Residence Card

What is a residence card?

A residence card is a document confirming the identity of a foreigner during his stay in Poland. This document, together with a valid passport, confirms the right to stay in Poland and entitles the foreigner to cross the Polish national border numerous times without the need to have a visa. When crossing the border, the residence card should be presented to the Border Guard Service officials, together with a valid foreign passport. The residence card contains the following information:

1. name(s) and surname of the holder and parents' names;
2. date, place and country of birth of the foreigner;
3. address of registered permanent or temporary residence;
4. information about citizenship;
5. information about sex;
6. information about height (in cm) and eye colour;
7. PESEL number (what is a PESEL number?) if one has been assigned;
8. information about the type of permit granted;
9. annotation "scientist" if the temporary residence permit was issued for the purpose of conducting academic research;
10. annotation "EU Blue Card" if the temporary residence permit was issued for the purpose of employment of highly skilled workers;
11. annotation "access to labour market" – in the case of a permit granted to a foreigner who is entitled to perform work in Poland or is exempt from the obligation to have a work permit;
12. “seasonal work” annotations, if the temporary residence permit was issued for the purpose of seasonal work;
13. fingerprints;
14. name of the authority issuing the card;
15. date of issue;
16. date of expiry;
17. photograph of the foreigner;
18. annotation "international protection granted by… (specification of the EU Member State granting protection) on (date of granting international protection) – in the case the foreigner obtained a long term EU residence permit and was at the same time granted international protection in Poland or in another EU Member State.

How to obtain a residence card?

A residence card is a document issued to foreigners who have been granted:

1. Temporary residence permit;
2. Permanent residence permit;
3. Long-term EU-resident permit;
4. Refugee status;
5. Subsidiary protection;
6. Residence permit for humanitarian reasons.

Thus, in order to obtain a residence card in Poland, one should first obtain a residence permit.

Replacement or loss of residence card

A residence card must be replaced if:

1. data contained in the card have changed;
2. the appearance of the card holder has changed, which makes it difficult to determine his/her identity;
3. the card has been damaged;
4. the card has been lost (eg. it was stolen);
5. Poland has assumed responsibility for the protection of the holder of a residence card issued pursuant to granting a long-term EU resident permit with the annotation "international protection granted by…" (specification of the EU Member State granting protection);
6. another EU Member State has assumed the responsibility for protection of the holder of a residence card issued pursuant to granting a long-term EU resident permit;
7. An application for replacement of a residence card should be filed within 14 days after the grounds for replacement occurred.

An application for issuing a subsequent residence card (in the case of a residence permit granted for humanitarian reasons, permanent residence permit or long-term EU resident permit) should be filed not later than 30 days prior to the expiry of the residence card.

Foreigners who have lost their residence card should report this fact by submitting the relevant form within 3 days of the date of loss (e.g. loss, theft) to the Voivodeship Office that issued the card. The form is available here. Foreigners who report the loss or damage of a residence card shall receive a statement confirming this fact free of charge. Such a statement may be useful in the event of inspection of the legality of the foreigner's stay in Poland. This is why one should always carry the original statement or a copy thereof, in case of an inspection. Foreigners who have recovered a lost residence card are obliged to notify the Voivode of this fact within 3 days from the date of recovery. If the foreigner has already received another document issued to replace the lost card, they are obliged to return the recovered document to the Voivodeship Office immediately.

NOTE: Failure to comply with these obligations may lead to a fine.

NOTE: The residence card should be collected in person at the Voivodeship Office. In the case of children aged under 13 the card is collected by the parent or another legal custodian (e.g. court-appointed family guardian).

A new residence card is issued within 1 month of filing the application for replacement of the card. If the Voivodeship Office fails to issue a new card within the period specified above, it shall notify the foreigner of this fact, stating the reasons for the delay and specifying a new deadline for concluding the matter.

Fees

• for issuing and replacing a residence card – 50 PLN
• for replacing a residence card resulting from its loss or destruction for which the foreigner is at fault – 100 PLN
• for each subsequent loss or destruction of the residence card for which the foreigner is at fault - 150 PLN

The fee for issuing or replacement of the residence card is not charged in the following cases:

1. issuing the first residence card to a foreigner who was granted in Poland:
• refugee status,
• subsidiary protection,
• residence permit for humanitarian reasons;
2. the first residence card issued for a foreigner who was granted a permanent residence permit in Poland as a member of the closest family of a repatriate;
3. if the issued or replaced document contained technical defects;
4. replacement of a residence card due to Poland assuming responsibility for the protection of the holder of a residence card issued pursuant to granting of a long-term EU resident permit with the annotation "international protection granted by…" (specification of the EU Member State granting protection);
5. replacement of a residence card if another EU Member State has assumed responsibility for the protection of the holder of a residence card issued pursuant to granting of a long-term EU resident permit;

Legal basis

The Foreigners Act of 12 December 2013 (Journal of Laws 2013, No. 0, item 1650).