FAQ

Studia/nauka/badania naukowe

I have a valid residence card issued by another EU country. I came to Poland under EU programme ERASMUS+. Should I apply for temporary residence permit in Poland?

Created on: 12.02.2020

It depends. If you are planning to stay in Poland for less than 3 months period, you do not have to apply for temporary residence permit.

If you are planning to stay in Poland for more than 3 months period, but less than 360 days and you were granted temporary residence permit or long term visa bearing the term “STUDENT” and issued by other EU country (except Great Britain, Ireland or Denmark), your university here in Poland should inform the Head of the Office for Foreigners in Warsaw that you are taking part in student mobility, but you do not have to apply for temporary residence permit.

More information (in Polish language) about documents regarding student mobility you will find at:  

https://udsc.gov.pl/poradnik-dla-uczelni-i-studentow-zagranicznych-aktua...

If you are planning to stay in Poland for more than 360 days or there is no “STUDENT” inscription on your residence permit or long term visa, you should apply for temporary residence permit. 

How to calculate accommodation costs?

Created on: 12.02.2020

To calculate accommodation costs correctly you need to sum:

  1. Rent – fixed charges associated with maintenance of the apartment/room/dormitory per person
  2. Utility fees – electricity, gas, water, sewage, waste bills

What is the amount of financial resources that I should have to be granted a temporary residence permit for purpose of study?

Created on: 12.02.2020

The amount depends on the year of your studies and period of studies in total. 

If you are a first year student, you should prove having sufficient funds for 15 months (after deducting the housing costs, return ticket to the country of origin and costs of studies). 

If you are a first year student and your studies are covered with an EU programme or multilateral programme covering the mobility measures or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions providing for the intra-EU mobility e.g. ERASMUS+, you should prove having sufficient funds for 2 years (after deducting the housing costs, return ticket to the country of origin and costs of studies).

If you are a student of a subsequent year, you should prove having sufficient funds for all period of studies (max. 3 years), after deducting the housing costs, return ticket to the country of origin and costs of studies.

FIRST YEAR STUDENTS 

- funds for 15 months

- in case of studies covered with an EU programme or multilateral programme covering the mobility measures or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions providing for the intra-EU mobility e.g. ERASMUS+  – funds for 2 years,

1. COSTS OF LIVING

PLN 776/month if you live alone 

OR

PLN 600/month per person, for you and each  family member in Poland supported by you 

 +

2. ACCOMMODATION COSTS

Total accommodation costs in Poland that you indicated in a written statement (download the form here)

 +

3. RETURN TICKET TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

PLN 200 for return ticket – if you come from a country bordering Poland

OR

PLN 2500 for return ticket – if you come from non-European third country

(per person, for you and each  family member in Poland supported by you)

SUBSEQUENT YEAR STUDENT

- funds for all period of studies, max. 3 years

1. COSTS OF LIVING

PLN 776/month if you live alone 

OR

PLN 600/month per person, for you and each  family member in Poland supported by you

 +

2. ACCOMMODATION COSTS

Total accommodation costs in Poland that you indicated in a written statement (download the form here)

 +

3. RETURN TICKET TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

PLN 200 for return ticket – if you come from a country bordering Poland

OR

PLN 2500 for return ticket – if you come from non-European third country

(per person, for you and each  family member in Poland supported by you)

 

EXAMPLES

  1. You are a citizen of a country neighbouring Poland and you run a household alone living in the dormitory. According to the proof letter from university/dormitory you pay total monthly rate PLN 750. It means that your minimum amount per month needs to exceed PLN 1526 (PLN 776– costs of living + PLN 750 accommodation costs = PLN 1526) during the entire period of studies in Poland plus PLN 200 for return ticket to the country of origin.
  2. You are a citizen of a country neighbouring Poland. Your spouse, who is a citizen of a non-European third country stays with you in Poland and is supported by you. Your total accommodation costs are PLN 1500 (rent PLN 1200 and utility fees PLN 300 including, gas, electricity, water, waste bills). In this case your minimum amount per month needs to exceed PLN 2700(2x PLN 600– living costs+ PLN 1500 – accommodation costs = PLN 2700) during yours and your spouse planned residence in Poland and plus PLN 2700 for return tickets to the country of origin (PLN 200 for your ticket + PLN 2500 for your spouse’s ticket).

What are the most common mistakes when it comes to certificate from university? Should I pay attention to anything in particular?

Created on: 12.02.2020

There are few things that you should pay close attention to. 

