A permanent residence permit is, apart from citizenship, the most stable form of legalizing a foreigner’s stay in Poland. It is granted for an indefinite period and confirmed by issuing a residence card valid for 10 years. The rules for granting it are regulated by the Act of December 12, 2013 on Foreigners.

 

Who can apply for permanent residence?

A permanent residence permit may be granted, among others, to a foreigner who:

  • is the spouse of a Polish citizen, having been married for at least 3 years before the date of application and having resided in Poland continuously for at least 2 years on the basis of a
    temporary residence permit,
  • has Polish origin and intends to settle permanently in Poland,
  • is a child of a Polish citizen (born during the parent’s legal stay in Poland – in practice, only in
    cases where the parent has previously renounced Polish citizenship on behalf of the child),
  • is a child of a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit (born during the parent’s legal
    stay in Poland),
  • holds a Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka) and declares the intention to settle in Poland,
  • is a victim of human trafficking or has been granted asylum in Poland,
  • meets other conditions specified in Article 195 of the Act on Foreigners.

 

What does the procedure look like?

The application for permanent residence must be submitted in person to the voivode competent for the foreigner’s place of residence, no later than the last day of legal stay in Poland. A number of documents must be attached, including those confirming sources of income, place of residence, and, in the case of invoking family ties, civil status documents.
 

Note! An application that does not meet formal requirements may be left unprocessed. Any mistake – missing signature, outdated documents, lack of sworn translation – can cause serious delays or refusal.
 

Decyzja i karta pobytu

Pozytywna decyzja skutkuje przyznaniem zezwolenia na pobyt stały i wydaniem karty pobytu ważnej przez 10 lat. Sama decyzja ma charakter bezterminowy, jednak karta musi być wymieniana po upływie ważności.
 

Postępowanie powinno zakończyć się w terminie do 6 miesięcy od złożenia kompletnego wniosku, jednak w praktyce okres ten często ulega wydłużeniu.
 

Decision and residence card

  • Refusal: If the foreigner does not meet the statutory conditions, the voivode will issue a
    decision of refusal. This decision can be appealed to the Head of the Office for Foreigners
    within 14 days.
  • Loss of status: The permit may be revoked if, for example, the foreigner has left the territory
    of Poland for more than 6 years, obtained the permit on the basis of false data, or poses a
    threat to state security.