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Poland Permanent Residence

How can you get PR in Poland?

Since 2017, our clients have been seeking our services for permanent residence permit applications. The diversity of their cases has endowed us with hands-on expertise that we're eager to impart. Often, the information found on official websites doesn't align with the actual challenges that foreigners encounter in Poland when applying for their permanent residence permits.


From the moment you set foot in Poland, it's crucial to consult with a legal expert who can develop a comprehensive relocation strategy for you. Proactively planning for your permanent residence permit is advisable, even if you haven't yet secured your initial temporary residence permit. Early planning can save you months, or even years. We've often seen cases where individuals, after residing in Poland for 7-8 years without giving much thought to their legal status, find themselves still dependent on a regular residence permit or are compelled to return to their home countries for visa applications. By starting to plan for your permanent residence (PR) as soon as you arrive in Poland, you can save considerable time and money.


Now, let's explore the various categories of permanent residence permits available in Poland, as illustrated by the following examples:

EU Long Term Residence Permit

The EU Long-Term Residence permit is often equated by expatriates in Poland to Permanent Residence (PR) after a five-year stay. However, it's crucial to understand that while it shares certain characteristics with PR, such as being indefinite and exempting holders from requiring a work permit in Poland, it is not classified as a Permanent Residence permit.

The EU long-term residence permit is a distinct category of permit designed for those who meet specific criteria and wish to settle permanently in Poland. The requirements include:
  1. Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate Polish language proficiency at the B1 level. This can be proven with a government-issued certification after passing an exam, a diploma from completing a university program in Polish, or a certificate from successfully completing a study program in a Szkoła Policealna.
  2. Income Requirement: You need to have worked in Poland for 3 years prior to applying for this residence permit, earning a monthly income sufficient to cover the minimum living cost of 776 zł net (plus an additional 600 zł for each dependent) and rental expenses. This can be verified through PIT statements submission. Blue Card holders need to show income for only the last 2 years.
  3. Continuous Residence for 5 Years: To be eligible, you should have resided in Poland continuously for 5 years. "Continuous" here means that the total duration of breaks in your stay should not exceed 10 months, with no single break being longer than 6 months. If your stay was for study purposes, each student year counts as half a normal year.
It's important to understand these criteria thoroughly to ensure a successful application for the EU long-term residence permit in Poland.

How do you get permanent residence in Poland after study?

When studying in Poland, the duration of your stay is calculated at a half rate, which means students might effectively lose a significant portion of their residency period for certain status calculations. This is not an issue if you don't intend to pursue long-term EU residence in Poland. However, if you are planning to settle in the country, it's important to take this factor into account, as it can impact the timeline for applying for long-term residency status.

In how many years you can EU long-term residence permit?

of five years. However, the way your stay is calculated depends on your status in the country:

As a Student: If you were in Poland on a study visa or a temporary residence permit for educational purposes, your stay counts as half (1/2) the normal rate towards the five-year requirement.
As a Worker: If your stay in Poland involved working, then your stay is counted fully (1/1) towards the eligibility period.

For instance, if you initially spent three years completing a Bachelor's degree in Poland and then worked for another 3.5 years on a work-based Temporary Residence Certificate (TRC), the total duration of your stay eligible for the Long-Term EU Residence Permit application would be 4.75 years (1.5 years counted from your study period plus 3.5 years of work). Therefore, you would meet the five-year requirement and be eligible to apply for the Long-Term EU Residence Permit.

Permanent Residence based on Pole's Card

If you possess a Pole's Card, you're eligible to apply for a permanent residence card in Poland. Discover more about the Pole's Card in our article. The application for permanent residence only requires evidence of your accommodation in Poland and any other valid reasons for staying, such as student enrollment, employment contracts, proof of business management, or property ownership. If you don't have any of these, don't worry—we can still assist you. Obtaining this residence permit typically takes 6-7 months in cities like Warsaw, Wrocław, Bydgoszcz, and Poznań, and there's no need for an interview with an inspector. Furthermore, as part of an integration program, Poland offers financial support ranging from 6000 to 7000 zł.

