My spouse has a residence permit

You should apply if you intend to stay in Poland for more than 3 months and if the spouse to whom you join on the territory of the Republic of Poland holds:

• a permanent residence permit,
• a residence permit for a long-term resident of the EU,
• a refugee status,
• a subsidiary protection,
• at least for a period of 2 years a subsequent temporary residence permits, including immediately before submitting an application for a temporary residence permit for a family member - a permit granted to him/her for a period of stay of not less than 1 year,
• a temporary residence permit to conduct scientific research,
• a temporary residence permit granted for the purpose of conducting scientific research, if the he/she has a residence permit referred to in art. 1 clause 2 lit. a Council Regulation No. 1030/2002, bearing the annotation "scientist", issued by another Member State of the European Union, if the agreement on the admission of a foreigner for the purpose of carrying out a research project concluded with the competent scientific unit of that country provides for conducting scientific research also in the territory of the Republic of Poland,
• a temporary residence permit to work in a profession requiring high qualifications,
• a temporary residence permit to work under an intra-corporate transfer,
• a temporary residence permit granted in order to use long-term mobility,
• a residence permit for humanitarian reasons.

If you are staying outside of Poland and want to join your spouse who lives in Poland and has one of the above mentioned permits, the application for temporary residence permit in order to reunite with the family is made on your behalf by the spouse to whom you want to come. Your written consent is required to submit an application on your behalf. Consent is equal to granting the power of attorney to your spouse residing in Poland to act on your behalf in the proceeding.

If you submit your application on time and it does not contain any formal deficiencies — or if you correct any deficiencies within the deadline indicated by us — your stay in Poland will remain legal from the date of effective submission via MOS until the decision in your case becomes final.

Before you apply, read our tips on how to fill in an application form.

1. Go to mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl via login.gov.pl and create an account.
2. Read the requirements for the specific type of permit and purpose of stay, and gather all documents needed to complete the application in MOS.

3. Complete the application for a temporary residence permit by following the instructions displayed on the screen.
4. In the application, provide an email address where you will receive an access code to check the status of your case once your application has been registered by the Office.
5. You must attach a digital biometric photograph, scans/photos of all pages of your travel document, and confirmation of payment of the stamp duty fee.
6. Sign the application using a Trusted Profile and submit it in the MOS system.
7. After submitting the application, download the Official Acknowledgement of Receipt (UPO), which confirms that your application has been submitted. Keep this document safe.

The next step will be an in-person appointment to submit your fingerprints. During the visit, you will also complete other documents required to obtain a stamp in your passport.

Learn how to submit fingerprints.
Learn how to track the status of your case.

• Online application completed in the Case Handling Module,

• Scans/photos of all pages of a valid travel document (original available for inspection). In particularly justified cases, if you do not possess a valid travel document and are unable to obtain one, you may scan another document confirming your identity,

• 1 digital photograph,

• confirmation of the payment of stamp duty. 

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  Documents required to be granted the permit:

  All documents are submitted in original / certified copy.

  • • copy of the residence permit of your spouse with whom you intend to stay in Poland,
    • marriage certificate,
    • certified translation of your marriage certificate,
    • health insurance,
    • confirmation of having accommodation provided,
    • source of stable and regular income.

Documents required to initiate the proceedings (i.e. formal requirements)

• Application completed in accordance with the instructions in 1 copy, signed by your spouse (application to be downloaded),
• 2 photographs, 
• A photocopy of a valid travel document (the original for inspection), in a particularly justified case, when a foreigner does not have a valid travel document and he or she is not able to obtain one, he or she may present another document confirming his/her identity.
• written consent for the application to be submitted on your behalf by your spouse (to download),

To start the proceedings will also be needed confirmation that you have paid the stamp duty. 

 PAY ONLINE

Documents required to be granted the permit:

• copy of the residence permit of your spouse with whom you intend to stay in Poland,
• marriage certificate,
• certified translation of your marriage certificate,
• health insurance,
• confirmation of having accommodation provided,
• source of stable and regular income.

All documents are submitted in original / certified copy.

Read our guide

The requirement to have a stable and regular source of income is also considered met if the costs of your subsistence will be covered by the spouse who resides in the territory of the Republic of Poland.

During the procedure for granting a temporary residence permit to a foreigner's spouse, we determine whether the marriage has not been concluded in order to circumvent the provisions determining the terms and conditions of entry and stay of foreigners on the territory of the Republic of Poland. If you need to explain or clarify the evidence we have in the case during the proceedings you may be asked to provide other documents or to testify confirming the circumstances that you indicated in the application and the circumstances regarding the purpose of marriage.

If you are staying outside the Republic of Poland, after obtaining a temporary residence permit in order to reunite with your family, you should apply for a visa in order to implement the obtained permit. After arriving in Poland, you should apply for a residence card.

The residence card is issued after you have received your decision with your permit. Read How to receive residence card:

• If you applied for a temporary residence permit in person;
• If the application for a temporary residence permit was made on your behalf by your spouse, after entering Poland you should submit an application for a residence card.