Residence card

RESIDENCE CARD

A residence card is a document which allows to foreigners to stay on the territory of Poland. Visas are issued by the consulate in the country of origin but a residence card is issued in Poland by competent Voivode. The residence card is like a visa, but is issued on the territory of Poland. On the territory of Poland you will not obtain a visa, only in Consulates abroad. To obtain a residence car is rather complicated and it can take over 2, 3 months.
All the documents for the Immigration Office must be prepared accurately to avoid mistakes and possible delays.
The application for a residence card must be submitted at not later than on the last day of legal stay on the territory of Poland.

A residence card is a document confirming the identity of a foreigner during his stay in Poland. This document, together with a valid passport, confirms the right to stay in Poland and entitles the foreigner to cross the Polish national border numerous times without the need to have a visa. When crossing the border, the residence card should be presented to the Border Guard Service officials, together with a valid foreign passport. The residence card contains the following information:

name(s) and surname of the holder and parents' names;
date, place and country of birth of the foreigner;
address of registered permanent or temporary residence;
information about citizenship;
information about sex;
information about height (in cm) and eye colour;
PESEL number (what is a PESEL number?) if one has been assigned;
information about the type of permit granted;
annotation "scientist" if the temporary residence permit was issued for the purpose of conducting academic research;
annotation "EU Blue Card" if the temporary residence permit was issued for the purpose of employment of highly skilled workers;
annotation "access to labour market" – in the case of a permit granted to a foreigner who is entitled to perform work in Poland or is exempt from the obligation to have a work permit;
fingerprints;
name of the authority issuing the residence card;
date of issue;
date of expiry;
photograph of the foreigner;
annotation "international protection granted by… (specification of the EU Member State granting protection) on (date of granting international protection) – in the case the foreigner obtained a long term EU residence permit and was at the same time granted international protection in Poland or in another EU Member State.
The aliens coming to Poland, who want to stay here for the period longer than 3 months, should legalize their stay in a form of permit for residence for fixed period of time and obtain a residence card. Now, the assumptions to issue such permit include over twenty circumstances/situations (i.e. employment, conducting business activity, starting or continuation of full-time course of studies or full-time post-graduate studies, marriage with Polish citizen, stay with the family member residing in the territory of Republic of Poland).
The permit for residence for fixed period of time is issued for the period to two years by the appropriate authorities in Poland (Voivodship Office).
After issuing the decision on the permit above the alien will receive the residence card.
Documents required:
4 copies of the application for the residence card for the long-term resident of the EC filled out in compliance with the instruction WE
4 up-to-date, colour undestroyed photographs, dimensions: 4.5 cm x 3.5 cm, taken in the last 6 months on a single light background with good focus and clearly showing the eyes and face from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders, so as the face occupy 70-80% of the photographs; photographs presenting a person without head covering and dark glasses, looking straight ahead with eyes open and natural expression of the face and mouth closed, face cannot be covered with hair (providing additional photo will definitely facilitate the proceedings)
Valid travel document (3 photocopies)
Additionally the following shall be enclosed:
Documents confirming the required uninterrupted stay in Poland
Documents confirming stable and regular source of income sufficient to cover the costs of living for the applicant and family members supported by him/her
Documents confirming health insurance taken up
Documents confirming the amount of the costs of residence
Confirmation of registration for temporary residence
Legal title to occupy the apartment in which the applicant stays or intends to stay
The agreement on the lending for use of the apartment shall not be deemed to constitute legal title to the apartment unless the lender is the foreigner's descendant, ascendant or spouse, parents of the spouse or the brothers or sisters of the foreigner.
Conditions of receiving the permit:
Residence permit for the long-term resident of the EC shall be granted to an alien who has stayed on the territory of the Republic of Poland directly before the submission of the application, legally and uninterruptedly, for at least 5 years and who has:
1. stable and regular source of income sufficient to cover the costs of living of himself/herself and the family members supported by him/her
2. health insurance within the meaning of the regulations on common health insurance or confirmation that the insurer will cover the costs of health treatment on the territory of the Republic of Poland
Important:
Residence permit for the long-term resident of the EC shall be granted for indefinite time
The application shall be submitted during legal stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland
The application for the permit submitted by the alien who:
stays on the territory of the Republic of Poland in order to study or receive vocational training
has the permit for tolerated stay, asylum, refugee status granted in the Republic of Poland or benefiting from supplemental or temporary protection
applies for the refugee status or for asylum
is an „au pair" or seasonal employee, or is delegated by the service provider in order to provide transnational services or service provider who provided transnational services
was detained, put in a guarded facility, in the arrest for the purpose of deportation, with respect to whom preventive measure has been applied in the form of prohibition to leave the country or who was deprived of freedom in the result of the enforcement of decisions issued based on respective law of the Republic of Poland or benefiting from temporary protection
stays illegally on the territory of the Republic of Poland
stays on the territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of uniform stay visa authorizing to only enter the territory of the Republic of Poland for the purpose referred to in Article 28 clause 1 point 11
stays on the territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of the residence permit for a fixed period under Article 53 clause 1 point 5 or 7 pursuant to Article 53a clause 1 point 1 lit. a
stays abroad shall be left unexamined
The case starts to run from the moment when the set of documents is submitted
Documents shall be prepared in Polish, and translation of original documents shall be made by sworn translator or consul
Originals of the submitted documents should be presented
The application shall be filled out in Polish, in legible manner, in capital letters
Power of attorney: alien may be represented by attorney in fact appointed on the basis of written power of attorney. The party when appointing attorneys in fact shall nominate one of them as appropriate for receiving notifications and shall notify the authority which is in charge of the proceedings thereof; when traveling abroad, the party shall appoint the attorney in fact for receiving notifications in Poland; in the event such obligations are not met, the communication shall be deemed to have been delivered at the existing address
Alien who received the residence permit for the long-term resident of the EC shall be issued with residence card valid for 5 years
Alien shall collect residence card in person.