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Plain-language explanations of Polish residence procedures, checked against official government sources.
Temporary residence and work permit
How the single permit works: who can apply, 440 zł stamp duty, 100 zł card fee, MOS steps and the 60-day decision time.
Read the guidePermanent residence permit
Who can get a Polish permanent residence permit, the 640 zł stamp duty, the 100 zł card fee and key rules.
Read the guideEU long-term resident permit
Requirements for the EU long-term resident permit in Poland: 5 years of stay, B1 Polish, income and insurance, 640 zł stamp duty.
Read the guideResidence card (karta pobytu)
What the Polish residence card is, the 100 zł fee, how the first card is issued and how long it is valid.
Read the guideAppealing a refusal
How to appeal a refused Polish residence permit: 14 days, in writing through the voivode, decided by the Head of UdSC within 90 days.
Read the guideCan a proxy file for me?
What a proxy (pełnomocnik) can and cannot do in Polish residence cases: you sign and submit in MOS yourself.
Read the guideEU Blue Card
EU Blue Card in Poland: the 2026 salary threshold (160,264.08 zł a year), qualifications, 440 zł stamp duty, 60-day decision time and how to apply in MOS.
Read the guideChanging employer
Lost or changed your job on a temporary residence and work permit? When you must tell the voivode (15 working days), when the permit must be changed and what to avoid.
Read the guidePolish citizenship
Two routes to Polish citizenship: grant by the President (1,669 zł) and recognition by the voivode (1,000 zł, usually 3 years on a permanent permit, B1 Polish).
Read the guideKarta Polaka
Karta Polaka explained: you apply in person before a Polish consul, filing is free of charge, and a valid card removes the stamp duty for permanent residence.
Read the guideAddress registration (zameldowanie)
How foreigners register their address in Poland: the 4-day deadline for non-EU citizens, the 30-day exemption, documents, fees and why it also gives you a PESEL.
Read the guidePESEL for foreigners
How a foreigner gets a PESEL number in Poland: automatically when registering for a stay over 30 days, or by application at any municipal office. Free of charge.
Read the guideTrusted profile (profil zaufany)
How a foreigner sets up the Polish trusted profile: PESEL needed, free, confirmation in person or via a bank, valid 3 years. Needed to file residence applications in MOS.
Read the guideBank account in Poland
What the law guarantees foreigners who want a bank account in Poland: the basic payment account, how it works, and what banks decide for themselves.
Read the guideFirst weeks in Poland
The order of steps for a foreigner starting life in Poland: address registration, PESEL, trusted profile, bank account and your residence application, with deadlines and fees.
Read the guideHealth insurance (NFZ)
How foreigners get health insurance in Poland: automatic through an employer or business, or voluntary with NFZ at 9% of the declared base. Conditions, documents, waiting fee and deadlines.
Read the guideZUS social insurance
Who pays into ZUS in Poland as a foreigner: employees and mandate workers are registered by the payer, business owners register themselves within 7 days. Which insurance applies and what you should check.
Read the guideTax number (PESEL or NIP)
Which tax identifier a foreigner uses in Poland: since 13 July 2025 PESEL replaces NIP for individuals who are not VAT payers or businesses. When you still need a NIP and how it is issued.
Read the guideSchool for foreign children
How foreign children go to school in Poland: compulsory education to age 18, access to public schools on the same terms as Polish citizens, free extra Polish lessons for up to 24 months.
Read the guide