Registering your stay in Poland
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Register your stay in Poland - EU and non-EU citizens
REMEMBER: You should apply for the Temporary Residence Card when you are legally staying in Poland, which means after you arrive, but before the expiry of your visa.
The documents you will need to legalise your stay include an application form, photos and documents proving your identity and citizenship, address, the purpose of stay (a certificate from your school) health insurance and possession of sufficient funds. For detailed information check out the Voivodship Office’s website.
When you receive the permit you will be issued a Temporary Residence Card, an ID card that proves that you have a residence permit. Together with your travel document, which is your passport, it allows you to cross the Polish border as many times as you wish.
After arrival: registering your stay
All foreign citizens are obliged to register their long-stay in Poland. This obligation applies to citizens of member states of the EU as well as to all other foreign visitors.
EU citizens
Citizens of member states of the European Union and EFTA can enter the Republic of Poland without a visa. They do not need to register their short-term stay (shorter than 3 months). After three months they should register their long-term stay.
Application form for EU citizens
Registration of stay – long-term (longer than 3 months)
Citizens of member states of the EU and EFTA who reside in Poland for more than three months are obliged to register their stay with the authorities. A registration application needs to be submitted stating the reasons for an extended stay (e.g. studies at a Polish university). The application should be submitted in person to the appropriate voivodeship office, no later than one day after three months from the date of entering the Polish territory. In Szczecin, this sprocedure is carried out by Westpomeranian Voivodeship Office (Zachodniopomorski Urząd Wojewódzki).
Non-EU citizens
Citizens of countries that are not member states of the European Union or EFTA enter the Polish territory on the basis of an obtained visa. After arrival they are obliged to register their short-term stay as well as long-term stay if it exceeds the visa period.
After receiving a positive decision regarding the residence permit, a foreigner is also granted a residence card. A residence card allows its holder to stay on the Polish territory and to travel abroad without the need to obtain another visa. There is a fee for issuing a residence card. The card has to be collected in person.
Westpomeranian Voivodeship Office (Zachodniopomorski Urząd Wojewódzki) website (information available in English and other languages).
Documents required in the procedure of applying for a residence permit:
- Temporary residence registration form (.pdf)
- Four passport photos (35 mm x 45 mm)
- Proof of payment of the duty fee
- A copy of a valid travel document - all pages (original document needed for verification);
- Zaświadczenie o przyjęciu cudzoziemca na studia stacjonarne / kontynuacji przez cudzoziemca studiów stacjonarnych
(Certificate on admission of a foreigner to full-time studies / continuation of full-time studies by a foreigner) (to be issued at Dean's Office) - Proof of payment of tuition fees
- Documents confirming that you have health insurance
- Documents proving your sufficient funds to cover the cost of living as well as traveling back to the country of residence
- Documents showing the amount of funds allocated to cover the costs of living in Poland.
After receiving a positive decision regarding the residence permit, a foreigner is also granted a residence card. A residence card allows its holder to stay on the Polish territory and to travel abroad without the need to obtain another visa. There is a fee for issuing a residence card. The card has to be collected in person.
