- Residence Permit in Poland: Application Support
- What is legalization of stay in Poland?
- Check your ground in a minute
- Residence permit based on a business
- Temporary residence and work permit
- Family reunification
- Residence permit for studies
- CUKR card or a regular residence permit
- EU long-term resident status
- Situations people come to us with
- Your visa or visa-free stay is ending
- You run a company in Poland
- Your life has changed
- You have a job offer
- You are bringing your spouse and children
- You got a refusal, or the case is stuck
- Which grounds for a residence permit we work with
- Your own business
- Work
- Family
- Studies
- Permanent residence
- EU long-term resident
- Pole’s Card and citizenship
- CUKR card
- Appeal against a refusal
- What we do not do
- Temporary residence permit based on a business
- 1What the voivode checks
- 2Company or sole proprietorship
- UWhat we do
- Three cases from practice
- Invested in a factory — got a refusal
- A company owner applied on the basis of employment
- The lease expired while the case was pending
- How we handle a residence permit case
- Request and review
- Checking the ground
- Power of attorney
- Document audit
- MOS application
- Visit and fingerprints
- Running the case
- Decision and card
- What we need from you
- Frequently asked questions about residence permits in Poland
- Run by people who have been through it themselves
- Tell us your situation — we will check your ground
Residence Permit in Poland: Application Support
We run your case under a power of attorney — from choosing the legal ground to the voivode’s decision. Whether you have a ground at all, we tell you before any work starts.
We support applications for a temporary residence permit and residence card, permanent residence, EU long-term resident status and citizenship: we check your legal ground, prepare the documents and the MOS application together with you, and represent you before the voivodeship office. Anywhere in Poland, offices in Warsaw and Kraków.
What is legalization of stay in Poland?
Legalization of stay in Poland means obtaining a permit that lets a foreigner live in the country lawfully for longer than a visa or visa-free stay allows. Most often it is a temporary residence permit, issued for up to 3 years; the document that comes with it is the residence card (karta pobytu). The next steps are a permanent residence permit, EU long-term resident status and citizenship.
The decision on a residence permit is made by the voivode — the government’s representative in the region — through the voivodeship office (urząd wojewódzki). Since 27 April 2026, applications are filed online only, through the MOS portal. We do not make the decision for the voivode and we do not promise an outcome. Our job is to make sure the case has the right legal ground, a complete set of documents and answers to the office’s requests within the set deadlines.
Check your ground in a minute
Pick your situation — we show the ground, the government fees and what the voivode checks. For your own business we calculate the income threshold in your voivodeship.
Residence permit based on a business
How the threshold works. The business income for the previous tax year must be at least 12 times the average monthly salary in the voivodeship of the company’s seat (for a JDG — where you live). For Mazowieckie that is PLN 113,867, for Małopolskie PLN 98,992. Instead of income you can show two employees or prove the company’s prospects.
Data as of 1 October 2026; this is an indicative calculation, not legal advice. The threshold uses the latest table published by Statistics Poland (GUS) — average salaries for 2024 (announcement of 19 November 2025). The law refers to the salary for the year before filing: once GUS publishes the 2025 table (usually in November) the threshold will rise, and which table applies to a case is for the voivode to decide. The two employees must be citizens of Poland, the EU, EFTA or Switzerland or their family members, holders of permanent residence or EU long-term resident status, or people under protection in Poland, including temporary protection. Your living income must be above PLN 1,010 net per month for a single person, or above PLN 823 for each person in the family, including you.
