I am a spouse of a Polish citizen

You should apply for a temporary residence permit if you wish to stay in Poland for a period exceeding 3 months and you remain in a marriage recognized by Polish law with a citizen of the Republic of Poland.

You should apply for a residence permit in person before your current legal status expires (i.e. before your visa or residence card expires).

If you apply to extend your stay in Poland before the expiry date of your legal status, you can legally remain in Poland while your application is pending. Make sure you have submitted an error-free application. Your passport must be valid at this time.

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

1. Visit the website mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl and create an account.
2. Review the information and the list of common mistakes.
3. Fill out the application for a temporary residence permit.
4. Include your email address in the application. Once your application is registered by the Office, you’ll receive an access code to track the status of your case.
5. Print the application form and sign it.
6. Send the printed form along with the required attachments via postal service to the Department for Foreigners in Poznań or one of our regional offices.

Submit the application no later than the last day of your legal stay in Poland. If you send the application via Poczta Polska, the date of submission will be the date it is posted at the post office.

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.

Documents required to obtain a stamp in your passport (i.e. formal requirements)

• Application completed in accordance with the instructions in 1 copy (application to be downloaded). You can receive a copy of your application form in our offices,
• 4 photographs, 
• A photocopy of a valid travel document (the original for inspection), in a particularly justified case, when you do not have a valid travel document and cannot obtain one, you may present another document confirming your identity.

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

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Documents required to be granted the permit:

• a marriage certificate (issued not earlier than three months prior to the application),
• copy of the spouse's ID card.

All documents are submitted in original / certified copy.

Read our guide

During the procedure we must check whether the marriage has not been entered into in order to circumvent the provisions related to granting the residence permit for a fixed period. You may be invited to an interview. In case if we need to clarify the evidence we have in the case, 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.

The residence card is issued after you have received your decision with your permit.

Read more:  How to receive a residence card?