Residence permit for a long-term resident of the EU

You should apply after you have been in Poland for at least 5 years.
You should apply for a residence permit in person before your current legal status expires (i.e. before your visa or residence card expires).

The application for a Residence permit for a long-term resident of the EU should be submitted in person, not later than on the last day of legal stay in the territory of Poland.

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 complete the application form.

You may apply in person at the Department for Foreigners in Poznań or one of the office's delegations: Book your visit

If you cannot apply in person before your current legal status expires, please send your application by post to meet the deadline.

What counts is the date of postage at the post office.

If you apply by post, your next step is to visit the office in person to give your fingerprints.

During your visit, you may also file other documents that are required to get a stamp in your passport.

Learn how to give your fingerprints

Documents needed to obtain a stamp in a passport (so-called formal requirements):

• Application form - filled in 1 copy as per instruction. (Download the form)

• 4 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.

• Evidence of legal title to the premises.

You will need also an original of  the stamp duty payment to start the proceedings.

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Documents required to be granted the residence permit:

• stable and regular income, e.g. tax settlements from the last 3 years immediately preceding the submission of the application. If you are working - a current contract confirming the execution of work and contracts concluded within 3 years immediately preceding the submission of the application. If you run an economic activity or a partnership/company - documents confirming current income earned from the conducted company / employment contract, if on its basis you perform your function as a member of the management board. You can also submit other documents confirming your income and we will check them individually.
• health insurance,
• documents confirming your knowledge of Polish language.

All documents need to be submitted in original/certified copy

Read our guide

Check if and how your stay in Poland will be included in the 5-year period required for a long-term resident

After obtaining a residence permit for a long-term resident of the EU, you may work in Poland without a work permit. The residence card contains the annotation "access to the labour market".

The residence card is issued after obtaining a positive decision on granting the permit. Read how to get a residence card