Permanent Residency Process in Poland For Spouse

The permanent residency process in Poland is simple for foreigners who are married to Polish citizens and live in Poland with their spouses. If you are the spouse of a Polish citizen and fulfill the basic requirements, then you have the right to apply for permanent residency in Poland.

However, to get a spouse-based permanent residency, you need to complete some requirements that we are going to discuss with you in a simple way that you can understand easily.

 

Check Your Eligibility for PR as a Spouse

To qualify for permanent residence in Poland, you must meet specific criteria on the basis of this rule:

 

According to art. 195 ust. 1 pkt 1 ustawy o cudzoziemcach, you can apply for permanent residence after being married to a Polish citizen for at least 3 years, and living in Poland continuously for at least 2 years on the basis of temporary residence granted because of that marriage.

 

This is the rule that should apply to you whenever you apply for permanent residency as a spouse of a Polish citizen.

 

What does a 2-year continuous and legal stay mean?

Here it means you are staying in Poland on the basis of a residence permit that is issued to you as a spouse of your Polish citizen. If you still do not understand these points, then let’s take an example

 

Author Note for you regarding the 2-year legal period

If you get your first residence on 10 November 2025, then your legal stay time will be counted from 10 November to the next two years. If you get your first card for one year, which is obvious, then you will have one year, and when you get the next card, which is, of course, for three years, then your next year will be counted on the same day when they issue the decision for the second card. Do not count the waiting time between cards, although this stay is legal but not counted toward the two-year stay based on the spouse-based TRC. 

 

How to Count Marriage Duration For Permanent Residency

Suppose you get married to a Polish citizen in January 2025; your marriage duration will start from January 2024. You can be eligible to apply for permanent residency in February 2028 because in January 2028, your three-year marriage requirement will be complete.

 

Author Note for Count Legal stay for Permanent Residency for spouse 

Let’s say you got married in 2024 and received a one-year residence card, which is typical for the first application. Later, when you renew your card, you might receive a three-year residence card, which could end in 2028.

Now, even if your card is valid until 2028, you can still apply for permanent residency in 2027 because by then, your three-year marriage requirement and two-year continuous stay in Poland will be completed. Why? Because you’ve met the basic requirements: you’ve been married for three years, and you’ve stayed continuously in Poland for two years with a residence permit.

 

Author key note about continous stay

When we talk about continuous stay, then it means two things:

1. You are not staying out of Poland for more 6 months in one visit.
2. You all visit in this period (In total) not more than 10 months.

So if you visit your country or somewhere else for one or two or 2 or 3 months, then it will not affect your continuous stay until you break one of the rules that we mentioned above.

Reference: art. 195. 1 pkt 1 in connection with art. 185 ust. 2  and art. 198 ust. 2 ustawy o cudzoziemcach

 

Documents Required for Permanent Residency as Spouse

These are the key documents that you have to submit at the immigration office when you file your PR application at the Polish immigration office.

Marriage Certificate: A copy of the marriage certificate, not older than 3 months of time.

Spouse’s ID: A photocopy of your spouse’s ID card, along with the original for inspection.

Birth Certificates (if applicable): Copies of birth certificates for joint children, if you have any.

Proof of Shared Life: Provide documents that show that you run a household together. This may include joint bills, payments for a jointly occupied residence, a joint bank account, or authorization to access your spouse’s bank accounts. Additionally, provide supporting documents such as joint photographs from various occasions like family celebrations or trips, which show you have a normal family life together under one roof.

Proof of Residence Continuity: If you’ve been absent from the territory of Poland for longer than 6 months in a single instance, or if your total absences exceed 10 months, provide documentation of explanations for this longer stay.

Work Contract: You have to submit your work contract with your application because the immigration office is keen to know what you are doing while living in Poland with your spouse. Yes, you don’t need a specific requirement that is required for EU long-term residency as a worker, but you still need to have a job to fulfill your expenses in Poland.

 

Author Advice Regarding Shared life Documents

There are many documents that help immigration know that you both have a shared life together as a family. It will be great if you submit as many documents as possible that can explain how you share life together. It can be any document that proves that you both have a proper family life like other Polish families. So these documents act as supporting documents for your PR application.

 

Submit the Permanent Residency Application

Once you complete all the above documents and other standard application documents, which include the application form, pictures, application fee payment receipt, house contract, etc. Get an appointment and submit your PR application.

 

Author KeyNote for you

You can submit your application after getting an appointment. However, you can have the option to send by post as well. If you want to submit through an appointment, it will speed up your case. Learn more about the appointment process in Poland.

