Residence of foreigners in Poland
Poland, being a member of the European Union, is an attractive place for foreigners from different parts of the world.
Foreigners come to Poland for a variety of reasons, including work, study, family reunification or investment. The stay of foreigners in Poland is regulated by a number of laws that specify the rules for entering, staying and working in the country.
Types of residency in Poland
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Short-term stay:
- Schengen visas: Allow a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. They can be issued for tourism, business, family or cultural visits.
- National visas (D): Allow a stay of more than 90 days, but no more than one year. They are issued for study, work, research or family reunification purposes.
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Long-term stay:
- Residence permit: A document entitling a foreigner to stay legally in Poland. It can be issued for different periods of time, depending on the purpose of the stay, such as for 1 year, 3 years or even indefinitely.
Residence permits
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Temporary residence permit:
- Issued for a period of 3 months to 3 years.
- Designed for people who come to Poland for work, study, business or family reunification.
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Permanent residence permit:
- Allows a foreigner to permanently reside in Poland.
- Issued for an indefinite period, but the residence card needs to be replaced every 10 years.
- Intended for persons with Polish ancestry, spouses of Polish citizens, refugees or persons with a permit to settle.
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Long-term EU resident permit:
- Issued to foreigners who have legally and continuously resided in Poland for at least 5 years.
- Entitles them to stay and work in Poland, as well as travel and short-term stays in other EU countries.
Family reunification
- Foreigners legally residing in Poland may apply to bring their relatives under the rules of family reunification.
- This includes spouse, children and other family members in justified cases.
More information and current regulations are available on the website of the government's Office for Foreigners: https://www.mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/en
