Residence card (karta pobytu) — temporary residence permit

We help our clients obtain a temporary residence card, an essential step in the process of temporary legal residence in Poland. We prepare the complete documentation and advise on the application process.

Residence card vs residence permit — what is the difference?

A temporary residence permit is a decision of the voivode that determines on what grounds and for how long you may legally stay in Poland. A residence card is the document issued on the basis of that decision: it confirms your identity and your right of residence and, while it is valid, allows you to travel within the Schengen area without a visa — for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

16 legal grounds

• Work
• Studies
• University graduates
• Business activity
• Family reunification
• Posted workers
• EU Blue Card
• Short-term mobility
• Seasonal work
• Intra-corporate transfer (ICT)
• Internship and volunteering
• Scientific research and researcher mobility
• Temporary residence for holders of PESEL UKR
• Humanitarian residence / D21 visa
• Family reunification with a Polish citizen
• Other important circumstances

The exact list of grounds and requirements depends on your individual situation. Book a consultation and we will choose the best solution for you.

The most common cases we help with

• Temporary residence and work permit
• Temporary residence permit – business activity
• Temporary residence permit – family reunification
• Temporary residence permit – marriage to a Polish citizen
• Temporary residence permit – residing with a foreigner
• Temporary residence permit – studies, graduate
• Temporary residence permit – seasonal work
• Change of the temporary residence and work permit (when changing employer)
• Temporary residence permit – informal partnership (konkubinat)
• Temporary residence permit – other circumstances

How the procedure works, step by step

• Consultation and choice of ground — we analyse your situation and determine which permit is worth applying for.
• Preparing the documents — we assemble the attachments and fill in the application.
• Submitting the application — electronically via the MOS system, to the voivodeship office competent for your place of residence. The exception is an application to change a decision, which is submitted outside MOS.
• Confirmation of legal stay — after the application is submitted, the office issues a certificate (Zaświadczenie) confirming that your stay is legal for the duration of the proceedings.
• Visit to the office — attending in person to have your fingerprints taken and give your signature.
• Decision and collection of the card — after a positive decision the residence card is issued and you collect it in person at the office.

What documents to prepare

The basic set depends on the purpose of your stay:

• Work — a scan of all passport pages with entries, 1 digital photo (684 × 883 px), proof of payment of official fees, załącznik nr 1 (attachment no. 1) completed by the employer.
• Studies — a scan of all passport pages with entries, 1 digital photo (684 × 883 px), proof of payment of official fees, załącznik nr 5 (attachment no. 5) completed by the university.
• Family — a scan of all passport pages with entries, 1 digital photo (684 × 883 px), proof of payment of official fees, a tenancy agreement or another legal title to the accommodation.

During the proceedings, the office may ask for additional documents, e.g. proof of income or health insurance. We prepare the exact list for your situation at the consultation.

Official fees

• Stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) for granting a temporary residence permit — as a rule 340 zł, and for a temporary residence and work permit — 440 zł.
• Fee for issuing the residence card — 100 zł.

Official fees are not included in the price of our services.

How long you wait for a residence card in the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship

The waiting time depends on the type of case and the office handling the proceedings. In our experience, in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship it is approximately 12 months in Poznań and 12–18 months at the branch offices (delegatury) of the voivodeship office. Complete documents and a quick response to the office's requests (wezwania) shorten the proceedings.

The running of time limits for residence cases is formally suspended until 4 March 2027. In practice, however, we see offices issuing decisions earlier.

Where we submit the application

Cases of residents of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship are handled by the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Office — Foreigners' Affairs Department in Poznań (pl. Wolności 17) and by the office's branches in Kalisz, Konin, Leszno and Piła. We help clients from the whole region.

What the service includes

• Analysis of your situation and choice of the best ground
• Preparing a complete set of documents
• Filling in all the necessary documents and applications
• Submitting the documents to the voivodeship office
• Handling the case and communicating with the office
• Informing you of every change in the status of your case
• Receiving the decision and help with the residence card

Three packages to choose from

Start package — a consultation, analysis of your situation and instructions if you want to handle the case yourself. Medium package — preparing and submitting the documents. Full package — comprehensive handling of the case and representation before the voivodeship office right up to collecting the residence card. Package details and prices are in the price list.