Registration of stay

You should apply no later than on the next day after 3 months from the date of entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland.

In very exceptional circumstances, including your health condition, it will be possible to submit your application not only in person.

In-person visit is required. Minors are not required to submit their application in person.

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

You can send your application by post to the Department for Foreigners in Poznań or one of the office's branches.
The date of application submission is determined by the date of posting at the Post Office.
The next step will be an in-person visit to the office (if required). During the visit, you will also complete any additional required documents.

Find out how to receive tracking information for your case status.

Learn how to schedule an appointment at the office.

• Application completed in accordance with the instructions in 1 copy (application to be downloaded).
• A valid travel document or other valid document confirming your identity (you need to present original for inspection). If you are not able to present a valid travel document or other valid document confirming your identity and citizenship, you have the right to present other proof that certifies your identity and citizenship, but does not rise to any objections.
• 4 photographs

If you are an employee:

• A written statement of your employer or of the entity authorized to entrust the EU citizen with the performance of work confirming their intention to employ you, or a confirmation of the performance of work e.g. employment contract.

If you are self-employed:

• A written statement confirming the entry into the National Court Register or Central Register and Information on Economic Activity (CEIDG) or other confirmation of your self-employment in Poland.

If you are a student or if you undertake vocational training:

• Current certificate from university (public/non-public) presented on the up-to-date form (please find the example in the attachment) or proof of undertaking vocational training,
• Proof of having health insurance or the entitlements to use Healthcare on the basis of the regulations on coordination of social security systems or confirmation of private health insurance that will cover all medical expenses in Poland including hospital treatment. Such certificate should include the insurer’s commitment to pay the costs of health care services directly to the benefit of the health care services’ provider on the basis of a bill issued by the provider;
• A written statement regarding having financial resources sufficient to support yourself and your family members, so that you are not a weight for the social security system. Below you will find a list of documents that can proof of having sufficient financial means:
  • a credit card;
  • a certificate of having means of payment in a bank or other financial institution signed and stamped by bank or financial institution representative issued not earlier than one month before the date of submitting an application for a registration of residence,

If you are married to Polish citizen:

• current copy of marriage certificate (issued not earlier than 3 months before submitting the application)
• photocopy of the spouse's identity card (original available for inspection)

 In other cases:

• Proof of having health insurance or the entitlements to use Healthcare on the basis of the regulations on coordination of social security systems or confirmation of private health insurance that will cover all medical expenses in Poland including hospital treatment. Such certificate  should include the insurer’s commitment to pay the costs of health care services  directly to the benefit of the health care services’ provider on the basis of a bill issued by the provider
• A written statement regarding having financial resources sufficient to  support yourself and your family members, so that you are not a weight for the social security system. Below you will find a list of documents that can proof of having sufficient financial means:
  • a credit card;
  • a certificate of having means of payment in a bank or other financial institution signed and stamped by bank or financial institution representative issued not earlier than one month before the date of submitting an application for a registration of residence.

If you are a family member and an EU citizen and you are joining or staying with an EU citizen:

• a copy of a proof of registration of the residence of a European Union citizens issued to the EU citizen that you would like to join and live with in Poland,
• a spouse – current copy of marriage certificate (issued not earlier than 3 months before submitting the application),
• a descendant (yours or your spouse’s child of less than 21 years of age or who is dependent on you or your spouse) – a document confirming the existence of family bonds and a document confirming the age or certifying that the person is the European Union citizen's or its spouse's dependent (e.g. birth certificate),
• an ancestor – (yours or your spouse’s parent, who is dependent on you or your spouse) a document confirming the existence of family bonds and a document certifying that the person is the European Union citizen's or its spouse's dependent.

• The certificate of residence registration should be collected in person only at the Department for Foreigners in Poznań or at one of the office's delegations.
• When a certificate of residence registration issued to a minor over 13 years of age is collected, his/her presence is required.  When a certificate of residence registration has been issued to a minor under 13 years of age by the date of its receipt, the certificate shall be collected by his/her legal representative or guardian with a valid identity document.
• A certificate of residence registration may be also collected by the appointed attorney-in-fact, on the basis of a special power of attorney to receive this certificate, upon presentation of a document confirming his / her identity
• A visit to collect a certificate of residence registration in Poznań can be booked over the phone or email. Detailed information regarding collection of documents, phone numbers and  e-mail address, will be included in official correspondence (letters to suplement formal requirments, requests to supplement documents) and in our online application (Foreigners - Check case status)
• A visit to collect a certificate of residence registration in Poznań can be booked in advance via the website by selecting „E” – collecting a residence card
• To pick up your certificate of residence registration, bring a valid travel document or other document verifying your identity and citizenship
• A certificate of residence registration, issued after 2nd August 2021, is valid for 10 years
•  Check if your certificate of residence registration is ready for collection and where you can collect it in our online application (Foreigners - Check case status)

Read our guide

You should inform the Governor depending on your current place of residence, in the case of:

• change of information stated on your certificate of residence registration,
• damage or lost of your certificate of residence registration or any other circumstances that make it difficult to identify the holder of the certificate.

In the above-mentioned cases, you can apply for the replacement of the document that you have so far.

In the case of expiry of the validity period of the certificate of registration of stay, a new certificate is issued.