Permanent residence permit is the document, which confirms legal permanent residence in Polish. After getting this document, a foreigner has the right without limits stay in Poland. The confirmation of the stay right in the country is not demanded.

Permanent residence permit is granted in the cases, specified in the art. 195 about foreigners and concerns:

  1. A minor of Polish citizen, who is under his\her parental authority.
  2. A minor of a foreigner, who is granted permanent residence permit or a residence permit for EU long-term resident, and who is under parental authority:
    • who is born after granting the permanent residence permit or residence permit for EU long-term resident,
      or
    • who is born in valid period of temporary residence permit or residence permit for EU long-term resident on the territory of Poland on the basis of stay agreement for humanitarian reasons or agreement for the tolerated stay or in connection with granting him\her refugee status or granting of subsidiary protection.
  1. A spouse of Polish citizen, who:
    • is staying in marriage with Poland citizen, recognized by the law, and had been staying in it for at least 3 years before the day, where he\she submitted an application on granting him\her permanent residence permit, as well as:
    • directly before the submitting an application a foreigner had been staying uninterruptedly on the territory of Poland Republic for at least 2 years on the basis of temporary residence permit, which is granted him\her in connection with staying in marriage with Polish citizen (Article 158 , paragraph 1, point 1 of the Act about foreigners) or in connection with obtaining the refugee status, subsidiary protection or a residence permit for humanitarian reasons.
  1. Person of Polish origin, who intends to settle in the territory of Poland Republic permanently, and at least one of his\her parents or grandparents was of Polish nationality.
  2. A holder of valid Pole’s Card, who intends to settle in the territory of Poland Republic permanently.

Permanent residence permit can be also granted:

  • a victim of the crime of human trafficking, who:
    • had been staying in the territory of Poland directly before submitting the application for a permanent residence permit for a period of at least 1 year on the basis of a temporary residence permit for victims of human trafficking.
    • cooperated with law enforcement agencies in the criminal proceedings concerning the crime referred to Art. 189a § 1 of the Criminal Code
    • has justified concern about returning to the country of origin.
  • A foreigner who directly prior to submitting the application for a permanent residence permit had been staying uninterruptedly on the territory of the Republic of Poland for a period of at least 5 years on the basis of refugee status, subsidiary protection or a permit to stay for humanitarian reasons.
  • A foreigner who, immediately prior to submitting the application for a permanent residence permit, stayed continuously in the territory of the Republic of Poland for a period of at least 10 years on the basis of the permit for tolerated stay granted pursuant to Art. 351 points 1 or 3 of the Act on foreigners.
  • A foreigner who has been granted asylum on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

In the case of a foreigner, who is a minor, an application on granting permanent residence permit is submitted by his\her parents or carries appointed by the court, or by one of the parents or one of the carries, appointed by the court.

While submitting an application on granting permanent residence permit for a foreigner, who is a minor and has 6 years on the day of submitting an application, his\her presence is demanded. The obligation to provide fingerprints does not concern foreigners who on the date of submitting the application are under 6 years of age.

This permit is granted for an indefinite period. On its basis, a residence card is issued, valid for 10 years. This document is collected personally. If the residence card has been issued to a foreigner who has not 13 years old on the date of its receipt, the card is collected by his legal representative or curator. During its validity period, the residence card confirms the identity of the foreigner during his stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland and entitles him, together with a valid travel document, to cross the border many times without the need to obtain a visa.

A foreigner who has a permanent residence permit is entitled to work in the territory of Poland without the need for a work permit. In the residence card issued in connection with the granting of a permanent residence permit for a foreigner, there is an annotation “access to the labor market”.

What should you pay?

It is payed 640 PLN for issuing the permit. You should to attach the confirmation of the payment to the submitted application.

Necessary documents:

  • 2 copies of application on granting permanent residence permit, in the case of foreigners, who are under 13 years old – only 1 copy of an application is needed,
  • 4 actual photos, not damaged, on the uniform light background, the photos must be attached to the application, by sticking them in the appointed place,
  • valid passport (2 copies) in the case of foreigners, who have not 13 years – only 1 copy is needed,
  • the confirmation of the payment (if it is required),
  • documents, confirming required uninterrupted stay in Poland.