Temporary residence and work permit
- Fees: PLN 440 for the permit + PLN 100 for the card = PLN 540
- Issued for: up to 3 years
- What is checked: the contract and the employer’s annex, pay not below the minimum wage, health insurance
- Important: Annex 1 is completed and signed by the employer — the application cannot be submitted without it
Family reunification
- Fees: PLN 340 for the permit + PLN 100 for the card = PLN 440; the card for a child under 16 is PLN 50
- Issued for: up to 3 years; if the family member you are joining holds a temporary permit — no longer than that permit
- What is checked: the marriage or birth certificate, family income, insurance and housing
- Important: family income must be above PLN 823 net per month for each family member
Residence permit for studies
- Fees: PLN 340 for the permit + PLN 100 for the card = PLN 440; the law gives students a 50% discount on the card — PLN 50
- What is checked: the university certificate of admission or continued studies, tuition payment, insurance and funds to live on
- Important: years of study count only half towards EU long-term resident status
CUKR card or a regular residence permit
- CUKR fees: PLN 340 for the permit + PLN 100 for the card = PLN 440
- Issued for: 3 years, once, not renewable
- Conditions: UKR status on 4 June 2025 and on the day of filing, at least 365 days of uninterrupted status
- Deadline: 4 March 2027. Temporary protection itself has been extended until 4 March 2028
- Important: if you already have a pending case for a regular permit, applying for CUKR discontinues it
EU long-term resident status
- Fees: PLN 640 for the permit + PLN 100 for the card = PLN 740
- Issued for: an indefinite period; the card is replaced every 5 years
- What is checked: 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residence, stable income for the last 3 years (2 years for EU Blue Card holders), insurance, Polish at B1 level
- Important: the law does not grant permanent residence “for five years of work or business” — that is a different status with a closed list of grounds
The calculator shows the rule and the numbers, not a decision: the voivode assesses the case as a whole.
Situations people come to us with
No two cases are the same: one person’s visa is running out, another has changed jobs, a third has a company that made no profit last year. So we start with your situation, not with a document checklist.
Your visa or visa-free stay is ending
You need to file while your stay is still legal — and choose a ground that will hold up when the office examines it.
You run a company in Poland
You want a residence permit based on your Sp. z o.o. or sole proprietorship and are not sure the income is enough or what the accounts will show.
Your life has changed
A new employer, a new company, marriage, graduation — and your current permit no longer matches what you actually do.
You have a job offer
A single permit for residence and work, or an EU Blue Card for highly qualified staff — part of the file is completed by the employer.
You are bringing your spouse and children
You need to know when the law allows family reunification and what income and housing you will have to show.
You got a refusal, or the case is stuck
You have 14 days to appeal. Or you filed long ago, there is no answer, and it is unclear what can be done.
Describe your situation — we will tell you which ground fits you, and whether any does.
Which grounds for a residence permit we work with
The ground is the reason the law lets you live in Poland. It determines the documents, the fee and what you can do with the card. A wrong ground is the most expensive mistake: for applications filed since 5 March 2026, the stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) is not refunded if the permit is refused.
Your own business
A temporary residence permit based on a company or sole proprietorship. This is our core area — see the section below.
Work
The single permit for temporary residence and work, and the EU Blue Card for highly qualified employees. See our Blue Card guide.
Family
Family reunification with a foreigner living in Poland, and a permit for the spouse of a Polish citizen.
Studies
A residence permit for the period of studies at a Polish university, and a change of ground after graduation.
Permanent residence
A permit for an indefinite period — for holders of the Pole’s Card, people of Polish origin, spouses of Polish citizens. Who qualifies is explained in our article on permanent residence in Poland.
EU long-term resident
EU long-term resident status after 5 years of legal, uninterrupted residence in Poland: stable income, health insurance and Polish at B1 level.
Pole’s Card and citizenship
Documents for the Pole’s Card, recognition as a Polish citizen by the voivode, and an application for citizenship to the President.
CUKR card
A 3-year card for Ukrainian citizens who held UKR status on 4 June 2025 and have held it for at least 365 days in a row. Applications are accepted until 4 March 2027 and the card cannot be renewed — details in our article on the CUKR card.
Appeal against a refusal
We prepare the appeal (odwołanie) against the voivode’s decision within the 14-day deadline. What to do first — in our article on a refusal of legalization.
What we do not do
- We do not sell “appointment slots” at the office or job invitations — we take no part in such schemes.
- We do not handle asylum and international protection cases, or deportation cases.
- We do not arrange visas from abroad.
- We do not recommend a company “just for the card” with no real activity: registering a company does not in itself give you the right to stay.
Not sure which ground is yours? We will work it out before we start — and say so plainly if you cannot file now.
Temporary residence permit based on a business
A business-based residence permit is the ground we know from the inside. Stanislav Tsys, who runs Uniconsulting Group, obtained his own residence card through his business three times, and our clients have received more than 100 cards on this ground.
