Poland PR vs. EU Long-Term Residency
If you are living in Poland, then you should know that Poland offers two main residency permits, e.g., the Polish Permanent Residence (PR) and the EU Long-Term Residence Permit. They sound similar, but the differences are crucial for your future rights, primarily in Poland and Europe, when it comes to PR and EU long-term residency permits. Let’s explain it to you in a simple and easy way.
The Core Difference in simple words
Poland PR ties you strongly to Poland, which you get if you are the spouse of a Polish citizen, child of a Polish citizen, etc., while EU Long-Term Residency that you get after working in Poland gives you more freedom to move within the EU within the given rule of rights by that country where you want to move.
Let’s explain every single point one by one briefly.
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Basis of Grant
The main difference is what your common ground is, e.g., either any connection to a Polish citizen or, for EU long-term residency, it is purely based on your work and study, etc. Let’s explain it more to you.
Poland PR
Permanent residency in Poland is granted on the basis of your specific, long-term ties to Poland.
The Common grounds are: you are of Polish descent (Karta Polaka), family reunification with a Polish citizen or spouse of a Polish citizen, refugee status, or continuous legal residence (often 5+ years) primarily on a temporary permit, etc.
EU Long-Term Residency
EULR is granted to you after 5 years of your continuous legal residence in Poland on any basis (work, study, etc.) if you meet standard requirements, e.g., stable income, health insurance, and accommodation requirements. It’s a status standardized across the EU.
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Geographic Flexibility
Poland PR Rights
Your primary right is to live and work in Poland indefinitely. Travel freely in the Schengen Zone? Yes. But moving to work in Germany or France? You’d need to go through that country’s immigration process as a third-country national, e.g., Indian, Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, etc.
EU Long-Term Residency Rights
You get more mobility rights within the European Union. After holding this status for 2 years in Poland, you can relocate to another EU country (like Spain or the Netherlands) under a simplified procedure. You apply for work, study, or self-employment there much more easily.
Author note for you
Eu long term residency give you some more rights to move other eu country on the basis of job that you found there as compare to permaant residney holder. This is suitable for you if you are professional worker and after two year of this residency if you get better option somehere in euope your settlement in this country is slightly earsier but of course you need to fallow the procedure of that specific country where you are moving.
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Lose the Status in Poland PR vs. EU Long-Term Residency
Poland Permanent Residency or PR
You can lose it by leaving Poland for more than 3 consecutive years. It’s meant this permanent residency is for you if you make Poland your permanent home. This is quite fair because if you are the spouse of a Polish citizen, then of course you will stay here permanently with your family here.
EU Long-Term Residency or EULR
The rule is leaving the entire EU/EEA for more than 12 consecutive months. However, if you use it to move to a second EU country, you must follow their rules to maintain it there.
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Path to Citizenship for Poland PR vs. EU Long-Term Residency
When it’s about citizenship, then you have to understand two points below:
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If you hold a Poland Permanent Residence Permit
You can apply for Polish citizenship immediately after receiving the PR permit. There is no additional waiting period. The law states that a foreigner married to a Polish citizen for at least 3 years who has held a permanent residence permit for at least 2 years is exempt from the standard residency requirement. In practice, once you get the PR card as a spouse, you meet the condition. However, most people apply after five years or when their five years are completed.
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If you hold an EU Long-Term Residence Permit
You are generally subject to the standard naturalization rule. This means you must have continuous legal residence in Poland for a set period (5 years, depending on your overall status) while holding this specific permit. In this case, receiving the EU permit starts the clock; you cannot apply immediately, meaning you have to wait two more years on your EULR.
FAQs
Which is better, Polish permanent residence or EU long-term residence?
It’s not about better but depends on your status. It’s not your choice to choose one, but it depends on which kind of permit you have or what your status is in Poland. In general we can say that for permanent life in Poland only, Poland PR is often simpler. For future flexibility across Europe, EU long-term residency is objectively stronger.
Can I work in Germany with a Polish permanent residence permit?
No, not directly. A Poland PR permit does not grant you automatic work rights in Germany. You would need to apply for a German work visa or permit under their national rules. As an EU long-term residence permit holder, you can move from Poland to Germany for work significantly easier
How long does it take to get EU long-term residence in Poland?
The core requirement is 5 years of continuous legal residence in Poland. The application processing time itself can vary from 3 to 9 months after you submit a complete application, but sometimes it takes more than a year.
Do I lose my Polish PR if I live in another EU country?
Yes, you risk losing it. Absence from Poland for over 3 continuous years is grounds for revocation of your Poland PR. If you plan to live elsewhere in the EU, the EU Long-Term Residence Permit is the correct tool.
Which application is more difficult, PR or EULR?
The EU Long-Term Residence Permit generally has stricter, more standardized proof requirements for stable income, ZUS or tax of the last five years that you have to submit in the form of PIT11 or 37, etc., health insurance, and Polish language knowledge. Poland PR requirements can be more varied, depending on your specific legal basis (e.g., Karta Polaka vs. continuous residence), but not like EULR, where you need a lot of documentation.
Does Poland PR or EU long-term residency get me citizenship faster?
It depends entirely on your situation. For a spouse of a Polish citizen, Poland PR is somehow faster, meaning it allows you to apply for citizenship after receiving PR. However, if you have a standard long-term residence or EULR, you have to wait an additional two years to apply for citizenship.
Do I have a choice to choose PR or EU long-term residency?
No, you don’t have a choice to decide because if you are a worker and working in Poland for 5 years, you can only apply for EULR, not PR. So we can say that it’s completely based on your status in Poland.
Read other related blogs
Poland’s permanent residency process and requirements with complete detail
Poland EU long-term residency process and requirements
Disclaimer: this blog post is only for informational purposes, not legal advice. For exact information, you should visit the official source and rely on their information.
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