Permanent residence card

A permanent residence permit is granted for an unlimited period of time and authorises the holder to pursue employment in Poland without an obligation to apply for a work permit, or register oneself as self-employed. Moreover, holders of permanent residence cards are also authorised to stay in other Schengen Member States for the collective period of 90 days during six months following the date of first entry.

A holder of a permanent residence permit may also apply for the Polish citizenship.

How long is a permanent residence card valid?

A permanent residence card holds valid for 10 years and may be exchanged for a new one after expiry. In Poland, the permanent residence card serves as an identity document and a means to control the legality of stay in Poland. Together with a valid passport, the permanent residence card authorises a foreign national to stay in Poland, cross national borders and travel to other Schengen Member States such as e.g. Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium or Spain.

If a permanent residence card has been damaged or lost, or any data contained therein has changed, the holder is obliged to apply for a new card within 14 days period.

Costs of issuance of a permanent residence card

The fee charged for issuance or replacement of a permanent residence card is PLN 50. If the card has been lost or damaged due to the holder’s fault, the above charge shall be increased to PLN 100. In the case of any subsequent loss or damage due to deliberate actions, the charge shall amount to PLN 150.

Please keep in mind that the permanent residence permit may be cancelled in certain cases prescribed by the law. In such circumstances, the foreigner is no longer authorised to stay in Poland and may be subjected to deportation.

A permanent residence permit may be granted to a foreigner who has fulfilled at least one of the conditions set forth in the Act on Aliens.

In what circumstances can a foreigner apply for a permanent residence permit?

Pursuant to the Act, a foreign national may apply for a permanent residence permit if s/he:

  •  is child of a foreign national who was granted a permanent residence permit or long-term resident’s EU residence permit and remains under his/her parental custody,
  •  is a child of a Polish citizen and remains under his/her parental custody,
    is a person of Polish descend (or holder of a valid Polish Charter) and intends to permanently settle in the Republic of Poland,
  • is currently married to a Polish citizen, provided that such marriage certificate is considered legally valid in the Republic of Poland, and has been married for at least 3 years before filing an application for a permanent residence permit and has continuously stayed in the Republic of Poland for at least 2 years based on a temporary residence permit issued in connection with his/her marital bond with a Polish national, or being granted a refugee’s status, subsidiary protection or authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons,
  • is a victim to human trafficking as prescribed in Article 115 § 22 of the Polish Criminal Code and has been staying in the Republic of Poland immediately before filing such an application for at least 1 year based on a temporary residence permit granted to victims to human trafficking, cooperated with law enforcement authorities in the course of criminal proceedings and expresses reasonable fears concerning his/her possible return to the country of origin;
  • has been continuously staying in the Republic of Poland for at least 5 years before filing such an application as a result of being granted a refugee status, subsidiary protection or authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons, or 10 years based on a tolerated residence permit or 4 years based on a temporary residence permit being employed in any profession desirable from the point of view of the Polish economy, provided that s/he obtains stable and regular income sufficient to cover his/her subsistence and support his/her dependants,
  •  has been granted asylum in the Republic of Poland.

A foreigner’s stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland is deemed as continuous, in the context of applying for a permanent residence permit, if no single interval has exceeded 6 months and all intervals have not exceeded 10 months collectively within the analysed period, unless any such interval has been due to:

  • an obligation to perform professional duties or work outside the territory of the Republic of Poland based on a contract concluded with an employer domiciled in the Republic of Poland, or
  • an obligation to accompany a foreigner referred to in item 1 by his/her spouse or minor child, or
    -specific personal circumstances requiring a foreigner to leave the territory of the Republic of Poland not persisting any longer than 6 months,
  • travelling outside the Republic of Poland in order to attend practical trainings or classes being part of Polish university studies.

A permanent residence permit may be cancelled:

  • in any circumstances justified by national security or defence or protection of public safety and order,
  • in any circumstances justified by the national interest of the Republic of Poland,
  • if the holder has included untrue data in his/her application, provided a false testimony, concealed any facts, falsified or altered any documents,
  • if the holder has been convicted in Poland by a final judgement and deprived of his/her liberty for at least 3 years,
  • if the holder has left the territory of the Republic of Poland for a period exceeding 6 years,
  • in the case of divorce of the holder who has been granted a permanent residence permit in connection with his/her marriage, within 2 years following the issuance thereof.