Residence permit for a fixed period is granted each time for a period necessary
for realization of the purpose of stay in the Republic of Poland not longer, however,
than 2 years.
If a foreigner stays in the Republic of Poland, the application for residence permit
for a fixed period must be submitted to the provincial governor competent for the
place of residence, at least 45 days before the end of the period of stay allowed
on the basis of a visa or the period for which a previous residence permit for a
fixed period was granted.
If the deadline for submission of the application was observed and the application
does not contain any formal defects or they were completed on time, the voivode
shall put a stamp imprint in the foreigner’s travel document, which confirms submission
of the application. A foreigner’s stay in this period is considered legal until
a final decision in the matter is issued. If proceedings on granting a residence
permit for a fixed period of time are suspended at the request of the foreigner,
their stay at that time shall not be considered legal.
NOTE:
Putting a stamp in the travel document does not entitle the foreigner to travel
within the territory of other Schengen states, while the foreigner may leave for
their country of origin.
If the application is submitted less than 45 days before the end of stay on the
basis of a visa or a period for which a previous residence permit for a fixed period
was granted, and the proceedings have not been finalized before the expiry of the
existing stay permit, a foreigner must leave the Republic of Poland and wait for
the decision abroad. If a foreigner does not leave the Republic of Poland, the province
governor has the right to refuse to grant a foreigner a residence permit for a fixed
period.
In the course of the proceedings foreigners, their representatives and proxies
have the obligation to notify public authorities which conduct the proceedings of
each change of their address, including temporary change, and in the case of going
abroad, to indicate an address for notices in Poland. If such obligation is not
fulfilled, a notification will be deemed delivered to the previous address.
After receiving a decision allowing a residence for a fixed period in the Republic
of Poland a foreigner is obliged to register his/her temporary residence (for the
period of validity of such decision) and submit a confirmation of registration before
collecting the residence card.
A residence card is the document confirming foreigner's identity during his/her
stay in the Republic of Poland and allowing the foreigner (when used together with
a travel document) to repeatedly cross the border without the necessity to obtain
a visa.
A foreigner is obliged to collect the residence card in person or, if a foreigner
is a minor below 13 years of age, the card must be collected by the minor's legal
representative or a legal guardian.
A foreigner, who:
- arrives to or stays in the Republic of Poland in order to start or continue full-time
higher education studies or full-time doctorate studies in the territory, also if
the foreigner has started studies in the territory of another European Union Member
State which he/she intends to continue or complete in the Republic of Poland,
- is a scientist who arrives to or stays in the Republic of Poland in order to carry
out scientific research on the basis of an agreement of employment for a research
project implementation, concluded with a scientific institution approved by a minister
competent for science,
- has a residence document with an annotation "scientist", issued by another European
Union Member State, if a contract of employment in a research project implementation,
concluded with a competent scientific institution of that country, provides for
carrying out scientific research also in the Republic of Poland.
should have financial resources for covering the costs of living in the Republic
of Poland in the amount of at least PLN 800 per each month of stay:
- during the period of 12 months or
- during the entire period of stay - if the period of stay is shorter than the period
defined in point 1 - or equivalent of this amount in foreign currencies.
A foreigner who has arrived to or stays in the Republic of Poland together with
family members who are his/her dependants, should have additional financial resources
in the amount of at least PLN 450 pper family member for each month
of stay:
- during the period of 12 months or
- during the entire period of stay - if the period of stay is shorter than the period
defined in point 1 - or equivalent of this amount in foreign currencies.
A foreigner should have a return ticket to his/her country of residence
or financial resources sufficient to cover the costs of return to the country of
residence in the amount equivalent to the value of the ticket with which he/she
arrived to the territory of the Republic of Poland, not lower, however, than:
- PLN 200 if he/she has arrived from a third country neighbouring the Republic of
Poland,
- PLN 500 if he/she has arrived from a European third country,
- PLN 2,500 if he/she has arrived from a non-European third country - or equivalent
of this amount in foreign currencies.
A foreigner who has arrived to or stays in the Republic of Poland together with
his/her family members who are his/her dependants, should have, for each family
member, a return ticket to the country of residence or financial resources sufficient
to cover the costs of return to the country of residence in the amount equivalent
to the value of the ticket with which he/she arrived to the territory of the Republic
of Poland, not lower, however, than:
- PLN 200 per each family member, if he/she has arrived from a third country neighbouring
the Republic of Poland,
- PLN 500 per each family member, if he/she has arrived from a European third country,
- PLN 2,500 per each family member, if he/she has arrived from a non-European third
country - or equivalent of this amount in foreign currencies.
Documents which can evidence sufficient funds to cover the costs of living on the
territory of the Republic of Poland and the return of a foreigner are:
- traveler’s check;
- certificate on the amount limit on the credit card from the bank, which issued the
card;
- certificate confirming the amount of the means of payment in a bank or cooperative
savings and credit union which have the registered office on the territory of the
Republic of Poland;
- a document which can evidence receiving of the scholarship granted by the Polish
Government or another scholarship granted by a national or foreign subject.
The above-mentioned certificates are to be confirmed by a stamp and a signature
of empowered employee of the bank or cooperative savings and credit union and issued
not longer than a month before submitting the application for residence permit for
a fixed period.