First of all, make sure that the document was prepared on the correct form of certificate from university. Unfortunately it happens very often that students submit certificates on the not up-to-date form, so we have to ask them to submit the document again which extends the proceedings and delays the decision-making process.  

Here you can find an example of correct and up-to-date form: http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20190001847

Secondly, make sure if the person who signs the certificate is authorized by the rector of your university to sign certificates for foreigners. If you are not sure about it – ask at the rector’s office. Remember that not everybody who works at university or even at the dean’s office is authorized to signed certificate for foreigners. Most frequently, persons authorized to sign certificates for foreigners are rectors, vice-rectors, deans or representatives from international office at your university. 

Also it is good to remember that if you continue your studies on a subsequent year, together with the certificate from university you should submit periodic achievement form (student grade sheet).

I was granted a permit for purpose of study in the higher education institution that currently is not approved by the minister of interior to accept foreign students. Can I continue my studies at this institution?

Created on: 12.02.2020

Yes. Each higher education institution since Oct 1, 2019 must be approved by the minister of interior in order to accept foreign students unless this institution is not subject to mandatory approval. If you were granted a temporary residence permit for purpose of study before Oct 1, 2019, you can continue your studies even if your higher education institution is not approved to accept foreign students. Your permit will not be withdrawn.

Remember though, that if you apply for another temporary residence permit for purpose of study and the institution, in which you continue your studies, still is not approved by the minister of interior in order to accept foreign students or if there is a decision issued on the prohibition of accept the foreigners, you will be denied temporary residence permit for purpose of study.

Is my university approved by the minister of interior to accept foreign students?

Created on: 12.02.2020

Since  Oct 1, 2019 each higher education institution must be approved by the minister of interior in order to accept foreign students unless this institution is not subject to mandatory approval e.g. academic university, public higher education institution, military higher education institution, higher education institution of governmental services, higher education institution maintained by churches or religious associations or communities regulated by international agreement or other legislation; research institutes and scientific institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN).

Check if the institution where you study can accept foreign students: 

  1. list of higher education institutions that are exempt from mandatory approval you can find at: https://radon.nauka.gov.pl/dane/instytucje-systemu-szkolnictwa-wyzszego-...
  2. list of higher education institution that are approved by the minister of interior you can find at: 

https://www.gov.pl/web/mswia/zloz-wniosek-o-zatwierdzanie-jednostki-na-p...

If the institution where you study is not in any of above lists or if there is a decision issued on the prohibition of accept the foreign students, you will be denied temporary residence permit for purpose of study.

A foreign student changes university. Does he have to change his residence card in this situation?

Created on: 11.02.2020

He does not have to exchange the card if his address has not changed. He should inform the office about the change of university and attach a certificate from the new university about the student's status and settlement of financial obligations towards the university, which will confirm that he still has the purpose of staying in Poland.

What happens if a student repeats a year of studies?

Created on: 11.02.2020

Temporary residence permit might be denied if you are repeating a year of studies. It is caused by lack of progress in the course of study. During the proceedings for temporary residence permit we will examine what is the reason of repeating the year by checking the report on class attendance or taking exams. Please remember that each case is examined individually. If you applied for temporary residence after  April 27th 2019 we will check the progress of your studies each semester also after the temporary resident permit is granted. In case of lack of progress in the course of study the residence permit will be revoked.

How many hours of the Polish language course should I take in order to be granted the permit?

Created on: 11.02.2020

Period of the language course and the number of hours of the course must justify your residence at the territory of the Republic of Poland for the period exceeding 3 months. It should be a minimum of 6-8 lesson-hours per week or more.

My father gives me money through his friends who travel to Poland. I don’t have an account in Poland, so what am I suppose to do now?

Created on: 11.02.2020

You should open a bank account in Poland and deposit your cash to the bank account, whose head office is located in the territory of the Republic of Poland. Documents confirming that you have sufficient funds are: traveller's cheque, certificate on the limit on the credit card issued by the bank that issued the credit card, issued not earlier than one month before the date of submitting the application for temporary residence permit, certificate of having means of payment in a bank or cooperative savings and credit union established in the territory of the Republic of Poland issued not earlier than one month before the date of submitting an application for a temporary residence permit, document confirming the granting of a national or foreign scholarship, certificate of employment and amount of salaries, issued not earlier than one month before the date of submitting the application for a temporary residence permit. Please remember that all documents should presented at the office in original. All the documents are to be submitted in Polish or with certified translation into Polish. We recommend to choose of the above mentioned document confirming that you have sufficient funds otherwise the temporary residence permit for studying purpose will be refused.

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