Temporary residence permit and card

Temporary residence permit and card.

 

Welcome to Poland! Now that you’re settled, you’ve got an apartment, know how to get around town, and have a couple of friends- it’s time to get your temporary residence permit. 

 

Every foreigner from outside the EU that plans to stay in Poland longer than 3 months has to legalise their stay. Bureaucracy leaves no survivors 🙂 

 

You can legalise your stay by applying for temporary residence. 

 

A residence card confirms the legal status of foreigners living within the territory of Poland for a certain period of time.  It’s given to people that aren’t citizens of the European Union and would like to legally work and/or study in Poland. 

To get your residence card, you have to fulfil certain criteria- such as  have a valid passport, a job lined up or active studies in Poland, the financial means to be able to support yourself, and fulfil all the requirements  in the Act on Foreigners.

 

The process of applying for your temporary residence card is a little complicated and does take a lot of time, which is why we recommend reaching out to the professionals, like lawyers or consultants, to assist you, to prevent any and all mistakes and hasten the process.  A positive response in your application will allow  you to  reside and work in Poland for a certain period of time. 

 

Your temporary residence card is valid for a ceratin period of time, and can then be extended if you still fulfil all requirements. Some  groups of foreigners, for example those working seasonal jobs, may receive a shortened time period on their temporary residence. 

Depending on what city you now call home, the process can take anywhere from a couple of months, to 2 years. That’s why the faster you get things started, the better! 

 

Temporary residence is given for a maximum of 3 years.

 

You can either apply in person, or by post with all your documents attached. Remember that you have to apply before your visa expires. 

 

During the process, you’ll be called in to have your fingerprints taken and you’ll have a background check done by the appropriate government organs. Once you get a positive decision, you’ll receive your residence card. 

 

Your residence card is a lil piece of plastic that, along with your travel documents, will allow you to cross the Polish border back and forth without a visa. You can also travel to and around any country that is part of the Schengen zone. 

 

Holders of Polish temporary residence cards can travel and reside anywhere within the borders of the Schengen zone, without the need to hold a Schengen visa for a period up to and not  exceeding 90 days for each 180 day period- so approx. 4 months out of every approx. 6 months.

 

Its important to remember the finishing dates of your temporary residence and extend it accordingly, to prevent your stay in Poland from becoming illegal. If that does happen, you might be deported from Polish territory, or have other sanctions placed against you. 

 

If for whatever reason you don’t keep to the process dates, or you don’t send in all necessary documents- you’ll be denied temporary residence. If that happens, you’ll be obliged to leave the country within 2 weeks. 

 

The ability to get approved for temporary residence are diverse and depend on your goals for staying in Poland. Here are the most popular reasons that people apply for temporary residence:

 

1. Work; Foreigners can apply for temporary residence with the goal to work in Poland. If this is the case it’s also important to receive a work permit or uniform residence and work permit as well.

2. Studies: Those that want to study in Poland, can apply for temporary residence with the goal of beginning or furthering their education.

3. Running a business: Foreigners that plan on running their businesses in Poland can apply for temporary residence.

4. Joining families: Foreigners can apply for residence with the goal of joining their families if one spouse or any of their children have Polish citizenship or EU/EEA citizenship.

5. Getting international protection: People applying for refugee status or international protection can apply for temporary residence with that goal in mind. 

6. Performing work in a profession requiring high qualifications.

 

Of course, reasonings for your stay in Poland may vary, and it’s a task to write them all out. Foreigners come to Poland as volunteers, participating in foreign language courses, working internships, executing scientific research, and many more reasons. Each of these reasons still requires you to apply for temporary residence, and prove that your stay in the country is supported by the necessary premises and documentation.

 

In comparison to other EU countries, the process for applying and receiving your residence card in Poland isn’t one of the easiest. It’s not just the language barrier, but also the reason for each action that is often not understood. However, this doesn’t scare away foreigners because the opportunities that Poland currently offers are vast, and Poland is currently one of the most popular relocation destinations for those planning to move abroad. The majority of foreigners turn their cases over to the specialists so that the process is decidedly less stressful. 

 

For more information or if you have any questions- contact us! 🙂