• BASIC INFORMATION
  

  A citizen of the European Union who stays in the Republic of Poland for more than 3 months is required to register his/her stay, while members of his/her family who are not citizens of the European Union are required to obtain a residence card of a family member of a citizen of the European Union.
  
  To register one's stay in the Republic of Poland or obtain a residence card, one must file an application with the provincial office competent for the place of residence of the EU citizen.
  
  The application shall be submitted in person, no later than the next day after the expiration of 3 months from the date of entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland.
  
  The requirement to submit the application in person does not apply to a minor and a person who is completely incapacitated.
  
  The application must be filled out in Polish, legibly, in capital letters.
  
  Documents drawn up in a foreign language shall be submitted with their translation into Polish, prepared by a sworn translator.
  
  Original documents submitted should be presented for inspection or accompanied by their notarization.
  
  Fingerprints are taken from family members of EU citizens over the age of 6.
  
  

• CONTACT
  

  
  Wydział Spraw Cudzoziemców
  [Department of Foreigners' Affairs]
  Małopolskiego Urzędu Wojewódzkiego w Krakowie
  [of the Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow]
  Oddział Organizacji, Ewidencji i Obywateli UE [Organizations, registry and EU Citizens Unit],
  ul. Przy Rondzie 6
  fax 12 39 21 354
  Unit Manager: Anna Rerak
  e-mail: anna.rerak@muw.pl
  
  

• SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
  
  

  You need to make an appointment for application submission and collection documents.
  
  A prior date reservation is only possible through a dedicated email address: ue@muw.pl
  
  To do this, send an electronically completed template of the table.

• LEGALIZATION OF RESIDENCE - APPLIES TO
  

  
  

  1. Nationals of the European Union Member States.
     
     
  2. Nationals of the member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - parties to the agreement on the European Economic Area.
     
     
  3. Nationals of the Swiss Confederation.
     
     
  4. Family members of the nationals, referred to in points 1-3, who stay together in the Republic of Poland. The right of residence to which an EU national, referred to in:
     - points 1 and 2 is entitled, applies also to a family member joining such EU national or staying with such EU national in the Republic of Poland;
     - point 3 is entitled, applies also to a spouse and a child who is the national's or spouse's dependant, who join such EU national or stay with such EU national in the Republic of Poland.
     
     

  The EU national has the right of stay for a period longer than 3 months if he/she meets one of the following requirements:
  
  

  1. is an employee or an entrepreneur;
     
     
  2. is covered by a general medical insurance or is entitled to health care services on the basis of provisions on coordination, pursuant to Art. 5 Point 23 of the Act on Healthcare Services Financed from the Public Funds of 27 August 2004 (Dz.U. [Journal of Laws] No. 210, Item 2135, as amended). Besides, he/she has financial resources which are sufficient to provide for himself/herself and his/her family members in Poland and which do not come from social assistance;
     
     
  3. He/she studies or does a professional training course in Poland and is covered with a general medical insurance or is entitled to health care services on the basis of provisions on coordination, pursuant to Art. 5 Point 23 of the Act on Healthcare Services Financed from the Public Funds of 27 August 2004. Besides, he/she has financial resources which are sufficient to provide for himself/herself and his/her family members in Poland and which do not come from social assistance;
     
  4. is a spouse of a Polish national.

  The term "family member" includes:

  • spouse of an EU national,
  • EU national's or his/her spouse's child of up to 21 years of age or a child who is the national's or national's spouse's dependant,
  • EU national's or his/her spouse's parent who is a dependant of an EU national or his/her spouse,
  • the direct ascendant of a minor EU citizen who has actual custody of that minor EU citizen and on whom that minor EU citizen is dependent.

• REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
  

  EU citizen and family member of EU citizen should provide:
  
  

  1. 1 copy of the application for registration of residence.
     
     
  2. a travel document or other document proving identity and citizenship ( 1 copy, all pages written).
     
     
  3. 4 undamaged, color photographs, of good sharpness, having dimensions of 35 mm x 45 mm, taken not earlier than 6 months before the date of application, showing the face of the EU citizen from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders, so that the face occupies 70-80% of the photograph, clearly showing the eyes, especially the pupils, the eye line, which should be parallel to the upper edge of the photograph, on a uniform light background, in a frontal position, looking straight ahead with eyes open, hair uncovered, with a natural expression on the face and closed mouth, and reproducing the natural skin color.
     
