Euraxess Poland

Visas formalities PDF Print
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Visas formalities
Residence permit
Visa prolongation
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Entry conditions

Information for EEA citizens (EU+Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)

  1. In order to cross the border of the RP, a citizen of the EU needs a valid travel document or other document certifying his/her identity and citizenship.
  2. If you are a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Economic Area (EU+Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), you may stay in Poland for the first three months on the basis of your travel document (ID or passport).
  3. Those who stay longer than three months require a residence permit or temporary residence permit.
  4. The procedure of granting a residence permit or a temporary residence permit results in granting a EU citizen the EU citizen's residence card.

The above-mentioned documents are issued by the Voivode of the voivodship where you intend to reside.

Once you get these documents, you should register at the place of your residence, that is in the Local Registration Office of your district. Upon registration you will be given PESEL (personal number of Public Electronic System of Population Evidence).

Information for non-EEA citizens

If you have a visa, you may stay legally in Poland legally until the visa's expiration date.
However, if you plan to stay longer in Poland, you should do the following (at least 45 days before the visa's expiration date):
  1. legalise your stay in Poland by:
  2. obtaining a residency permit for a determined period of time
  3. obtaining a permit to settle on the territory of the Republic of Poland
  4. obtaining a EC-long term residence permit.
Having one of these documents, you should register at the place of your residence in the Local Registration Office of your district. Upon registration, PESEL (personal number of Public Electronic System of Population Evidence) numbers will be assigend to you.

Residence permit

Residence permit for EEA citizens

In general, the citizens of EEA countries (EU + Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland) can enter Poland on the basis of the valid travel document (passport or ID) and they are allowed to stay on the territory of Poland for up to 3 months. After this period each EEA country citizen has to register his/her stay in the Voivodship Office. The procedure is easy.

Residence permit for non-EEA citizens

You are not allowed to stay in Poland longer than the validity of your visa. If you intend to prolong your stay, you will need to obtain one of the following documents. Once you receive it, you will obtain the residence card (ID of a foreigner in Poland) allowing for a multiple entry.

Residence permit to stay within the territory of the Republic of Poland is granted for a specified period of time being necessary to fulfill the purpose of stay. The duration of the stay can last from 3 months up to 2 years.

It is issued a person who intends to stay in Poland longer than 3 months but no longer than 2 years and who:

  1. has been granted a promise of issuance the work permit or
  2. possesses a written declaration from the employer who intends to entrust a foreigner with a job to perform or,
  3. participates in trainings or professional training provided within the frame of the European Union programmes,
  4. is married to a Polish citizen or,
  5. has been granted an EC long-term residence permit to stay within the territory of another EU member state.

Permit to settle within the territory of the Republic of Poland is issued to a person who has been married to a Polish citizen for at least 3 years and who has been residing in Poland for at least 2 years. This permit is granted for unspecified time.

EC-long term residence permit to stay within the territory of the Republic of Poland. It is issued to a person who has been residing in Poland for minimum 5 years and who has had stable and regular income.

A minor infant of a foreigner (holding a residence permit) who has been born on the territory of the Republic of Poland, is also granted a residence permit.

Important notice !

If validity of your visa is about to expire and you want to prolong your stay in Poland , you need to apply for a residence permit no less than 45 days before your visa expires.


Visa prolongation

All the formalities related to the prolongation of your stay in Poland can be easily fixed in the Voivodship Office competent with respect to the intended venue of the stay, at least 45 days before your visa expires. The addresses of the Voivodship Offices are presented on the Regional Researchers’ Mobility Portals in the section devoted to “Entrance formalities”.

Required documents:

Turn to the Mazovian Voivodship Office to find complete information about the documents required in order to obtain:

  1. Residence permit issued for a specified period of stay within the territory of the Republic of Poland

  2. Permit to settle within the territory of the Republic of Poland

  3. EC long-term residence permit for a stay within the territory of the Republic of Poland


Registration in the community (gmina)

If you stay in a hotel or an academic hostel, your duty of registration in the local office is passed on to the owner of the hotel.

However, if you rent a flat or a house, you need to personally register yourself and members of your family personally. You can apply for a temporary or permanent registration (zameldowanie) issued by Community Office appropriate to the place of your residence.
In order to register, you will need to present your personal data, a residence card and (in case of non-EEA citizens) a visa. A document showing the right to the flat/apartment/house should also be presented or the owner should be present in the Office with you in order to sign registration documents.
 
PESEL

If you register for a period exceeding 3 months, you automatically receive a PESEL = personal number of Public Electronic System of Population Evidence, which simplifies your formalities in Poland, such as receiving residence permit, opening bank account, renting a car, visiting a doctor, etc. The assigned number will be sent to you within 3 weeks by regular mail or you can receive it personally from the office.


Useful links


 
 
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