Documents, confirming circumstances, indicated in an application

in the case of a minor, who is the child of a foreigner, who has permanent residence permit or residence permit for EU long-term resident, who is staying under parental authority and had been born after the foreigner has been granted a permanent residence permit or a residence permit for EU long-term resident:

  • documents confirming kinship recognized by the law of the Republic of Poland,
  • documents confirming the parent’s possession of a residence permit required by the law,

in the case of a child of Polish citizen, who is staying under his\her parental authority:

  • documents, confirming kinship, recognized by the law of Poland Republic,
  • marriage certificate of the parents or recognition of a child as a Polish citizen, if the child had been born before the parents entered into marriage;
  • the copy of ID card of legal representative,

in the case if a foreigner is married to a Polish citizen:

  • a current copy of the marriage certificate,
  • in the case of having children together – copies of birth certificates,

in the case of having children together – copies of birth certificates,:

  • documents, proving running a common household, e.g. joint accounts for jointly occupied apartment, confirmation of having a joint bank account or authorization to bank account of the spouse, joint correspondence, joint photos from different periods, e.g. family celebrations, trips, etc., or other documents proving of running a joint family life in the declared place of residence.

in the case when a single stay lasted longer than 6 months, and all stays exceeded 10 months totally:

  • documents stating that the departures from the territory of the Republic of Poland in the period under examination were caused by the circumstances referred to the art. 195, paragraph 4 of the Act about foreigners of 12 December 2013.

in the case of victim of human trafficking:

  • documents, stating the cooperation with law enforcement agencies in criminal proceedings in the case of a crime under Art. 189a § 1 of the Criminal Code and has justified concern about returning to the country of origin,
  • certificate of discharging of tax obligations towards the State Treasury?

in the case that immediately before submitting the application, you have been continuously on the territory of the Republic of Poland for a period of at least 5 years on the basis of refugee status, subsidiary protection or consent to stay for humanitarian reasons:

  • documents confirming the required five-year uninterrupted stay in Poland
  • decision on granting refugee status, subsidiary protection, residence permit for humanitarian reasons,

In the case, where one-time residence stay lasted more than 6 months, all the stays exceeded 10 months totally:

  • documents stating that the departures from the territory of the Republic of Poland in the period under examination were caused by the circumstances referred to art. 212 paragraph 4 of the Act about foreigners of 12 December 2013, in the case of staying in the territory of the Republic of Poland directly before submitting the application for a period of at least 10 years on the basis of the permit for tolerated stay granted on the basis of art. 351 points 1 or 3 of the Act about foreigners,
  • documents confirming the required ten-year uninterrupted stay in Poland,
  • decision on granting tolerated stay permit.

In the case, where one-time foreigner’s residence stay lasted more than 6 months, all the stays exceeded 10 months totally:

  • documents, stating, that departures from the territory of the Republic of Poland in the period of under examination were caused by the circumstances referred to art. 212 paragraph 4 of the Act about foreigners of 12 December 2013,

In the case, if a foreigner is granted asylum on the territory of the Republic of Poland:

  • documents, confirming of granting an asylum,

In the case, if a foreigner is of Polish origin:

  •  originals of the documents, that confirm having of Polish origin thorough one of the parents, or grandparents or two great grandparents,
  • originals of documents, confirming kinship with the person, who has Polish origin,

In the case, if a foreigner has a valid Pole’s Card:

  • copy of a valid Pole’s card with the original for the inspection,
  • documents, pointing to the intention of settling in Poland permanently, i.e.:
    1. documents, confirming possible previous stays on the territory of the Republic of Poland,
    2. documents confirming the intention to stay in Poland permanently, e.g. rental agreements or act of validity of resident place on the territory of the Republic of Poland, as well as documents, confirming the performance of work in Poland or running a business on the territory of Poland, documents, confirming having study or its graduation, proof of permanent residence in Poland of family members with documents confirming kinship. These documents must be in force currently and in the long-term in the future.