What is a Residence Card and How to Apply for It?

Residence card is a document that you receive after obtaining a residence permit. The residence card, during its validity period, confirms your identity while staying in Poland and, along with a valid passport, allows for multiple crossings of the Polish border. It is issued after paying a fee and submitting a confirmation of residence or a declaration for its print without address data.

The residence card confirms that a foreigner (a third-country national) has the right to stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland based on various residence titles. Depending on the type of permit, the card can be issued for up to 10 years, covering temporary residence permits (from 3 months to 3 years), permanent residence (up to 10 years), EU long-term resident permit (up to 5 years), and stay for humanitarian reasons (up to 2 years). The residence card is also issued to foreigners in Poland who have obtained refugee status (valid for 3 years) or subsidiary protection (valid for 2 years).

Who Can Apply for a Residence Card?

Any foreigner can apply for a temporary residence card if their stay in Poland for a period longer than 3 months is justified, for reasons such as employment, higher education, family reunification, or business activity. You can apply for a residence card in specific situations, for example, if you have received a temporary residence permit, were outside Poland when applying for the permit, are an immediate family member of a repatriate, or have received a work permit within intra-company transfer or long-term mobility. In the case of a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident permit, you must apply for a new residence card when the current one expires, at least 30 days before its expiry.

How to Apply for a Residence Card?

The residence card is issued by the voivode who granted the temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit, or EU long-term resident permit. Applications for a residence card must be submitted in person to the voivode competent for your place of residence, no later than the next day after the end of 3 months from the date of entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland. In the case of minors, applications can be submitted by parents or court-appointed guardians, or one of the parents or guardians. If the minor applying is over 6 years old, their presence is required during the application process.

Through the portal for foreigner services (www.mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl), foreigners can fill out online application forms for temporary or permanent residence permits and send them to the appropriate voivode.

What Documents Are Needed for the Application?

Documents for a temporary residence card vary depending on the place of application and the purpose of the foreigner's stay. Foreigners applying for a residence card should submit basic documents:

• application for a temporary residence permit - on the appropriate form for the purpose of stay
• four current photographs in compliance with requirements
• copies of all recorded pages in the travel document and the original for verification
• confirmation of payment of the administrative fee
• documents confirming the circumstances justifying the issuance of a temporary residence permit
• document confirming possession of health insurance

Depending on the purpose of stay in Poland, additional documents are required, which the foreigner must attach to the residence card application. For those applying for a residence card with access to the labor market, it is necessary to provide information from the county labor office about the inability to meet the employer's staffing needs or a document confirming exemption from this obligation, proof of a stable source of income, and place of residence.

Meanwhile, students applying for a residence card must attach a certificate of acceptance to the university, proof of tuition payment, a rental agreement, or a document confirming acceptance into a dormitory.

How Long Does It Take to Issue a Residence Card?

The residence card is issued within 30 days from the moment of submitting the complete documentation. If additional explanatory proceedings are needed, the foreigner will be informed in writing about the planned issuance date of the document and the reasons for any delays.