EU citizens in Poland - registration of stay

   Some citizens of EU member states think, that they can stay in Poland as long as they need without any formalities. Of course it is not true, but fortunately you have not much to do to stay here legally.
   The information below applies not only to the citizens of EU but also to the citizens of Schengen Area states that are not EU members (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland).
   If you don't plan to stay here for longer than 3 months, you don't need to deal with any formalities concerning the legalization of your stay. Buy if you stay here for longer than 3 months, you have a duty to register your stay. To do it, you have to visit personally the territorially competent Voivodship Office and submit an application for the registration of stay in Poland. You should do it not later than on the first day after 3 months of your stay.

Documents necessary for EU citizen's registration of stay: 

- filled application for the registration of stay;
- copy of your travel document (or any other document, that confirms your identity and citizenship);

The rest of needed documents depends on your purpose of stay:

If you work/plan to work in Poland:

- your employer's written declaration on the intention to employ you / employment agreement

If you set up your own business here:

- an excerpt from the national court register or another document confirming, that you run business in Poland
- a resolution of appointment to the post of president/vice-president/member of a management board  (not in every Voivodship Office required)

In case of studies or vocational training:

- a certificate of studies issued by your university / referral to vocational training;
- a document confirming coverage of medical insurance or a document confirming that you have right to benefit from healthcare services pursuant to regulations on coordination of social security systems;
- written declaration on having sufficient financial means to cover yours and your family's costs of living, so as you don't need to benefit from social assistance or documents confirming it (for example, a certificate from bank)

If you are married with Polish citizen:

- a valid certified copy of marriage certificate;
- spouse's ID document

In other cases (like, for example, visiting friend):

- a document confirming coverage of medical insurance / a document confirming that you have right to benefit from healthcare services pursuant to regulations on coordination of social security systems;
- documents that confirm having sufficient financial means to cover yours and your family's costs of living, so as you don't need to benefit from social assistance (for example, a certificate from bank)

   After 15-30 days after submitting the application you will get a certificate of the EU citizen's registration of stay in Poland, valid for the next 5 years. It can be collected by your proxy - you are not obliged to do it personally. On the basis of this document you can obtain a registration of temporary residence ("zameldowanie").
   The procedure of obtaining certificate of registration of EU citizen's stay in Poland is not subject to a stamp duty.
   If you get a negative decision on your case, you can make an appeal to the Chief of the Office for Foreigners within the next 14 days.
   But I think that everything will be OK, because the procedure is not complicated. Good luck!

Legal basis:

• The Act of 14 July 2006 on entering the territory of the Republic of Poland, staying and exiting from this territory of citizens of the Member States of the European Union and members of their families (Journal of Laws of 2006. No.144, item 1043, with later amendments)