{"id":26332,"date":"2025-07-04T12:46:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T10:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/karta-pobytu-jak-uzyskac\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T07:03:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T05:03:07","slug":"residence-card-how-to-obtain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/","title":{"rendered":"Residence card \u2013 how to obtain?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A residence card<\/strong> is a key document that allows foreigners to legally stay in Poland. For many people, it is an important step towards settling in the country for the long term. However, the <strong>procedure for obtaining a residence card<\/strong> can be challenging due to its complexity and numerous formalities. In this article, I will guide you through the process of applying for this document to make it easier to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Spis tre\u015bci<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #444444;color:#444444\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #444444;color:#444444\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/#why-is-it-worth-applying-for-a-residence-card\" >Why is it worth applying for a residence card?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/#who-can-apply-for-a-residence-card\" >Who can apply for a residence card?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/#what-are-the-requirements-for-obtaining-a-residence-card\" >What are the requirements for obtaining a residence card?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/#what-does-the-application-process-look-like\" >What does the application process look like?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/#what-are-the-costs-of-obtaining-a-residence-card\" >What are the costs of obtaining a residence card?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/#how-long-does-the-residence-card-procedure-take\" >How long does the residence card procedure take?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/#what-should-you-do-if-your-application-is-rejected\" >What should you do if your application is rejected?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/residence-card-how-to-obtain\/#summary-and-call-to-action\" >Summary and call to action<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-is-it-worth-applying-for-a-residence-card\"><\/span>Why is it worth applying for a residence card?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A residence card<\/strong> allows you to stay legally in Poland for an extended period, which is invaluable for people planning their future in the country. This document not only confirms the legality of your stay but also opens the door to many personal and professional opportunities. In addition, having a <strong>residence card<\/strong> is often necessary when applying for Polish citizenship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"who-can-apply-for-a-residence-card\"><\/span>Who can apply for a residence card?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Various categories of foreigners can apply for a <strong>residence card<\/strong>, including people with Polish roots, spouses of Polish citizens, investors and people with specific professional qualifications. International students, people applying for international protection and employees posted to Poland may also apply for this document. However, each group must meet specific legal criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-are-the-requirements-for-obtaining-a-residence-card\"><\/span>What are the requirements for obtaining a residence card?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To obtain a <strong>residence card<\/strong>, you must complete several formalities and provide a set of documents. These include: a completed application form, a valid passport, proof of payment of the stamp duty, photographs and documents confirming the purpose and conditions of your stay in Poland (e.g. an employment contract or marriage certificate). It is also important to demonstrate a stable income and place of residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-does-the-application-process-look-like\"><\/span>What does the application process look like?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process of applying for a <strong>residence card<\/strong> requires careful preparation and begins with a visit to the voivodeship office. It is recommended to book an appointment in advance, as available dates may be far in the future. During the appointment, you must provide your fingerprints and present the original documents. Processing the application may take from several months to a year, depending on the type of card and the applicant\u2019s circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-are-the-costs-of-obtaining-a-residence-card\"><\/span>What are the costs of obtaining a residence card?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The costs of <strong>obtaining a residence card<\/strong> may vary. The standard stamp duty is PLN 340, but additional fees may apply, for example when issuing a permanent residence card. You should always verify the latest information on the relevant authority\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-long-does-the-residence-card-procedure-take\"><\/span>How long does the residence card procedure take?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The waiting time for a <strong>residence card<\/strong> varies and depends on many factors, such as the completeness of the documentation and the workload of the authorities. Sometimes the procedure takes three months, but it may extend to six months or longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-should-you-do-if-your-application-is-rejected\"><\/span>What should you do if your application is rejected?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A rejected application does not mean the end of your opportunity to stay in Poland. It is worth reviewing the reasons for the rejection so that you can appeal effectively. An appeal may be submitted to the voivodeship office within the specified deadline, together with any supplementary documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"summary-and-call-to-action\"><\/span>Summary and call to action<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Obtaining a residence card<\/strong> is an important step for foreigners in Poland. Despite the complexity of the procedure, understanding its stages makes the process more manageable. Careful preparation of documents and regularly checking information provided by the authorities are essential. If you have any questions, contact experts who can help you navigate the <strong>process of &nbsp;obtaining a residence card<\/strong>. It is a step towards a stable future in Poland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A residence card is a key document that allows foreigners to legally stay in Poland. For many people, it is an important step towards settling in<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":15344,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bez-kategorii"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26332"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26383,"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26332\/revisions\/26383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niden.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}