Residence permit procedures
We try to give you the most current version known to us, but the described procedures may change depending on the current regulations.
You will find most reliable information directly in the respective offices (websites, phones, and/or in person).
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EU/EFTA countries / I don't need visa to come to Poland
Students coming from EU/EFTA countries and staying in Poland longer than 3 months are obliged to apply for a temporary residence permit.
The procedure is divided into two steps:
I. Urząd Wojewódzki (Provincial Office), Wały Chrobrego 4 (70-502 Szczecin), department: Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich i Cudzoziemców (Department for Civil Affairs and Foreigners); opening hours: Mon 08:00-18:00, Tu-Fri 08:00-15:00, email: so@szczecin.uw.gov.pl.
https://www.gov.pl/web/uw-zachodniopomorski/obywatele-ue
The first step is to be followed by students, who stay in Poland for over 3 months continuously. If you leave Poland (even for one day) during the three-month period, the period runs from the beginning after you return.You have to collect the following documents and go to above-mentioned office:
1. Application for registering the residence – 3 copies;
2. 4 copies of passport or identity card (page with a photograph);
3. confirmation of the Erasmus student status (issued by the IRD);
4. health insurance document – for example, European Health Insurance Card – 1 copy + sworn translation in Polish (if the document is not EHIC and is issued in language other than Polish);
5. 4 biometric photographs made within past six months*;
6. statement that you have enough money to provide for yourself during your stay – it is a standard form to be signed at place.After max. 30 days you will receive the response and you can pick up the confirmation of a temporary residence.
You have to at least send the documents to the address of the Provincial Office via regular registered post in order to have a stamp (a proof) confirming you have sent the documents during your legal stay!
In such a case, please be careful with writing your current correspondence address – the Provincial Office will contact you via post to make an appointment; not showing up for the appointment will mean rejection of the application.
24 h automatic helpline for foreigners: 91 44 12 000II. City Hall, pl. Armii Krajowej 1 (70-456 Szczecin), department: Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich (Department for Civil Affairs) – opening hours: Mon-Fri 07:30-15:30, email: wso@um.szczecin.pl; you have max. 30 days from your arrival date to complete the procedure there.
https://eurzad.szczecin.pl/chapter_51156.asp?soid=75AEE6D6DF544117890E3CD6625711A1
You have to collect the following documents and go to this office:
1. Temporary residence registration form;
2. confirmation of temporary residence address:
– for students lodging in a dormitory – in the Temporary residence registration form, there is a special place for the dormitory’s stamp (page 3),
– for students lodging in private houses – you have to have a lease contract (take it with you) and then, in the Temporary residence registration form on page 3, you can confirm your residence address personally;
3. identity card or passport.If you have all the required documents, you will be registered immediately.
You have to show officials original copy of each document.
All documents should have been signed in the presence of an official.
No fees are collected.* Photographs attached to the application must meet the following requirements:
1. be undamaged, in color, and in good focus;
2. have dimensions of 35 mm x 45 mm;
3. be taken no earlier than 6 months before the date of application submission;
4. depict the face of the EU citizen or family member of an EU citizen from the top of the head to the top of the shoulders, with the face occupying 70-80% of the photograph;
5. clearly show the eyes of the EU citizen, particularly the pupils; the eye line should be parallel to the top of the photograph;
6. depict the EU citizen against a plain, light background, in a frontal position, looking straight ahead with their eyes open, unobstructed by hair, with a natural facial expression and mouth closed, and reproduce their natural skin color.If the application concerns a person with congenital or acquired vision defects, the photograph attached to the application may depict them wearing dark-lensed glasses. In the case of a person wearing a head covering in accordance with the principles of their religion, the photograph may depict that person wearing the head covering. The head covering must not conceal or distort the shape of the face.
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Non-EU countries
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A citizen of a non-EU/EEA country can enter the territory of Poland on the basis of a valid travel document (passport) and a visa (if required). A citizen of a non-EU country has to obtain the visa from the Polish embassy in his/her country of residence.
