Resident-citizenship card
A residence card (karta pobytu) in Poland is issued by the Voivode (Urząd Wojewódzki) at your place of residence — this is the only authority that makes the decision. The applicant submits an application (wniosek) with documents, gives fingerprints and waits for the decision; timelines depend on the voivodeship and the case. USPI Work and Documents helps prepare and check the document package, book the submission and accompanies the applicant, but does not influence the authority's decision or timelines. The applicant pays the state fee directly.
Documents usually required for a residence card
| Application form (wniosek) | on the current Voivodeship Office form |
| Valid passport | plus copies of the filled-in pages |
| Photographs | per the authority's requirements (usually 35×45 mm) |
| Grounds for stay | work, study, business, family, etc. — supporting documents |
| Proof of legal stay | visa, visa-free entry, previous card |
| State fee payment | per the authority's tariff; paid by the applicant |
What USPI Work and Documents does
Provides consultation, selects and checks the document set for your grounds, helps with sworn translations, books the submission and accompanies you at the appointment. These are consulting and organisational services.
What the state authority decides
The Voivode (Urząd Wojewódzki) receives the application, checks the documents, schedules fingerprinting and issues a decision to grant or refuse. The authority sets the timelines; a refusal can be appealed to the Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców).
Reviewed: August 2026. Check current requirements and fee amounts on the official websites.
Residence card — frequently asked questions
Who issues the residence card in Poland?
The decision to issue a residence card is made by the Voivode (Urząd Wojewódzki) at the foreigner's place of residence. An intermediary company does not issue the card and does not influence the authority's decision.
How long does it take to get a residence card?
The timeline depends on the voivodeship, the authority's workload and the completeness of documents. The authority sets the exact timelines; an intermediary cannot speed them up.
Can an agency speed up getting a residence card?
No. The timelines and the decision are determined by the state authority. USPI helps prepare the documents correctly and accompanies the submission, but does not affect the processing speed.
Who pays the state fee?
The applicant pays the state fee directly to the authority at the set tariff. It is not included in the intermediary's service price.
What to do in case of a refusal?
A refusal can be appealed to the higher authority (Office for Foreigners) within the set deadline. USPI helps prepare the documents for the appeal.
What is a beaten card in Poland?
The card of residence (or residence) identifies the identity of a foreigner and grants the right to reside in the country for a certain period of time.
The main reasons for receiving a card of beating:
- Employment contract in Poland.
- Studying in Polish educational institutions.
- Doing business in the country.
- Restoration of family reunification.
- Temporary or permanent residence of a partner or relative who already has a broken card.
The validity period of the card has been broken
A temporary (temporary) residence card can be issued for up to three years. The permanent (permanent) residence card is issued for up to 10 years. When the validity period of the card expires, a new package of documents must be submitted for its renewal.
How long does the process of obtaining a residence permit in Poland take?
The term of consideration of the residence card case depends on several factors:
- The volume of card applications in your region. In some regions, where foreigners are actively present, the terms of consideration of cases may be longer than in less populated places.
- Completeness of the package of documents. If something is missing, your case is put on “pause”. The inspector informs you that the documents are missing, or some of them are filled out incorrectly or are out of date. This leads to an increase in the processing time of your case.
The cost of issuing a broken card
The cost of services is calculated individually, since the scope of work for each case is different. We need to know which documents you already have for submitting to a credit card, and which require additional processing.
Contact us to calculate the cost of services, order an escort and manage your case on a debit card by leaving a message for our manager.
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