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Permanent residence permit in Poland: who qualifies
A permanent residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) is available only to specific groups, such as spouses of Polish citizens, children of Polish citizens, and people of Polish origin or with a Karta Polaka who intend to settle. The stamp duty is 640 zł, the card fee 100 zł, and you must apply while in Poland.
Who can apply
- A child of a Polish citizen who is under that citizen’s parental authority.
- A child of a foreigner settled in Poland (permanent or EU long-term resident permit), in the cases the law lists.
- A person of Polish origin or with a valid Karta Polaka who intends to settle in Poland.
- A spouse of a Polish citizen who has been married for at least 3 years and has lived in Poland without interruption for at least 2 years on a temporary permit based on the marriage.
- Certain other groups, such as victims of human trafficking meeting set conditions, people with refugee status or other forms of protection for the required time, and holders of asylum.
Rules that catch people out
- The application must be filed while you are in Poland. Filing from abroad is not possible.
- You must sign the application yourself. A proxy cannot sign or submit it.
- Breaks in stay: no single break longer than 6 months and all breaks together no more than 10 months, in the period counted for the permit.
- If the permit requires proof of stable income, the portal states more than 1,010 zł net per month if you live alone and 823 zł net per month per person in a family (rules valid from 1 January 2025).
Fees
- Stamp duty: 640 zł, paid in advance when you file.
- Card fee: 100 zł, a separate payment to a separate account.
- No stamp duty for asylum holders, holders of a valid Karta Polaka and certain post-Brexit posted workers.
After you get it
The permit has no end date. The residence card is issued for 10 years and replaced on your request. Leaving Poland for more than 6 years can be a ground to withdraw the permit (art. 199).
The process in MOS, the office visit and the appeal rules work like in the other permits. See our guides on the temporary permit and on appeals.
Sources
- MOS: Permanent residence permit
- MOS: Information on fees
- Legal basis: Act on Foreigners art. 195, 199, 206 (Dz.U. 2025 item 1079); Stamp Duty Act annex part III; Regulation on fees (Dz.U. 2022 item 1583); Regulation on income criteria (Dz.U. 2024 item 1044)
Facts checked against the official MOS portal on 25 Oct 2026. Rules and amounts change, so check the source before you act.