FAQ -See what problems foreigners in Poland have to face most often.
Answers to the most popular questions
The application for a Temporary Residence Permit must be submitted not later than on the last day of your legal stay in Poland. However, we recommend that you start the application procedure at least two months before the expiry date of the card to avoid delays caused by the burden on offices and problems with the availability of dates.
The Temporary Residence Permit is issued for 1 to 3 years. The Temporary Residence Card is issued for the same period of time as the Temporary Residence Permit.
A foreigner can start working in Poland if he has a work permit or employers declaration on entrusting work performance as well as a visa. Not all types of visas give the right to work in Poland. The following visas do NOT give you the right to work:
- tourist visa- symbol “01”,
- temporary protection visa – symbol “20”
- arrival for humanitarian reasons, interest of State, international obligations – symbol “21”
You can appeal against negative decision within 14 days, counting from the day you receive the decision.
YES. You can file an appeal against the decision to the Voivodship Administrative Court, within 30 days from receiving the second negative decision. However, remember that even a favourable decision of the court does not mean that you will get the Temporary Residence Permit. The court only sends the documents back to the second instant authority, where they are to be re-examined.
In case when the decision of the court is not favourable, you can then appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court. This process, depending on the location, may take even several years.
Unfortunately you do not. The basic differences are:
- as a college/ university student you are allowed to work
- as a language courses student you need a separate permit for employment, the period of language study is not calculated in the period necessary to acquire a Permanent Residence Permit or Long-term EU resident Permit.
NO, unfortunately not. If you crossed the boundary based on the consent of the Border Guard and do not have a Polish visa, you will have to return to your country. You can legally stay within the Territory of Poland only for 15 days.
However, if you would like to stay in Poland, and study and/or work here, please contact us. We will assist you in going quickly through the process of legalization of your stay, work or study in our country.
YES, you can travel and stay in Schengen Countries for a period of no more than 90 days within a 180 day period, but you must have a valid travelling document, justify purpose for visiting a given country, and have financial means to cover the costs of the stay.
Every foreigner living and working in Poland or staying in this country for more than 183 days has to pay income tax, no matter which country he received the income. The foreigner is called a “tax resident”.
If a foreigner does not live in Poland he will have to pay tax only from income gained in Poland.
YES, every foreigner, who is employed in Poland, and has the status of:
- employee
- contractor
- businessman, self-employed, must pay social security.
Student visas cannot be prolonged. In Poland visas can be prolonged in strictly defined set of circumstances. In case of students, it is possible to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit. The documents have to be submitted 45 days before the validity period of the visa expires.
Visas can be prolonged only in strictly defined, exceptional circumstances. A foreigner who has a working permit can also apply for a Temporary Residence Permit.
A foreigner entering Poland must have the following financial means:
- 300 zl, if the stay in Poland does not exceed 4 days,
- 75 zl ( or the equivalent in foreign money) for every day of the stay exceeding 4 days.
A foreigner coming to Poland for the purpose of college/university studies, research, scientific studies or other studies must have at least 1270 zl ( or equivalent in foreign money) for the first 2 months of stay in Poland.
A foreigner must proof the possession of financial means by presenting:
- a traveler’s check
- certificate of a credit card limit issued by the bank or credit institution that issued the credit card. The certificate must be issued no earlier than a month before crossing the border.
- A certificate of having financial resources in a bank based in Poland or any other EU country. The certificate must be issued no earlier than one month before crossing the border.
NO. A Work Permit does not legalize the stay of a foreigner in Poland. You need a Residence Permit for the purpose of work. The submission of the application for Work Permit does not legalize the work itself. You must wait for the decision before starting to work.