A residence card, during its validity, confirms your identity during your stay in Poland. Along with a valid travel document (passport), it entitles you to multiple border crossings without the need to obtain a visa.
Loss/damage of the residence card
In the case of loss/damage of the residence card, you should notify the Governor who issued the card, within 3 days from the loss/ damage of the document. The notification should be submitted using this form. (link do formularza) 
Once you submit the notification about the loss/damage of the residence card, we will issue a free of charge certificate that confirms the loss/damage of the document. It is valid until a replacement residence card is issued (but not longer than 2 months from the date of issue).
If you recover the lost residence card in the meantime, you should to notify the Governor who issued the document within 3 days from the date of recovery. If you have already received a replacement residence card, you should promptly return the recovered residence card to the Governor who issued it.
Who issues/exchanges the residence card?
Residence card is issued or refused to be issued by the Governor who granted you a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit or a residence permit for EU long-term resident. In the case of residence permit for humanitarian reasons, the residence card is issued by the commanding officer of the Border Guard unit or the commanding officer of the Border Guard institution, who granted the permit.
Residence card is replaced or refused to be replaced by the competent Governor according to the foreigner’s place of residence. In the case of residence permit for humanitarian reasons, the residence card is replaced or refused to be replaced by the competent commanding officer of the Border Guard unit or the commanding officer of the Border Guard institution, according to the foreigner’s current place of residence.
The issuing/ replacement of a residence card is refused by means of administrative decision.
The authority competent for issuing the residence card collects fingerprints from the foreigner who submits the application for the replacement of the residence card. The fingerprints are collected from the foreigner who, at the time of applying, has reached 6 years of age.
While applying for issue/ replacement of a residence card, you will be fingerprinted.
If you refuse/fail to submit fingerprints we will refuse to initiate the proceedings concerning the issue/ replacement of the residence card.
The residence is collected in person.
In the case of children aged under 13 the card is collected by the parent or another legal custodian (e.g. court-appointed family guardian).
Return of the residence card
Residence card must be returned to the authority which issued it, if you:
acquired Polish citizenship;
- received a decision on the annulment its validity;
- a decision was issued to withdraw your permanent residence permit, or residence permit for EU long-term resident;
- a decision was issued to withdraw your temporary residence permit;
- a decision was issued to withdraw your residence permit for humanitarian reasons;
- the decision on granting you a temporary residence permit expired by law;
- the decision on granting you a permanent residence permit expired by law;
- the decision on granting you a residence permit for humanitarian reasons expired by law.
The residence card shall be returned as soon as possible, but not later than within 14 days from the day on which:
- a document confirming the acquisition of Polish citizenship was delivered; or if the decision referred to in one of the aforementioned points became final or expired.
The authority to which the residence card was issued shall issue, at the request of a United Kingdom citizen or his/her family member, a free certificate of return of the residence card valid for a period of 30 days.
At your request, we may issue a free certificate of return of the residence card which valid for a period of 30 days.
