Residence permits in Poland: legalisation of stay for foreigners
Eight matters, one law firm.
A residence permit in Poland is one of several ways to legalise your stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland. Other options include visa-free travel, a visa or, for EU citizens, registration of stay. The right path depends on your citizenship, the length of your stay and its purpose: work, study, business or family. Choose your case from the list below or write to us, and we will point you to the right procedure.
What we handle
Temporary residence card
Electronic filing through the Case Handling Module, a complete set of documents, and running the case before the voivode.
Permanent residence permit
We check whether you meet the conditions for permanent residence, prepare the application and run the proceedings.
EU long-term resident
Assessment of the conditions for EU long-term resident status and running the case.
Reply to an official request
Analysis of the request, gathering the documents it names, and a submission filed within the deadline.
Appeal against a refusal
Analysis of the reasoning behind the refusal and an appeal to the Head of the Office for Foreigners; a court complaint where needed.
Delay complaint
A reminder and a complaint about inaction when proceedings take longer than they should.
Change of employer
An assessment of how new work affects the legality of your stay, plus the steps and deadlines it requires.
Work legalisation
Work permits, declarations entrusting work, and the employment paperwork for a foreign worker.
Who grants a residence permit in Poland and when do you need one?
A residence permit is granted by the voivode competent for your current place of stay, under the Act on Foreigners of 12 December 2013, and you need one if you want to stay in Poland longer than your visa or visa-free stay allows. Visa-free travel and Schengen visas cover short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A national D visa covers stays longer than 90 days, up to one year; you apply for it at a consulate or a visa centre before arrival, and it is issued for a specific purpose, such as work or study. For a visa, your passport must remain valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure date.
Residence permit types: the basis of your stay in Poland
A temporary residence permit is granted for more than 3 months and up to 3 years, while a permanent residence permit and an EU long-term resident permit are granted for an unlimited period. The main grounds are:
- employment or other work, supported by a work permit or your employer's documents,
- running a business in Poland, with the company’s income in the previous tax year of at least 12 times the average monthly gross salary in the voivodeship where the company is based, or at least two full-time employees on permanent contracts for at least a year,
- studies, for students of a Polish university,
- joining a family member: a foreigner living in Poland or a Polish citizen,
- the EU Blue Card for highly qualified workers,
- EU long-term resident status after at least 5 years of legal, continuous stay,
- permanent residence based on Polish origin, the Pole's Card or marriage to a Polish citizen.
After a positive decision, you receive a residence card; for a temporary permit, it is valid for the period of the permit. A temporary permit is not extended, so a new application must be filed before each one expires. After several years, many foreigners move on to permanent residence or EU long-term resident status. Together with a valid passport, the card lets you travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but it does not give you the right to work in another EU country.
Residence permit requirements in Poland
If you apply for a permit no later than the last day of your legal stay and the application has no formal defects, your stay remains legal until the decision becomes final. A late application has no such effect. The core documents depend on the basis of your stay and may include a valid passport, a photo, proof of the purpose of your stay and of income, a rental contract or other proof of address, and health insurance.
Online applications via MOS since 27 April 2026
Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident permits can be filed only online through the MOS portal. You log in via login.gov.pl, sign your application with a Trusted Profile, a qualified e-signature or an e-ID, and upload your documents.
Fingerprints and fees
Filing online does not end the formalities: you must visit the voivodeship office in person to give your fingerprints. At the same visit, you show the originals of the documents uploaded to the system. The residence card costs PLN 100, and the stamp duty for the permit itself is PLN 340 to 640, depending on the type of case. Documents in foreign languages need a sworn translation into Polish.
Help with your residence permit in Poland
legal-stay.eu handles residence cases for individuals and business clients, from checking your current status, through preparing your MOS application and documents, to representation before the voivode and the Head of the Office for Foreigners. We start by confirming on what basis and for how long your stay is legal, because that decides which procedure is still open to you. If a case has little chance of success under the chosen procedure, we tell you before filing, not after a refusal. Describe your situation, and we will tell you which permit fits and which documents you need.
The content of this page is for information only and is not legal advice on an individual case.
Questions about this
How long does it take to get a residence permit in Poland?
By law, the voivode should decide on a temporary residence permit within 60 days, and on a permanent residence permit within 6 months. These periods run only once the application has no formal defects and you have provided all the documents the office has requested. In practice, waiting times in large cities are often longer than these limits, so it is worth applying well before your current stay ends.
Can I leave Poland while waiting for a residence permit?
Yes, you can leave the country while your case is pending, but the MOS confirmation of filing is not a travel document and does not guarantee re-entry into Poland. Before travelling, check that you still hold a valid visa or another document that lets you return.
How long is a residence card valid in Poland?
A temporary residence card is valid for the period of the permit, from over 3 months up to 3 years. The permit cannot be extended: you file a new application no later than the last day of your legal stay. A permanent residence card is valid for 10 years and an EU long-term resident card for 5 years, after which you apply for a new card; the permit itself remains valid.
What are the requirements for permanent residency in Poland?
EU long-term resident status requires at least 5 years of legal, continuous stay, stable income, health insurance and certified Polish language skills. Spouses of Polish citizens qualify for permanent residence after 3 years of marriage and 2 years of continuous temporary residence, while holders of the Pole's Card can apply with no minimum period of stay.
What happens if my application is refused?
You have 14 days from the date the decision is delivered to file an appeal. The appeal is filed through the voivode and decided by the Head of the Office for Foreigners.
Before we take a case
First we assess the legal basis, the documents and the risks. We do not promise an outcome or a date, because the decision is issued by the authority, not by the firm.
If we take the case on, we say plainly what is possible, what we will do and what it costs.