Temporary Residence Permit in Poland: Requirements and Process in 2026

When your visa’s expiration date or limit of non-visa (visa-free) stay in Schengen is nearing, and you want to stay in Poland, you should apply for a temporary residence permit (TRP).

A temporary residence permit will allow you to stay in Poland for a maximum 3 years.

The period of validity of the permit may be shorter (minimum is 3 months).  The length of the period depends on the basis for applying (legal purpose of your stay).

Below we present only a few (most popular) types of temporary residence permits – but you may find different circumstances that justify your stay in Poland.

Temporary residence permit might be renewed  (it can not be extended – if a foreigner wants to stay in Poland, he/she must apply for a new permit).

Temporary residence permit allows you to visit other Schengen countries for tourist purposes – up to 90 days (in each 180 days period).

The application for residence card shall be submitted not later than on the last day of legal residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland (by post or in person).

For the period of legal stay, the date of posting the letter at the post office is counted.

If you submit your application on time and there are no formal defects, or formal deficiencies were supplemented by you in the period indicated by Immigration Office (Voivode), your stay will be legal from the day of submitting the application until decision in this matter will be issued and becomes final.

When submitting the application, the foreigner is obliged to submit fingerprints.

If the application was submitted by post – after the application has been delivered to the Voivode, the foreigner will be summoned to appear in person under pain of leaving the application unprocessed.

Requirements and process for temporary residence permit Poland 2026 

Basic documents you need to provide:

1. Filled application form (new form from 01.12.2025!) for a temporary residence permit completed by the instructions (all boxes),

2. 2 current “biometric” photographs – intact, color, 3,5 x 4,5 cm in size, taken over the last 6 months on a uniform bright background, with good sharpness and showing clearly the eyes and face from the top of the head to the upper part of the shoulders, so that the face occupies 70-80 % of the photographs. The photographs are intended to depict a person without a headgear and dark-lensed glasses, looking directly ahead with eyes open, hair removed from face, a natural expression on a face and a closed mouth,

3. photocopy of a valid passport, all filled pages (passport available for inspection at the office),

4. confirmation of payment (for the administrative fee – duty stamp),

5. official attachments no 1 or/ and 2 (but only if the legal purpose of your stay is work/ Blue Card),

6. documents confirming additional requirements (depending on the legal basis!) such as legal title to the occupied premises, health insurance, etc.,

Documents listed in points 1-5 are necessary to initiate (officially start) the proceeding. 

Remember, all documents that you provide need to be in Polish (or translated into Polish by a sworn translator).

Note that the above list (+lists mentioned below) might not be considered as completed. The set of documents necessary to obtain a temporary residence permit  may differ due to the given foreigner’s situation and the office where the foreigner applies for the temporary residence permit.

If you have any questions or doubts – contact us., we might help you to go through that process.

IMPORTANT!

When changing the place of residence or correspondence address, inform the Voivode each time. You’re obliged to do it.

If you won’t do it, Immigration Office will send letters, summons and even decision (also negative one) to the old, wrong address. It would be treated as delivered and might have negative consequences, and lead to illegal stay and decision on obligation to return and re-entry ban.

One of the purposes that may justify your stay in Poland is work.

This kind of TRP is often called “complex“/ “uniform” temporary residence permit, due to the fact that it simultaneously legalizes your stay and work in Poland. As a rule – legalizing your stay doesn’t give the right to work in Poland.

Besides the documents listed above in necessary documents section, what documents must be submitted?

1. attachment no 1 fulfilled and signed by your potential employer, where all details about your job position have to be mentioned,
2. your salary can’t be lower than the current minimum wage (at this moment not less than 4806 PLN from 01.01.2026), even if you won’t be employed full-time.

You don’t need to provide a document confirming health insurance (covering treatment in Poland) if you will work on a contract that requires signing up for ZUS (social security contributions) – employment contract/ contract of mandate.

You also don’t need to provide a rental agreement or other document confirming that you have legal title to premises in Poland.

Stamp duty is 440 PLN (see more details here).

Next purpose that may justify your stay in Poland is  studying at university.

Not all types of studies and universities will qualify for that permit. What does “studying” mean?

A temporary residence permit is granted to a foreigner when the purpose of their stay in Poland is to study a full-time higher education (daily/ stationary studies): first-degree studies, second-degree studies or master’s degree or third-degree studies; or doctoral studies (PhD).

The first permit is granted for 15 months (2 years if it’s Erasmus project or similar one). If the studies justify the foreigner’s stay in Poland for a period shorter than 1 year, the first permit for the first year is granted for the duration of the academic year or studies, extended by 3 months.

A foreigner who undertakes studies in the next year of studies is granted the permit for the duration of the studies (not longer than 3 years).

