this country.

3. EU long-term resident card

With this document, a person gets more rights and opportunities to immigrate to European Union countries.

There can also be:

• a residence card for family reunification,

• a residence card for Ukrainians.

There are slightly different requirements for obtaining such official documents.

How to get one

Usually, the process has a few steps.

Most common reasons for applying:

• Working for a Polish company;

• Studying at a college or university;

• Getting married to a Polish citizen;

• Doing business;

• Arrival for humanitarian reasons.
  
  

Standard procedure:

1. Submission of an application to the provincial office;

2. Provision of all necessary documents for a residence card;
   Fingerprinting;

3. Decision.

Residence permit in the Republic of Poland: terms and cost

Virtually all applicants for this permit are concerned about how much a residence card in Poland costs and how long it takes to obtain one.

According to statistics:

• It takes 3–9 months to process an application,

• but the procedure may be delayed due to:

  • workload of the office,

  • need for additional checks.

Factors influencing the cost:

• Type of document;

• Purpose of stay;

• Additional costs (translation, insurance, support, etc.).

Is it possible to speed up the procedure?

It is not possible to obtain a residence card urgently, but it is possible to reduce the waiting time. To do this, you need to:

• Ensure that all documents are prepared correctly and without errors;

• Respond to requests from the authorities in a timely manner;

• Have the case supervised by professionals.

Even the slightest inaccuracy in official documents or the absence of a simple certificate can significantly slow down the application process.

How to extend a residence permit in Poland?

If the validity of this document is expiring, you need to submit an application for renewal of the residence card in advance.

Experts recommend doing this about 45 days before the expiration date to avoid interruptions and not worry about your legal status in the country.

Common mistakes when submitting an application

As practice shows, foreigners most often:

• Miss the deadlines for the application procedure;

• Do not have certified translations;

• Fail to confirm their income and rental housing;

• Do not provide all the documents;

• Do not appear at the embassy when summoned.

By avoiding these mistakes, you can significantly increase the chances of a quick decision on your case.

Professional support and comprehensive services

To do everything correctly, accurately, and competently, it is best to seek the help of experienced specialists. You will find such specialists at Immigro Legal Group, which provides comprehensive services on issues of:

• legalization of stay,

• employment,

• obtaining residence cards,

• citizenship,

• other immigration processes.

To begin cooperation, contact our experts online or by calling the contact number.