A parent has a residency permit

You apply for your minor child if you are a foreigner, you have one of the following residence titles, and you want to obtain a temporary residence permit for your minor children who live with you in Poland:

• permanent residence permit,
• residence permit for a long-term resident of the EU,
• a refugee status,
• a subsidiary protection,
• a temporary residence permit for at least 2 years, including immediately before submitting an application for a temporary residence permit for a minor child -  for a period of stay of not less than 1 year,
• temporary residence permit granted for the purpose of conducting scientific research,
• temporary residence permit for the purpose of highly qualified profession,
• temporary residence permit for the purpose of performing work under an intra-corporate transfer,
• temporary residence permit in order to use long-term mobility,
• permission to stay for humanitarian reasons.

If the child is a minor, parents or legal guardians appointed by the court shall appply on his behalf (or one of the parents or one of the guardians appointed by the court).

If your child is already in Poland, they should apply for a residence permit before their current legal status expires (i.e. before their visa or residence card expires). If your child is a minor of 6 years old or over on the day of the application, their presence is required at the office. 

Before you apply, read our tips on how to fill out 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,

• 1 digital photograph,

• 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,

• confirmation of the payment of stamp duty. 

  PAY ONLINE

  Documents required to be granted the residence permit:

  • a copy of the parent's residence permit
  • child's birth certificate
  • Health insurance
  • Stable and regular source of income
  • a document confirming accommodation in Poland

  All documents are submitted in original / certified copy.

• Online application completed in the Case Handling Module,

• 1 digital photograph,

• 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,

• confirmation of the payment of stamp duty. 

  PAY ONLINE

  Documents required to be granted the residence permit:

  • a copy of the parent's residence permit
  • child's birth certificate
  • Health insurance
  • Stable and regular source of income
  • a document confirming accommodation in Poland

  All documents are submitted in original / certified copy.

Read our guide

The requirement of stable and regular source of income is also considered to be met if the costs of maintaining the child are covered by the parent who resides in Poland.

During the procedure for granting a temporary residence permit to a child of a foreigner, we determine whether the relationship with the parent residing in Poland is real and permanent. 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 your child's stay.

If the child resides outside the Republic of Poland, after obtaining a temporary residence permit in order to reunite with the family, you should apply for a visa for your child to enter Poland. After arriving in Poland, you should apply for a residence card for the child, based on the residence permit they have been granted.

The residence card is issued after obtaining a positive decision on granting the permit. When a residence card issued to a minor over 13 years of age is collected, his/her presence is required. When a residence card has been issued to a minor under 13 years of age by the date of its receipt, the card shall be collected by his legal representative or guardian.

Read more:

How to receive a card when your child was already in Poland at the time of application

How to receive a card when your child was abroad at the time of application