Self-employed worker in Poland

The third-country national makes the application in person, no later than on the last day of his/her lawful residence on the territory of Poland to the governmental province authority (voivode) competent in respect of the third-country national’s place of residence. You should make an appointment early enough.

While making the application, the third-country national is under the obligation to give his/her fingerprints.

More information on how to apply for a temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting business activity may be found here.

Stamp duty PLN 340 (ap. EUR 77).

Fee for issuing a residence card PLN 100 (ap. EUR 23).

The procedure should end within 60 days from the day of making a complete application.

The third-country national who has obtained the temporary residence permit is issued with a residence card.

1. The completed form of the application for a temporary residence permit,
   Note: while submitting the application, the third-country national whose purpose of stay is to perform work by performing functions in the management board of a limited liability company or a joint-stock company which he/she established or whose shares or stocks he/she acquired or purchased, or running the affairs of a limited partnership or limited partnership joint-stock company by a general partner, or acting as a proxy of a company shall attach the Annex No 1, filled in by an entity entrusting the performance of a paid activity to the third-country national.
2. 4 up-to-date photographs,
3. a photocopy of a valid travel document (original available for inspection). In particularly justified cases, if the third-country national does not have a valid travel document and it is not possible to obtain such document, he/she may present another document which confirms his/her identity,
4. proof of payment of stamp duty (340 PLN).

Note: failure to submit any of the above-mentioned documents will result in the applicant being requested to provide the missing documents within a deadline of not less than 7 days from the delivery of the request, otherwise the application will not be considered. In case of failure to pay a stamp duty within a deadline specified in the request the application will be returned.

The application should also be accompanied by the following standard documents:

1. documents confirming conducting business activity on the territory of the Republic of Poland which justifies the stay of the third-country national in Poland for a period longer than 3 months,
2. documents which certify the third-country national is covered by public health insurance in Poland or the confirmation of the private insurer’s coverage of the medical treatment costs on the territory of Poland (e.g. the appropriate certificate from the Social Security Institution (ZUS) or the insurance policy),
3. documents which confirm a stable and regular source of income which is adequate to cover the costs of subsistence, including those for dependent family members (for a person in a single household – at least net PLN 776 monthly; for a person in a family – at least net PLN 600 monthly),
4. where necessary, consent of the competent authority to occupy a specific position or practice a profession,
5. document confirming that the third-country national has the place of residence in Poland,
6. documents confirming that the entity which conducts business activities:
   1. in the fiscal year preceding submission of the application for granting a temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting business activity by the third-country national, achieved income not lower than 12 times average gross monthly remuneration in the national economy in the voivodship, where this entity has the registered office or place of residence, in the year preceding the submission of the application, announced  by the President of the Central Statistical Office on the basis of Article 30 (2) of the Act of 26 October 1995 on some forms of supporting residential construction, or employ for indefinite or full time for the period of at least 1 year preceding the submission of the application, at least 2 employees being Polish citizens or third-country nationals, mentioned in the Article 87(1)(1–9) of the Act of 20 April 2004 on promotion of employment and labour market institutions (e.g. refugees or third-country nationals who have permanent residence permit or long-term resident's EU residence permit) or
   2. demonstrate that has funds allowing fulfilment of conditions specified in point (a) in future or conducts actions enabling to fulfil these conditions in the future, in particular contributing to the growth of the investment, transfer of technology, introducing favourable innovation or creating work places.

The above-mentioned conditions in points (a) or (b) shall also apply to the limited partnership, limited partnership joint-stock company or a limited liability company, a joint stock company established by the third-country national or to the company to which the third-country national acceded or which shares or stocks were took or purchased by him/her.

Polish law makes a distinction between a permanent residence permit and the EU long-term residence permit.

Permanent residence permit

A permanent residence permit is issued to specified categories of third-country nationals i.a. to children of Polish citizens or of permanent residents in Poland, spouses of Polish nationals and persons of Polish origin. A decision on granting a permanent residence permit is issued for an indefinite period. A residence card remains valid for 10 years, which means that it should be replaced every 10 years.

A permanent residence permit issued in Poland does not entitle the third-country national to obtain a residence permit in another EU country as is provided for holders of EU long-term residence permit.

A permanent residence permit entitles the third-country national to travel to another country in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period mainly for tourism purposes like temporary residence permits.

More on  permanent residence permit.

EU long-term residence permit

The EU long-term residence permit is issued to the third-country national who has been staying legally and continuously on the territory of Poland for at least 5 years directly prior to submission of the application for granting this permit and meets the following conditions:

• has a source of stable and regular income adequate to cover the means of subsistence for himself/herself and his/her dependent family members,
• has a health insurance as defined by the Act of 27 August 2004 on health care services financed from the public funds or a certificate confirming that the costs of medical treatment on the territory of Poland shall be covered by an insurer,
• has confirmed command of Polish.

The permit is granted for an indefinite time. A residence card remains valid for 5 years, which means that it should be replaced every 5 years.

More on EU long-term residence permit.