     

  In addition:

  An employee or an entrepreneur should also provide:

  • a written declaration of an employer or an entity authorised to provide an EU national with work about the intention to provide the EU national with work or a certificate of performing a work, or
  • copy of entry into the National Court Register, if separate regulations require such entry into the register, or a certificate of entry into the records of economic activity.

  A person with financial resources and medical insurance:

  • a document confirming medical insurance coverage or rights to avail of healthcare services pursuant to regulations on coordination of social security systems,
  • a document confirming that the EU national has sufficient financial resources to provide for himself/herself and his/her family members, without the necessity to avail of social assistance services (e.g. credit card, confirmation that the EU national has payment instruments in a bank or another financial institution, approved with a seal and signature of an authorised employer of such bank or institution, issued not later than one month before filing an application for residence registration).

  A student or a person doing a professional training course:

  • certificate from a public or non-public college confirming admission to a college or referral to a professional training course,
  • a document confirming medical insurance coverage or rights to avail of healthcare services pursuant to regulations on coordination of social security systems,
  • a written declaration that the person has sufficient financial resources to provide for himself/herself and his/her family members, without the necessity to avail of social assistance services, or a certificate confirming that the person has such financial resources.

  Spouse of a Polish national:

  • a document confirming contracting a marriage with a Polish national.

  Family member of an EU citizen:

  • certificate of registration of residence of a citizen of the European Union, issued to a citizen of the European Union with whom the family member resides in the territory of the Republic of Poland,
  • spouse - document confirming marriage,
  • descendant - a document confirming the existence of family ties and a document confirming age or certifying dependency of the EU citizen or his spouse,
  • ascendant - a document confirming the existence of family ties and a document certifying dependency of the EU citizen or his spouse,
  • ascendant of a minor EU citizen - a document confirming actual custody of the minor and a document certifying dependency of the minor.

  NOTE !
  
  Selected family members of citizens of the Republic of Poland returning to Poland after a period of stay in another EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland - in case of a stay longer than 3 months - are also subject to the procedure related to obtaining a residence card.

• FORMS FOR DOWNLOAD
  

  
  National of the European Union (download)
  Family member of the national of the European Union (download)
  
  
  

• FEES
  

  
  Application, appendices and issue of a certificate of registration of EU national's stay are not subject to a stamp duty.
  
  

• WHERE TO FILE THE DOCUMENTS
  

  
  The documents should be submitted in person in the Foreigners' Affairs Unit of the Department of Foreigners' Affairs of Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow, ul. Przy Rondzie 6, 2nd floor, room. 214 or in the Branch Office of the Department of Nationals' and Foreigners' Affairs in Nowy Sącz, ul. Jagiellońska 52 (1st floor, room 111).
  
  

• LEGAL BASIS
  

  
  • Act of July 14, 2006 on the entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland , residence and departure from this territory of citizens of the Member States of the European Union and members of their families (Dz. U. of 2021, item 1697),
  
  • Act of December 10, 2020 on amending the Act on entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland , residence and departure from this territory of citizens of the Member States of the European Union and members of their families and certain other acts (Journal of Laws 2020, item 2369),
  
  • Ordinance of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of July 26, 2021 on applications and documents in matters of the right of residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland of citizens of the European Union and their family members (Journal of Laws 2021, item 1392).
  
  

• DEADLINE FOR HANDLING THE CASE
  

  Registration of residence and issuance of a certificate of registration of residence of an EU citizen is carried out immediately. However, not earlier than after the Head of the Internal Security Agency, the Regional Police Commander, the Commander of the Carpathian Branch of the Border Guard, i.e. after 30 days. The residence card of a family member of an EU citizen shall be issued no later than within 6 months from the date of application.
  
  

• APPEAL PROCEDURES
  

  You have the right to appeal against the decision to the Head of the Office for Foreigners in Warsaw, through the agency of Małopolska province governor. Written appeals should be submitted within 14 days from the date of receiving the decision.
  
  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
  

  
  A family member who is not a citizen of the European Union has the obligation to have an EU national's family member residence card that confirms his or her right of stay in the Republic of Poland and, together with a valid travel document, authorises such person to cross the border repeatedly without a visa.
  
  An EU national's family member residence card is valid for 5 years. If the intended period of stay in the Republic of Poland of the EU national who is joined by his or her family member or with whom a family member stays is shorter than 5 years, then such document will be valid for the intended time of stay of the EU national.
  