Students should apply for a visa in a consulate for the whole planned period of studying in Poland. A visa is issued on the basis of the acceptance letter from the hosting university in Poland confirming the student’s enrolment for a certain period of studies.
For details please contact the Polish Embassy in your country.
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City Hall, pl. Armii Krajowej 1 (70-456 Szczecin), department: Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich (Department for Civil Affairs) – opening hours: Mon-Fri 07:30-15:30, email: wso@um.szczecin.pl; you have 4 calendar days from your arrival to do that (if the fourth day is Saturday/Sunday/public holiday, then the fourth day is counted as the day after)!
https://eurzad.szczecin.pl/chapter_51156.asp?soid=75AEE6D6DF544117890E3CD6625711A1You have to collect the following documents and go to this office:
- Temporary residence registration form;
- confirmation of your temporary residence address:
- for students lodging in a dormitory – in the Temporary residence registration form there is a special place for the dormitory’s stamp (page 3),
- for students lodging in private houses – you have to have a lease contract (take it with you) and then, in the Temporary residence registration form on page 3, you confirm the residence address personally;
- passport;
- visa
If you have all the required documents, you will be registered immediately.
If you need a registration confirmation you have to pay a fee in the amount of PLN 17 – when you file all the above documents, you have to tell the person in the office you need a confirmation and you will get instructions how and where to pay the PLN 17.
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Urząd Wojewódzki (Provincial Office), Wały Chrobrego 4 (70-502 Szczecin), department: Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich i Cudzoziemców (Department for Civil Affairs and Foreigners); opening hours: Mon 08:00-18:00, Tu-Fri 08:00-15:00, email: wsoim@szczecin.uw.gov.pl.
https://www.gov.pl/web/uw-zachodniopomorski/pobyt-czasowy-na-terytorium-rp- You have to collect the following documents and go to the above-mentioned office:
Application for the temporary residence permit – filled in Polish; - photocopy of your passport (all written pages);
- health insurance document (min. 30 thousand euros) + a sworn translation in Polish (if it’s issued in language other than Polish; if the document has multiple pages, translated must be at the least the page with your personal data and information about health insurance itself);
- confirmation of the Erasmus student status (issued by the IRD);
- documents confirming the availability of funds for staying in Poland – living costs: no less than PLN 701/month + travel costs: PLN 200/neighbouring countries, PLN 500/EU countries, apart from neighbouring countries, PLN 2,500/outside the EU (for example, confirmation from the home university that a student receives Erasmus grant, travel cheque, confirmation of credit card limit issued by the bank which issued the card, confirmation of money in a bank account (in a Polish bank) or job and salary confirmation); the amounts in PLN can be in equivalent amount in different currencies; + sworn translation in Polish;
- 4 photographs – recent, in colour, 4,5 cm x 3,5 cm;
- payment receipt for PLN 340 – either in the payment desk it the City Hall, or via bank transfer (or a transfer at the post office) to: Urząd Miasta Szczecin (Szczecin City Hall), Wydział Podatków i Opłat Lokalnych (Department of Local Taxes and Fees), Pl. Armii Krajowej 1, 70–456 Szczecin, bank account number: 20 1020 4795 0000 9302 0277 9429, transfer title: “za wydanie zezwolenia na zamieszkanie na pobyt czasowy na terytorium RP”.
If you have all the required documents, you will receive an answer to your request within 2 months.
You have to file those documents in person or at least send the documents to the Provincial Office address via regular registered post to have a stamp (a proof) confirming you have sent the documents during your legal stay!
In such a case, please be careful with writing your current correspondence address – the Provincial Office will contact you via post to make an appointment; not showing up for the appointment will mean rejection of the application.24 h automatic helpline for foreigners: +4891 44 12 000.
- You have to collect the following documents and go to the above-mentioned office:
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