Foreigners in Poland


Permit to settle in the territory of the Republic of Poland

A settlement permit is issued upon an application of a foreigner who meets one the following requirements:

  • is a minor child of a foreigner who holds a settlement permit, born in the territory of Poland
  • has been married to a Polish citizen for at least three years prior to submitting the application and directly before submitting the application continuously resided in Poland for at least two years on the basis of a residence permit for a specified period
  • immediately before submitting the application continuously resided in Poland for at least ten years on the basis of a permit for tolerated residence, or for five years in connection with acquiring a refugee status
  • is a child of a Polish citizen and remains under his/her parental authority.

Residence in territory of Poland is regarded as continuous when it was not broken for more than six months and all the breaks together did not exceed ten months, unless the break was caused by:

  • performance of professional duties or work outside Polish territory, on the basis of an agreement with an employer domiciled in Poland
  • accompanying a spouse performing professional duties or work outside Polish territory, as defined above
  • need to obtain a new travel document
  • medical treatment of a foreigner.

What are the formal requirements?

A foreigner applying for a permit to settle should submit:
  • application forms filled out in Polish
  • passport size photographs
  • documents confirming the required uninterrupted stay in Poland
  • documents necessary to confirm the data provided in the application form
  • legal title to the occupied dwelling and documents certifying the dwelling costs.