  An EU citizen shall collect the EU citizen's residence registration certificate in person or by proxy under a special power of attorney to receive the document.
  
  A family member of an EU citizen picks up the residence card in person. In the case of persons over 6 years of age, fingerprint verification takes place before collecting the residence card.
  
  A minor over the age of 13, who was the subject of the application, may pick up the certificate on his/her own, as long as he/she is not completely incapacitated.
  

• BASIC INFORMATION
  

  A citizen of the European Union acquires the right of permanent residence after the lapse of 5 years of continuous residence on Polish territory, if during his/her stay he/she has fulfilled at least one of the conditions specified in art.16 or art. 17 or art. 19 par. 1 or 3 or art. 19a, or after the lapse of 3 years of continuous residence on Polish territory, if he/she is the spouse of a Polish citizen and during his/her stay he/she has fulfilled at least one of the conditions specified in art.18 or art.18a or art.19(2) or (3) or art.19a of the Act of July 14, 2006 on the entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland , residence and departure from that territory of citizens of the Member States of the European Union and members of their families (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 1697).
  
  A family member who is not a citizen of the European Union acquires the right of permanent residence after 5 years of uninterrupted residence in the territory of Poland with a citizen of the European Union, during which he fulfilled at least one of the prerequisites for the right of residence specified in Article 18, Article 18a, Article 19(2) or (3) or Article 19a of the Entry Law.
  
  Submission of the application is only possible in person without the intermediation of an attorney. The requirement to submit the application in person does not apply to a minor and personally incapacitated person.
  
  The application must be filled out in Polish, legibly, in capital letters.
  
  Documents drawn up in a foreign language shall be submitted together with their translation into Polish, prepared by a sworn translator.
  
  The originals of the submitted documents must be presented for inspection or accompanied by their notarized certification.
  
  Fingerprints are taken from family members of EU citizens over the age of 6.
  
  

• CONTACT
  

  
  Wydział Spraw Cudzoziemców
  [Department of Foreigners' Affairs]
  Małopolskiego Urzędu Wojewódzkiego w Krakowie
  [of the Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow]
  Oddział Organizacji, Ewidencji i Obywateli UE [Organizations, registry and EU Citizens Unit],
  ul. Przy Rondzie 6
  fax 12 39 21 354
  Unit Manager: Anna Rerak
  e-mail: anna.rerak@muw.pl
  
  

• SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT
  

  You need to make an appointment for application submission and collection documents.
  
  A prior date reservation is only possible through a dedicated email address: ue@muw.pl
  
  

• OBTAINING THE RIGHT OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE - APPLIES TO
  

  1. citizens of European Union member states,
  2. citizens of European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) member states - parties to the agreement on the European Economic Area - Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland
  3. citizens of the Swiss Confederation,
  4. family members of citizens referred to in items 1-3, who join or stay with them.
  
  

• REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
  

  1. application for a permanent residence document or permanent residence card
  2. travel document or other document confirming identity and citizenship (1 copy of all written pages)
  3. 4 undamaged, color photographs, of good sharpness, measuring 35mm x 45mm, taken not earlier than 6 months before the day of application, showing the face of a citizen of the European Union from the top of the head to the upper part of the shoulders, so that the face occupies 70-80% of the photograph, clearly showing the eyes, especially the pupils, the eye line, which should be parallel to the upper edge of the photograph, on a uniform light background, in a frontal position, looking straight ahead with eyes open, hair uncovered, with a natural expression on the face and closed mouth, and reproducing the natural skin color.
  
  In addition:
  
  EU CITIZEN
  
  • Documents confirming retention of the right of residence, i.e., fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Articles 16 or 17 or 19(1) or (3), Article 19a of the Entry Law,
  • documents confirming 5 or 3 years of uninterrupted residence on Polish territory.
  
  FAMILY MEMBER OF EU CITIZEN
  
  • documents confirming preservation of the right of residence, i.e., fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Article 18, Article 18a, Article 19(2) or (3) or Article 19a of the Entry Act.
  • Documents confirming 5 years of uninterrupted residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland together with the EU citizen. Residence in the territory of the Republic of Poland is considered to be uninterrupted, where interruptions in it have not exceeded a total of 6 months in a year.
  
