Residence card

First document issued

The first residence permit is issued to a foreigner ex officio (i.e., without the need to submit an application), after a decision has been issued to grant them a residence title, however, there are several exceptions to this rule.

It is necessary to submit an application for a (first) residence permit if the foreigner:

• obtained a temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification, and on the day of submitting the application for this permit they were outside the Republic of Poland,

• is a member of the repatriate's immediate family,

• has obtained a temporary residence permit for the purpose of carrying out work in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer or for the long-term mobility of a manager, specialist or trainee worker, as part of an intra-corporate transfer

• obtained a temporary residence permit referred to in Article 160(1), (3), (4) or (6) of the Act on Foreigners, and on the day of submitting the application for this permit, they were staying outside the Republic of Poland,

• obtained a residence permit for humanitarian reasons.

The authority competent to issue a residence permit is the voivode who granted the foreigner a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident's residence permit. In the case of a residence permit issued for obtaining a residence permit for humanitarian reasons, the authority competent to issue it is the commander of the Border Guard branch or the commander of the Border Guard facility who granted this consent, while the residence permit for granting refugee status or granting subsidiary protection is issued by the Head of the Office for Foreigners.

Note: if a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit, a long-term EU resident's residence permit or a residence permit for humanitarian reasons has been granted by the Head of the Office (in appeal proceedings) or if the Head of the Office has issued a decision on issuing or replacing residence permit (in appeal proceedings), the residence permit is issued or exchanged respectively:

• voivode, who ruled in these cases at first instance – if the residence permit is issued after granting a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit and a long-term EU resident permit,

• the commander of the Border Guard branch or the commander of the Border Guards post, who ruled on these cases at first instance – if the residence permit is issued after granting permission to stay for humanitarian reasons,

The application for a residence permit should be submitted on the form, which you can download HERE.

The foreigner is obliged to collect the residence permit in person.

If the residence card has been issued to a foreigner who has not reached the age of 13 by the date of its receipt, their statutory representative or curator shall collect the card.