1What the voivode checks
- The company’s income for the previous tax year — at least 12 times the average monthly salary in the voivodeship of the company’s seat (for a sole proprietor — where you live). It is income after costs that counts, not revenue
- Or, for at least a year before you apply, the company has employed two people on open-ended, full-time contracts — Polish citizens or foreigners with a specified status
- Or evidence that the company will reach these figures: contracts, investments, a business plan
- No arrears with ZUS (social insurance) or the tax office
- Your own income, health insurance and a place to live
2Company or sole proprietorship
- If you are in Poland on a visa, or on a permit for work or business, you can usually run a business only through a company — most often a Sp. z o.o.
- A sole proprietorship (JDG) is open only to some statuses — for example permanent residents, EU long-term residents, holders of the Pole’s Card, spouses of Polish citizens with a permit based on that marriage, Ukrainian citizens with UKR status
- If you sit on the board of a company in which you hold no shares, you apply for a residence and work permit, and the company itself must meet the income or employment condition
- Until 4 March 2027, for Ukrainian citizens running a sole proprietorship the voivode does not apply the condition on the company’s income and employees
UWhat we do
- Review the company’s figures before you file: income, ZUS, taxes, form of taxation
- Tell you which of the three conditions you meet — and whether you meet any
- Put the company file together with your accountant
- Prepare explanations for the voivode if the company is young or had a loss-making year
I have obtained a residence card through my business three times. Each time the documents had to be collected for two — for me and for the company — and each time the office asked for certificates of no arrears with ZUS and the tax office. My first card was issued for just over a year, up to the company’s first annual report; cards are also issued for two or three years — it depends on the case. So you prepare for the application in advance, through your accounting, not in the week before the deadline.
— Stanislav Tsys
No company yet? See how we help you open a company in Poland or register a sole proprietorship. If the company is running but the books are not ready for the application, we can arrange accounting. The three conditions are covered in our guide to a residence card based on business.
Three cases from practice
Cases are retold without names or details. The outcome of each case depends on its circumstances — someone else’s result is not a promise of the same for you.
Tell us your legal form and last year’s result — we will assess whether the company is ready for a permit application.
How we handle a residence permit case
We become your official representative (pełnomocnik): you sign a power of attorney, and from then on letters from the office, requests and replies go through us.
Request and review
You tell us who you are, on what basis you are in Poland now and what you want. We ask follow-up questions.
Checking the ground
We look at which ground the law gives you. If you cannot file now, we say so before you pay and suggest a workable route.
Power of attorney
We prepare the pełnomocnictwo. The stamp duty on it is PLN 17.
Document audit
We check what you already have, what is missing, what needs a sworn translation and which certificates to order.
MOS application
We prepare the application together with you. By law you must sign and submit it yourself — with your own electronic signature, from your own account.
Visit and fingerprints
We prepare you for the in-person visit: original passport, fingerprints, specimen signature. If an interview is scheduled, we explain what is asked.
Running the case
We answer requests for documents on time, file explanations and follow the case. If it is refused, we prepare the appeal.
Decision and card
The decision is made by the voivode. After a positive decision you collect the card in person.
What we need from you
- A valid passport and legal stay in Poland on the day of filing. As a rule you cannot apply through MOS from abroad; the exception is family reunification, where a family member in Poland files the application
- An electronic signature: a trusted profile (profil zaufany, requires a PESEL number) or a qualified electronic signature
- Documents for your ground: an employment contract, company documents, a marriage certificate — we give you a list for your situation
- Government fees: PLN 340 for a permit based on business or family, PLN 440 for work, plus PLN 100 for the card
- An honest account of your situation: trips abroad, earlier refusals, arrears with ZUS or the tax office. What is hidden comes up later in the case and costs more
Start with a request: a review of your situation and a check of the ground come first — before filing and before any fees.
Frequently asked questions about residence permits in Poland
What is the difference between a residence card and a visa?
A visa is issued by a consul abroad: a Schengen visa for up to 90 days, a national visa as a rule for up to a year. A residence card is obtained in Poland: it is the document that comes with a residence permit, which the voivode grants for up to 3 years. With the card and your passport you can enter Poland without a visa and travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
On what grounds can I get a temporary residence permit in Poland?