  Residence in the territory of the Republic of Poland shall not be interrupted by leaving the territory for a period longer than specified above due to:
  
  1. performance of compulsory military service,
  2. important personal situation, in particular pregnancy, childbirth, illness, studies, vocational training, secondment, which requires stay outside this territory of the Republic, provided that the period is not longer than 12 consecutive months.
  
  Residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland is interrupted by the execution of a decision on the expulsion of an EU citizen or a family member who is not an EU citizen.
  
  

• FORMS FOR DOWNLOAD
  

  
  National of the European Union (download)
  Family member of the national of the European Union (download)
  
  
  

• FEES
  

  
  Application, appendices and issue of a certificate of registration of EU national's stay are not subject to a stamp duty.
  
  

• WHERE TO FILE THE DOCUMENTS
  

  
  The documents should be submitted in person in the Foreigners' Affairs Unit of the Department of Foreigners' Affairs of Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow, ul. Przy Rondzie 6, 2nd floor, room. 214 or in the Branch Office of the Department of Nationals' and Foreigners' Affairs in Nowy Sącz, ul. Jagiellońska 52 (1st floor, room 111).
  
  

• LEGAL BASIS
  

  
  • Act of July 14, 2006 on the entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland , residence and departure from this territory of citizens of the Member States of the European Union and members of their families (Dz. U. of 2021, item 1697),
  
  • Act of December 10, 2020 on amending the Act on entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland , residence and departure from this territory of citizens of the Member States of the European Union and members of their families and certain other acts (Journal of Laws 2020, item 2369),
  
  • Ordinance of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of July 26, 2021 on applications and documents in matters of the right of residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland of citizens of the European Union and their family members (Journal of Laws 2021, item 1391).
  
  

• DEADLINE FOR HANDLING THE CASE
  

  
  The above actions are carried out immediately after the foreigner submits his application. However, not earlier than after the Head of the Internal Security Agency, the Regional Police Commander, the Commander of the Carpathian Branch of the Border Guard, i.e. after 30 days. The residence card of a family member of an EU citizen shall be issued no later than within 6 months from the date of application.
  
  

• APPEAL PROCEDURES
  

  
  You have the right to appeal against the decision to the Head of the Office for Foreigners in Warsaw, through the agency of Małopolska province governor. Written appeals should be submitted within 14 days from the date of receiving the decision.
  
  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
  

  
  The EU citizen receives the permanent residence document in person or by proxy under a special power of attorney to receive the document.
  
  A family member of an EU citizen picks up the permanent residence card in person. In the case of persons over the age of 6, fingerprint verification takes place before collecting the permanent residence card.
  
  A minor over the age of 13, who was the subject of the application, may pick up the document on his own, as long as he is not a person who is completely incapacitated.
  
  

Residence permits of EU citizens and their family members are subject to replacement in the event of:
• changes in the data contained in them,
• damage,
• loss,
• change of facial image.,

In case of expiration of the document, a new document is issued.
You need to make an appointment for application submission and collection documents.
A prior date reservation is only possible through a dedicated email address: ue@muw.pl

• REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
  

  
  1. 1 copy of the application for registration of residence.
  2. a travel document or other document proving identity and citizenship ( 1 copy, all pages written).
  3. 2 undamaged, color photographs, of good sharpness, having dimensions of 35 mm x 45 mm, taken not earlier than 6 months before the date of application, showing the face of the EU citizen from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders, so that the face occupies 70-80% of the photograph, clearly showing the eyes, especially the pupils, the eye line, which should be parallel to the upper edge of the photograph, on a uniform light background, in a frontal position, looking straight ahead with eyes open, hair uncovered, with a natural expression on the face and closed mouth, and reproducing the natural skin color.
  
  

• WHERE TO FILE THE DOCUMENTS
  

  
  The documents should be submitted in person in the Foreigners' Affairs Unit of the Department of Foreigners' Affairs of Małopolska Provincial Office in Krakow, ul. Przy Rondzie 6, 2nd floor, room. 214 or in the Branch Office of the Department of Nationals' and Foreigners' Affairs in Nowy Sącz, ul. Jagiellońska 52 (1st floor, room 111).
  
  

• FORMS FOR DOWNLOAD
  

  • National of the European Union  
    Replacement of certificate of registration of residence of a citizen of the European Union (download)
    Replacement of permanent residence document (download)
    
    
  • Family member of the national of the European Union 
    Replacement of the residence card of a family member of a European Union citizen (download)
    Replacement of the permanent residence card of a family member of a European Union citizen (download)