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.

1. Fill out the application for a residence permit for a long-term resident of the EU.
2. 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.
3. Print the application form and sign it.
4. 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 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:

1. Confirming that you had a stable and regular income during the 3 years immediately preceding the application and that you currently have such income:

• Monthly reports for the insured person in ZUS RMUa (ZUS contribution payment confirmations) for the 3-year period before the application from all employers for whom you have worked/are currently working.
• PIT-11 declarations for the 3-year period before the application from all employers for whom you have worked/are currently working.
• PIT-37 tax statements from the 3 years preceding the application, along with confirmation of document submission to the Tax Office or a tax office certificate confirming the income settlement, including the amounts of revenue, income, social and health insurance contributions, and the tax due. Personally submitted tax statements should bear the stamp of the respective Tax Office, while electronically submitted ones should include the document number in box 3 and be accompanied by the UPO (Official Certificate of Receipt).
• Employment contracts/commission agreements based on which you have worked/are working in the territory of Poland for the 3 years before the application until the present, along with any annexes to these contracts, work certificates/statements of the termination of employment, and documents legalizing employment, such as statements of entrusted work to foreigners, work permits, or permits for temporary residence and work. Employment contracts should be signed by the employer and yourself.
• Current certificate from the employer with information on whether you are still employed and the current employment conditions, including your position, salary amount, type of contract, and working hours.
• If you run a business/economic activity or a partnership/company or are part of a partnership, provide documents confirming the current income generated from the business/partnership.
• You may also provide other documents confirming the income obtained, which will be individually assessed.

2.  A  health insurance,
3.  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

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