The most common grounds are work, your own business, family reunification, marriage to a Polish citizen and studies. Ukrainian citizens with UKR status have a separate option, the CUKR card. Buying a flat is not a ground for a residence permit.
Does opening a company give me the right to live in Poland?
No. A company is a ground to apply for a residence permit, not a document that legalizes your stay. The voivode looks at the company’s results: income, employees or real prospects.
How long does it take to get a residence permit in Poland?
It depends on the voivodeship and its current workload. Neither an agency nor an attorney can guarantee it. By law the voivode should decide a temporary residence case within 60 days of the file being complete. Until 4 March 2027, however, these time limits are suspended in cases concerning temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident status. We do not promise a timeframe — we work so that the case does not stall because of us: requests are answered on time and in full.
How do I apply, and what is MOS?
MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) is the government portal for foreigners’ cases. Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident status are accepted only through it. The application is signed with an electronic signature. After filing, the office summons you to a visit in person with your passport and takes your fingerprints.
Can you submit the application for me?
A representative cannot submit a MOS application for you — the law requires your own signature. We prepare the application together with you, and after filing we act as your representative under a power of attorney: we receive letters, answer requests, and file documents and explanations. You attend the fingerprint visit yourself.
Can I work and travel while my application is pending?
If the application was filed on time and without formal defects, your stay is considered legal until the final decision. This is confirmed by a certificate from MOS, which has replaced the stamp in the passport. The certificate does not let you travel in the Schengen area. You may not always work while waiting: as a rule the right is kept if you worked legally before filing and continue on the same terms. We check this for each situation separately.
What if my application is refused?
You have 14 days to appeal from the day the decision is delivered to you. The appeal is filed through the voivode with the Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców). While the appeal is pending, the decision is not final. We first work out why the permit was refused: sometimes it is better to appeal, sometimes to file again on a different ground.
Is there an immigration lawyer on your team in Warsaw?
Yes: the team that handles residence cases includes lawyers. Our offices are in Warsaw and Kraków, and we handle cases across Poland: the application is filed online, and documents and correspondence go electronically and by post. You go to your own voivodeship office in person for fingerprints and to collect the card.
What has changed for Ukrainian citizens?
Temporary protection (UKR status) has been extended until 4 March 2028. Several rules of the special act, however, apply only until 4 March 2027: the deadline to apply for the CUKR card, the statutory extension of visas and residence cards, and the relief for sole proprietors applying on a business ground. The special act has been amended several times — check the version in force on the day you file.
Which languages do you work in?
We work with clients in English, Russian and Ukrainian. The application and all correspondence with the office are in Polish; as a rule, documents in other languages are filed with a sworn translation into Polish.
How much does residence permit support cost?
The price depends on the ground and on the stage we start from: a first application, a change of ground or an appeal. We quote it after reviewing your situation. Government fees are known in advance: PLN 340 or 440 for the permit and PLN 100 for the card. For applications filed since 5 March 2026, the stamp duty is not refunded if the permit is refused or the case is discontinued.
Run by people who have been through it themselves
Uniconsulting Group has been operating since 2015, with offices in Warsaw and Kraków. It is run by Stanislav Tsys, who has lived and done business in Poland for 12 years and has obtained a residence card through his own company three times.
Residence cases are handled by a team of specialists and lawyers. We take the whole case: checking the ground, documents, the application, correspondence with the office, the appeal. We regularly explain the rules on our YouTube channel about business in Poland, which has more than 59,000 subscribers.
The most common mistake is to apply “the way a friend did”. Your friend has a different ground, a different income and a different voivodeship. We start by checking the ground and tell you at the outset if your status does not let you apply — before you pay, not after a refusal.
Tell us your situation — we will check your ground
Describe on what basis you are in Poland now and what you want to obtain. We will work out which route the law gives you, which documents you need and what is worth doing before you file.
Rules, fees and time limits are as of 1 October 2026, based on the MOS portal, the Office for Foreigners (gov.pl/web/udsc) and the Act on Foreigners. They change — before filing, check the MOS portal and the website of your voivodeship office. This page describes general rules and does not replace a review of your situation; it is not legal or tax advice. The decision in every case is made by the voivode; we do not guarantee the outcome or the processing time. Client figures are as of October 2026.