Permanent Residence based on Marriage

Obtaining a permanent residence permit in Poland through marriage with a Polish citizen involves meeting specific requirements:
  1. You must have been married to a Polish citizen and have resided in Poland continuously for the past three years.
  2. For the last two years, your stay in Poland should be based on a dependent temporary residence permit (or as a refugee). No requirement for Polish language proficiency is set for this category.
During the application process, you will be required to participate in an interview to verify the authenticity of your family life. It's important to note that your residence is considered 'continuous' if the total length of any breaks does not exceed 10 months, with no single break lasting longer than 6 months. This criterion is crucial for the application to be successful.

Permanent Residence based on Polish Roots

You can obtain permanent residence in Poland if you have Polish ancestry, specifically if your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, or both great-grandparents are Polish nationals. To establish this lineage, you must provide strong documentation, such as birth or marriage certificates, issued by a public organization, affirming their Polish nationality.

During the application process, you'll undergo an interview focusing on Polish traditions and culture. We provide thorough preparation for our clients to ensure a successful interview. While proficiency in the Polish language is not a mandatory requirement, it's advisable to avoid using a translator if possible. Speaking Polish, even with errors, is generally viewed more favorably than using a perfect-speaking translator. Demonstrating even a basic level of Polish can significantly enhance your chances in the application process.

Poland permanent residence benefits

Holding a Temporary Residence card in Poland offers a multitude of benefits, which include:

  • Increased Trust: You'll gain more credibility with Polish public institutions.
  • Smoother Border Crossing: Expect priority treatment and a friendlier approach during border controls.
  • Work permit: You do not need a work permit anymore.
  • Financial Perks: Banks are far more inclined to approve microloans, with a success rate of 99%.
  • Ease of Renewal: There's no need for reapplication; simply update your card every decade.
  • Path to Citizenship: A Permanent Residence is the penultimate step before you can apply for Polish citizenship, marking a near completion of your immigration journey.

Difference between long-term and permanent residency in Poland

Let's delineate the distinctions between obtaining EU long-term residence status and Permanent Residence (PR) in Poland:

Cultural Assimilation:
  • PR: Applying for PR involves declaring an assimilation into Polish culture, essentially stating that your mentality, lifestyle, and personal culture have fully adapted to Polish norms.
  • EU Long-Term Residence: This status allows you to retain your original nationality while acknowledging your extended stay in Poland, tax contributions, and proficiency in the Polish language.

Citizenship Eligibility Timeline:
  • PR: There's a specified waiting period after receiving your PR before you can pursue the guaranteed citizenship procedure through the Voivode's office.
  • EU Long-Term Residence: The waiting period for eligibility to apply for citizenship might differ from that of PR, often based on continuous long-term residence, fiscal contributions, and language proficiency.

What is the procedure of getting PR in Poland?

Verification of status
and documents
We start by reviewing the client's current status and all relevant documentation to ensure everything is in order for the application process.
Reservation of Appointment
We schedule an appointment in Immigration within the legal stay period.
Consulting with HR Department
Our team advises the HR department on the necessary documents required for the Residence Permit application, ensuring complete compliance with legal requirements.
Double Verification Before Submission
Prior to submitting the application, we conduct a double-check of all documents and information to prevent any errors or omissions.
Assistance During Submission
We provide hands-on assistance to the client during the actual submission of the Residence Permit application to ensure everything proceeds as planned.
Following-Up with Immigration Office and Company
We maintain regular follow-up with the immigration office and the client's company to monitor the application's progress and address any queries or issues that arise.
Assisting in Residence Card Collection
Once the Residence Permit is approved, we assist the client in collecting their residence card, ensuring the final step is completed smoothly.