In the case of a temporary residence for the purpose of studies, in addition to the basic documents referred to in the  “necessary documents” section, the foreigner must also submit:

1. a certificate issued by the unit providing education on admission to studies or on continuation of studies,
2. a certificate issued by the unit providing education on the amount of tuition fees + proof of payment of the tuition fee  (if the studies are paid),
3. documents indicating the cost of living, it should contain information on the amount of fixed operating fees, charges for the delivery of energy, gas, water, waste, etc. (a lease agreement with the latest gas, electricity and electricity bill + foreigner’s statement [download here]);
4. documents confirming that the foreigner has sufficient funds to cover their costs of living in Poland, the costs of study and return travel to the country of origin or residence, and the costs of residence (e.g. a document from the bank confirming current balance);
5. documents confirming health insurance or confirmation that the insurer covers the costs of medical treatment in Poland.

Stamp duty: 340 PLN (see more details here).

If you are spouse or child of a Polish citizen, beside documents mentioned in necessary documents section, what documents you need to submit?

1. birth or marriage certificate* confirming your relationship/ kinship with Polish citizen – it should be a certificate from Polish Civil Registry Office or foreign one but with sworn translation and apostille/ legalization,
2. ID copy (identity document) of a Polish citizen,
3. document confirming that the foreigner/ family member has sufficient funds to cover their costs of living in Poland, (e.g. a document from the bank confirming current balance),
4. document confirming health insurance or confirmation that the insurer covers the costs of medical treatment in Poland.

*Note that “marriage” needs to be recognized by Polish law. In Poland, homosexual unions are not treated as marriage. Thankfully being in homosexual relationship or being in heterosexual (but informal) relationship with Polish citizen might be also the legal purpose of stay (different legal basis).

Stamp duty: 340 PLN (see more details here).

Temporary residence permit based on business activity is one of the most complex proceedings for TRP, requiring a lot of documentation (depending on the type of business activity: sole-proprietorship, companies – limited liability company, join stock company, limited partnership, professional partnership, general partnership).

But don’t worry, everything is doable and we may help you!

If you need assistance – contact us.

In general, you might apply for TRP based on business activity if:

1. you’re running sole-proprietorship in Poland (you’re self-employed, sole trader),
2. you own shares or stocks in a company, or you are a board member/ commercial attorney in a company.

You need to prove that your company/ proprietorship:

• obtained in the last tax year, income not lower than twelve average monthly remuneration (depending on the Voivodship, it’s around currently for last year [2023] is around90 – 100 k PLN),

OR

• employed for an indefinite time and for full time, at least two employees being Polish citizens or foreigners (at least for one year),

OR

• provide documents confirming possession of financial means and/ or conducting activities enabling to meet above-mentioned conditions in the future.

Besides that, you need to provide e.g.:

1. attachment no 1 (if you’re a board member or commercial attorney),
2. certificates from the Tax Office and Social Insurance Institution confirming that a company doesn’t have any delays in payments,
3. business plan,
4. company’s bank account balance,
5. invoices, signed contracts,
6. rental agreement (company’s premises),
7. documents confirming that you (as a foreigner) have a stable and regular income,
8. documents confirming health insurance or confirmation that the insurer covers the costs of medical treatment in Poland,
9. revenue and expenses ledger,
10. and more.

Stamp duty: 340 PLN (see more details here).

What higher qualifications  are required for Blue Card?

This type of temporary residence permit is dedicated to specialists. You need to prove that you have a higher education degree (bachelor/ master’s)  or documents confirming qualifications obtained as a result of professional experience at a level comparable to the level of qualifications obtained as a result of completing higher education, necessary to perform the work specified in the contract, e.g. an employment certificate or a document confirming possession of qualifications required to work in a regulated profession, e.g. the right to practice as a doctor;

At the same time, your employment/ civil contract has to be already signed, at least for 1 year (empoloyer’s statement in attachment no 1 is not enough).

+ The most important thing – salary, it can’t be lower than “the equivalent of 150% of the amount of the usual payment in the national economy in the previous year, prior to signing the contract” – so for applications submitted in 2025 – not less than 12 272,58 PLN gross. 

This permit is a so-called “uniform permit”, as it combines elements of a residence permit and a work permit.

Besides documents mentioned in necessary documents section, you need to provide the following:

1. attachment no 1 – signed by the employer
2. attachment no 2 – signed by the foreigner
3. employment/ civil contract,
4. document confirming “higher qualifications”,
5. documents confirming health insurance or confirmation that the insurer covers the costs of medical treatment in Poland.

Stamp duty: 440 PLN (see more details here).

Temporary residence permit for education reasons might be issued if the foreigner wants to start high school, post-graduation school, part-time studies (extramural studies), vocational training or Polish language course.

