Residence Permit in Poland

What is Residence Card?

Residence Card is a plastic travel document. Person obtains residence card after she/he granted with:

  • Permanent residence permit or
  • Long-term EU residence permit or
  • Temporary residence permit based on work, study, family relations, business etc.;

"Blue card" is just the name of special residence card which is a result of granting the residence permit based on work with high qualifications.


Residence card is outcome of approval. In the foreign code there are over 30 types of residence permits.

Each process finishes with residence permit approval or denial. If approval - then residence card is issued in 2-3 months. If denial - you can submit appeal and wait for approval and card.

What are the types of Residence Permit that we assist with?

In the Foreign Code there are over 30 types of Temporary Residence Permits for such groups:

  • Students,
  • Employees,
  • ICT (Intra Company Transfer),
  • EU Blue card,
  • Seasonal job,
  • Posted workers,
  • Scientists,
  • Family members,
  • Volunteers;

Beside that Poland offers Permanent Residence Permit and Long-Term EU Residence permit for:

  • Polish Nationality holders,
  • Pole's Card holders,
  • Residents who stayed over 5 years in Poland paying taxes and possessing Polish Language skills at B1 level,
  • Spouse of a Polish national,

What is the procedure?

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.
  1. Duration of Stay for EU Citizens: It's correct that EU citizens have the right to stay in Poland for up to 90 days without registering. During this period, they are considered as tourists or visitors.
  2. Registration Requirement: If an EU citizen plans to stay in Poland for longer than 90 days, they must indeed register their stay. However, the term "EU citizens registration" could be more specifically referred to as "registering residency" or "applying for a certificate of registration of residence".
  3. Purpose of Stay and Residence Card: The purpose of stay can include work, study, business activities, or family relations. However, typically EU citizens receive a certificate of registration of residence rather than a "residence card", which is more commonly associated with non-EU nationals.
  4. Process Duration: It's generally true that the process for EU citizens is shorter than for non-EU nationals. However, the exact duration can vary, so stating "around 2 months" is a good estimate but should be presented as an average time frame, subject to change based on individual cases.
  5. Assistance in the Process: Your statement about assisting in every step of the process is clear and appropriate.
  1. Visa Requirements for Non-EU Citizens: It's correct that non-EU citizens may have various purposes for their stay in Poland, ranging from study to medical treatment. They typically require either a C type (short-stay) visa or a D type (long-stay) visa to enter Poland.
  2. Entry Without a Visa for Certain Nationalities: Some nationals, like Ukrainians, Canadians, and Hong Kong passport holders, can enter Poland with biometric passports without needing a visa for short stays. This is an important point that highlights Poland's specific entry requirements.
  3. Advance Application for Residence Permit: The recommendation for non-EU citizens to apply for a residence permit at least six months before their legal status expires is prudent advice. This foresight is crucial to avoid legal complications and delays in staying in Poland.
  4. Need for Legal Stay During Work Trips: The point about employees needing a Residence Permit or a similar legal document for working trips is valid, emphasizing the importance of maintaining legal status during such travels.
  5. Varied Processing Times: Highlighting that the duration of the residence permit process varies by city is important. The specific examples of different waiting times in Warsaw and Katowice give a realistic picture of the potential variations in processing times.

TRC (Karta Pobytu) vs Blue card in Poland

What does Blue card mean in Poland?
Understanding the Blue Card in Poland
The Polish Blue Card, a special residence and work permit, is designed for highly qualified non-EU workers aiming to live and work in Poland. This EU initiative seeks to bring skilled professionals from outside the EU to boost the region's economic growth.

Requirements for the EU Blue Card in Poland
To be eligible for the Blue Card in Poland, applicants must meet several criteria: a valid work contract or job offer in a high-qualification profession for at least 12 months, completion of at least a three-year university program, a gross salary meeting Poland's specified threshold, compliance with national legal requirements, especially for regulated professions, necessary professional qualifications, and no security threats to public order or national security.

Minimum Salary for the Polish Blue Card
The Blue Card in Poland requires a minimum salary of 150% of the country's average salary for the last quarter. For the second quarter of 2023, this amount is 10,508.64 zł, subject to quarterly changes.

Advantages of the Blue Card in Poland
The Blue Card offers several benefits over a regular temporary residence permit:

  • Family Benefits: Blue Card holders' family members can work in Poland without a separate permit.
  • Education: Equal access to free education for children of Blue Card holders.
  • EU Residence Consideration: Time spent in other EU countries counts towards the EU Residence Card in Poland, with a two-year residency requirement.
  • Employment Flexibility: After two years in Poland, Blue Card holders can change employers or positions without reapplying.
  • Residency Flexibility: A three-month stay without employment is allowed.

Additional Benefits Include:
  • Paid leave, public holidays, and annual leave.
  • Maternity, parental, and study leaves.
  • Social benefits like free movement within the EU.
  • Regular working hours and overtime compensation.
  • Equal treatment in the workplace.

Employment Changes with a Blue Card
For the first two years in Poland, Blue Card holders cannot change employers or job positions as per the card's conditions.

Family Reunification
Family members of Blue Card holders can join them in Poland, given adequate financial support and housing.

Revocation of the Blue Card
The Blue Card can be revoked for violating labor market access restrictions, like changing employment conditions within the first two years.

Validity of the Polish Blue Card in Other EU Countries
The Polish-issued Blue Card is valid only in Poland and allows travel but not employment in other EU countries.

Can we book an appointment in the office of foreigners?

Sure!

Almost every Immigration Office has its own system of reservation. No matter you book the date through InPol Portal or Przybysz, systems Malopolskie or Zachodniopomorksie, we are here to help you. Reservation of time slot allows us to get Residence Permit in Poland faster than applying TRC application by post. Time is the most valuable resource we have.