If you want to read in detail about the process and steps involved in the PR process, then we suggest you go read this blog post about the application process at Polish Immigration.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the duration of permanent residency of the spouse?

The permanent residence permit is issued for an indefinite period and allows individuals to work in Poland without needing a separate work permit. After receiving a positive decision, applicants will be issued a residence card, which is probably for 10 years of time.

 

How long does it take to get Polish PR as a spouse?

The process duration depends on the immigration office because sometimes they have more people to deal with. For example, if you submit your application in Warsaw, the timeline may be longer due to the large number of applications, and if you submit in a less populated city, it may not take longer. However, in general, you have to keep 6 to 9 months in your calendar, more or less.

 

Can I work in other European countries with Polish permanent residency?

With Polish Permanent Residency, you are not allowed to work in other European countries automatically. Each European country has its own residency and work permit regulations. If you wish to work in another European country, you will need to apply for residency and work permits separately. However, having Polish permanent residency may simplify the process of obtaining residency in other European countries.

 

Which countries can I visit with a Poland residence permit?

With a Poland residence permit, you can freely visit the Schengen Zone and other European countries without needing a visa for travel. However, if you wish to travel to other parts of the world, you will need to go through the visa application process for those countries.

 

What right do you get after a Polish permanent residence card?

The benefits of a Polish permanent residence card are, e.g.,

1. You can have a residency for an indefinite period.
2. You don’t have to apply for residency again and again, just like for a temporary residency permit.
3. You just apply for the renewal of your card, just like other Poles do.
4. You can apply for citizenship or a passport after getting PR.

 

Can I apply for Poland permanent residency without a lawyer?

Yes, you can apply for Poland permanent residence without hiring a lawyer. You simply need to complete your profile as discussed earlier, pay the fee, file an application, and follow the process. There is no need for a lawyer, but if you want someone else to deal with everything, then you can think about a lawyer.

 

Can I get Polish permanent residency without hiring a lawyer?

There is no direct link between obtaining permanent residency and hiring a lawyer because a lawyer only assists with the process. If you follow the process yourself and submit the required documents, you can also get PR, whether you have applied with the lawyer or not. A lawyer just works as an attorney to deal with your case and make communication with the immigration office.

 

Can I move to the United States with Polish permanent residency?

You cannot directly move to Poland with just Polish permanent residency, but yes, if you have Polish PR, then there might be a chance to get a US visa without any problem.

 

Can I move to the UK with Polish permanent residency?

You cannot move to the UK even if you have Polish permanent residency, as the UK is no longer part of the European Union. Therefore, you have to apply for a visa if you want to travel to the UK, but still yes, with Polish PR, you will easily get a visa if you follow the process.

 

How easy is it to get permanent residence in Poland?

It’s not about easy or difficult; it just depends on the process and the requirements that you complete when you apply for permanent residency. In general, permanent residency in Poland is not difficult to obtain if you complete the process.

 

Is the interview compulsory for spouse-based permanent residency in Poland?

It depends on the immigration office. If you submit everything properly and the immigration office is satisfied with everything, they will probably issue a decision. In case they need to know more, they call for an interview. Calling for an interview is part of the process, which you have to follow if asked.

 

Can I get a negative decision for spouse-based PR in Poland?

Yes, you get a negative decision if you do not submit your application with all the documents and requirements that are crucial for getting Polish PR as a spouse of a Polish citizen. If, in any case, you get a negative decision, you always have the right to apply for an appeal. Learn how to file an appeal in Poland.

 

When can I apply for a Polish passport after getting a permanent residency as a spouse?

There is no specific time period to apply for a Polish passport, but yes, you need to go through a process, e.g., complete a grip on the Polish language, pass the exam related to Polish culture and system, which is called Polish integration, etc. If you complete this, you can start the application process, but mostly it takes years of time after PR to apply for a Polish passport.

 

Other helpful posts to Read

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Application submission process in Poland

Spouse’s based visa in Poland

Spouse visa for non-EU foreigners

EU long-term residency in Poland

Register your company in Poland

Business visa in Poland 

Driving license making and conversion process in Poland

Jobs in warsaw for foreigners

5 affordable insurance for poland visa and immigration

 

Disclaimer: The blog is only for informational purposes and guidance for applying for permanent residency in Poland as a spouse. For exact information, we encourage you to visit the official source.

If you have any questions to ask, you are welcome to leave a comment below. We will reply to you as soon as possible.

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