It’s being granted maximum for 1 year.

Beside documents mentioned in necessary documents section, you need to provide:

1. document confirming that the foreigner/ family member has sufficient funds to cover their costs of living in Poland, (e.g. a document from the bank confirming current balance) – required amount depends on the type of studies/school.
2. documents confirming health insurance or confirmation that the insurer covers the costs of medical treatment in Poland.
3. legal title to the occupied premises (such as rental agreement)
4. certificate from school specifying the start and end dates of studies, class schedule, proof of payment of the tuition fee etc.

Please be aware that not each school/ course will be accepted. Contact us before enrolling in the course, if you have any doubts.

Stamp duty: 340 PLN – (see more details here).

Temporary residence permit called “family reunification” is a very specific type of permit.

Generally in TRP procedure, applicant has to be present in Poland when applying for TRP. However, this type of permit has an exclusion –  applicant might be abroad (outside of Poland) and doesn’t have to have visa yet.

Application is being submitted by a family member (spouse or parent) for a wife/ husband/ child.

TRP application will be qualified as family reunification only if the applicant’s family member is a foreigner who stays in Poland:

• on permanent residence permit,
• on EU long-term residence permit,
• on Blue Card,
• on other TRP for at least 2 years (and at least 2 TRPs),
• and few others.

Besides documents mentioned in necessary documents section, following documents must be submitted:

1. document confirming that the foreigner/ family member has regular and stable income to cover costs of living in Poland,
2. documents confirming health insurance or confirmation that the insurer covers the costs of medical treatment in Poland,
3. legal title to the occupied premises (such as rental agreement)

In this type of TRP, decision might be issued when foreigner has not entered Poland yet. Based on that decision, foreigner might apply for a specific type of visa that allows entering Poland.

Stamp duty: 340 PLN (see more details here).

The catalogue of potential legal basis for TRP is open (non-exhaustive list)

If you have other reasons to stay in Poland for longer than 3 months  (physically) you may also apply on that basis. Remember that you will have to provide proof confirming the purpose of your stay.

Stamp duty: 340 PLN (see more details here).

Temporary residence permit is granted by the Voivode (Wojewoda), competent for the place of stay of the foreigner, and in the case of appeal proceedings – by the Head of the Office for Foreigners.

As already mentioned above, you may apply in person at the Department for Foreigners in competent Voivodship Office but you need to book an appointment first (each office has different rules for booking!)

Sometimes it’s hard to book an appointment to submit application in person.

If you cannot apply in person before your current legal status expires, please send your application by post to meet the deadline. What counts is the date of postage at the post office.

By the law, Immigration Office has 60 days to issue a decision, but the deadline is counting from the date when foreigner submitted all required documents.

+ now, due to provisions established by the Act on assistance to citizens of Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine,  Immigration Offices don’t have to meet the deadlines (they’re suspended). It’s causing further delays.

Contact us – we may help you with booking the appointment, filling out the application form and preparing complete documentation.

If you receive a positive decision, you have to wait additional few weeks (at least) for a card (called TRC).

You will be informed by a text message (sent to the number that you provided in the application form) that your card is ready to collect.

There is an additional fee for TRC (in most cases 100 PLN) for the issuance of plastic residence card.

The payment should be made to the Immigration Office bank account (different one than stamp duty for the application).

Bring printed confirmation of payment with you when collecting TRC.

The residence card is a document that, during its validity, confirms the identity of the foreigner during their stay in Poland.

This document (together with a valid travel document, e.g., a foreign passport) entitles to multiple crossings of the Polish border without the need to have a visa, as well as to enter and stay in other countries of the Schengen area for a period not exceeding 90 days within a period of 180 days.

Here you can find and download the application form for a temporary residence permit 2026

Here you may find attachment no 1 – which should be fill out by you employer (if you apply on the basis of work).

Here you may find attachment no 2 – which you should fill out if you are applying for Blue Card.

The administrative fee (stamp duty) for the application that you submit to the Immigration Office is 340 PLN or 440 PLN*, paid to the City Hall bank account (not to Immigration Office – Voivode).

*only if the legal basis of your application is work (also highly qualified – Blue Card).

If you receive a positive decision there would be an additional PLN 100 for the issuance of a residence card (50 PLN if your purpose of stay is to study in postsecondary school or at university). This amount should be paid for the Voivode’s bank account.

A foreigner is entitled to appeal to the Head of the Office for Foreigners against the Voivode’s decision.

The appeal shall be submitted in writing through the Voivode who issued the questioned decision within 14 days from the date of its delivery.

The appeal is filed through the authority that issued the decision at first instance, but after the appeal has been lodged, all correspondence is addressed directly to the appeal body.