The residence card is granted to a foreigner only after he/she obtains a residence permit that allows him/her to stay in Poland. It is necessary to apply for such a permit to the governor in the Lower Silesian Governor’s Office in Wroclaw, pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1,
Types of residence permit
- Temporary residence permit – an annotation “temporary residence card” will be put on the card; the time of validity of the card (max. 3 years) is indicated on this document;
- Temporary residence permit based on seasonal work – an annotation “seasonal work” will be put on the card; the time of validity of the card (max. 9 years) is indicated on this document;
- Permanent residence permit – an annotation “permanent residence card” will be put on the card; the card is valid for a period of 10 years;
- EU long-term resident’s residence permit – an annotation “EU long-term resident’s residence card” will be put on the card; the card is valid for a period of 5 years.
What requirements have to be met in order to receive a residence permit?
- In principle, an application for a residence permit has to be filed by the foreigner in Poland;
- The foreigner should apply for a permit during his/her legal stay in Poland (i.e., when the previously issued visa or residence permit is still valid);
- The applicant is not assigned to the category of foreigners who are not allowed to apply for a permit;
- The foreigner meets the requirements for granting a permit and will document the circumstances that he/she indicates as grounds for his/her planned further stay in Poland.
The form of the application for a residence permit is available here
Collection and fee for a residence card
The residence card has to be collected personally; on that occasion, the foreigner’s fingerprints are taken (if the foreigner is at least 6 years’ old). If the residence card has been issued to a minor foreigner who is under 13 years’ old, it is collected by the child’s legal representative or a guardian.
For the issue/replacement of a residence card, an administrative fee of 50 PLN is imposed. A payment discount of 50% may be granted when:
- The foreigner is in a difficult financial situation;
- The aim of the foreigner’s stay in Poland is to attend a post-middle school or a school of higher education in the territory of Poland;
- Minors were less than 16 years’ old on the day of submission of the application for the issue or replacement of the residence card or a document.
When does a residence card have to be replaced?
- Change of data included in the existing residence card;
- Changes in the facial image of the holder of the residence card in relation to the image placed on the card to a degree which makes it difficult or prevents identification of the card holder;
- Loss or damage of the card;
- Acquisition by the Republic of Poland of responsibility for the international protection of the holder of a residence card issued in connection with the granting of an EU long-term resident’s residence permit;
- Acquisition by another Member State of the European Union of responsibility for the international protection of the holder of a residence card issued in connection with the granting of an EU long-term resident’s residence permit.
The filled-in form of the application for the replacement of a residence card has to be filed within 14 days from the occurrence of justified reasons for its replacement. Foreigners staying in Poland for a temporary or permanent period or EU long-term residents have to submit the form to the governor. Those who are allowed to stay in Poland for humanitarian reasons have to submit the form to the chief of the border guard division or the chief of the border guard office relevant to the place of their stay.
(Attention: the loss or damage of the residence card has to be notified to the authority that issued the document within 3 days from the occurrence of the damage on the form. In such a case, the foreigner will receive a statement confirming this fact free of charge).
Apart from the application form, the following documents are required: a photocopy of a valid travel document (original available); 2 current photographs ; documents, necessary for the confirmation of data and circumstances indicated in the application.
Issuing another residence card to a foreigner
Foreigners staying in Poland under a permanent residence permit, EU long-term residents and those allowed to stay for humanitarian reasons are obliged to obtain another residence card before the lapse of the period of validity of the previously issued one.
Another residence card is valid for the following period:
- a permanent residence permit – 10 years from the day of issue of the card;
- an EU long-term resident’s residence permit – 5 years from the day of issue of the card;
- stay for humanitarian reasons – 2 years from the day of issue of the card.
The application is filed on the form 30 days before the lapse of the validity period of the current residence card to the governor or to the chief of the border guard division or the chief of the border guard office (persons admitted for humanitarian reasons). Apart from that, the following documents are necessary: a photocopy of a valid travel document (original available); 2 current photographs and documents necessary for the confirmation of circumstances indicated in the application.
The fee for the issue of another residence card is 50 PLN. A 50% discount may be granted for the aforementioned reasons.
Treasury fees connected with the obtaining of a residence permit in Poland
- Temporary residence and work permit – 440 PLN
- Temporary residence permit – 340 PLN
- Permanent residence permit – 640 PLN; permanent residence period based on the Pole’s Card – exempt from payment from 2 September 2016
- EU long-term resident’s residence permit – 640 PLN
- Prolongation of a national visa – 406 PLN
- Prolongation of a Schengen visa – 30 EUR
- Entry in the record of invitations – 27 PLN
- Granting of a power of attorney – 17 PLN
Payments can be made to the LSGO’s Cash Office or to the recipient’s bank account: Gmina Wrocław, Plac Nowy Targ 1/8, 50-141 Wrocław, Bank account number: PKO BP S.A. no. 82 1020 5226 0000 6102 0417 7895
The residence card form can be checked in the public online register of authentic identity documents and travel documents.
Lower Silesian Governor’s Office, pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 50-153 Wrocław
- General information: 71 340 60 00;
- Foreigners: 801 43 00 86;
- Calls from abroad: +48 717 261 585;
- LSGO helpline: 222 500 124;
- Passport helpline: 75 722 94 49;
- Central helpline: 222 500 115;
- e-mail: info[at]duw.pl
- Working hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Sat: closed
- Working hours of the Passport and Customer Service Division: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Wed: 8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
- Working hours of the Division of Property Left Beyond the Bug River, Department of Real Property, Agriculture and Environment: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Wed: 8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
- Cash Office: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Wed: 8:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
- Photographic point: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Wed: 8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
