Poland attracts many people with its beauty of ancient landmarks, active pace of life, developing economy, and stable salaries. Poland is the heart of Europe with a decent standard of living that has been rapidly growing over the last decade. It's no wonder that more and more people want to move to Poland on a permanent basis. We will tell you how and under what conditions you can obtain a permanent residence card and stay in Poland forever.
What is a permanent residence card?
The permanent residence card is an official document confirming a foreigner's status in Poland with the right to reside permanently in the territory. It is issued for a period of 10 years with the possibility of extending the document further. However, as practice shows, after 3-4 years, the permanent residence permit holder receives cherished Polish citizenship.
There are several ways and conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit:
- Naturalisation. This is a slow, but sure way. A foreigner must stay in Poland legally (visas, residence permits) for a certain period of time.
- Marriage with a Polish citizen. Marriage with a Polish resident entitles a person to obtain a permanent residence permit only after three years of a legal marriage. These three years have to be spent in Poland on a temporary residence permit or a visitation card.
- Ethnic repatriation. This is the fastest way, but the foreigner must actually prove their affiliation to Polish roots. After that, the candidate is fully entitled to a permanent residence permit under a simplified procedure.
What are the benefits of obtaining a permanent residence card compared to other residence permits?
The permanent residence card provides the foreign holder with unlimited opportunities and practically the same rights as Polish citizens. One of the main differences between a permanent residence permit holder and a citizen is the right to vote in elections.
If you apply for a long-term visa or other residence permit, you face many restrictions. The permanent residence permit is different; it gives you the right to:
- live in Poland permanently and work legally (without additional certificates and licenses);
- use medical services for free;
- receive education in Polish universities;
- apply for an EU driving license;
- buy movable and real estate property;
- set up a business.
The most important «bonus» of receiving a permanent residence card is the opportunity to become a citizen of the Republic of Poland in the future. And you can do it not after 5-10 years, but after several years of continuous residence in the country.
What are the steps involved in obtaining a permanent residence permit?
To successfully apply for a permanent residence permit, a foreigner must complete all 6 steps correctly:
1. Collecting and submitting all the required documents. When you have collected the full set of documents, you submit them to the Urząd Wojewódzki do Spraw Cudzoziemców.
2. The inspector will ask for additional documents in case there are any missing items on your list. It is important - in order to avoid delays in the process of obtaining a permanent residence permit, you should promptly respond to the Voivodeship's requests and submit the documents within the specified deadline!
3. When the inspector accepts all the documents, a special stamp is put on your passport, which entitles you to legally stay in Poland.
4. Personal interview. The next step is a personal interview with the inspector. This is the most important part of obtaining a permanent residence card. During the personal interview, you may be asked various questions about Polish history, celebrities, and in general why you want to tie your life with this country.
5. Fingerprinting. This is a necessary step which means that you are already at the finish line.
6. Getting a decision. At the end of all the previous stages, the inspector examines the case and makes a decision. If the decision is positive, you will receive an email, and you will then have to pay PLN 50 for the issuance of the plastic card.
Sometimes there are negative decisions by the Voivodeship. You should contact the migration experts from the aksis agency to get the desired result the first time. Our main principles are customer assistance, good service, and transparent conditions. We accompany the client all the way: from collecting the documents to the payment of the plastic. In case of rejection, we will intelligently compile an appeal and win your case!
