Permanent Residence Card in Łódź

Permanent residence in Poland: what it is

A permanent residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) is granted for an indefinite period; the residence card issued on its basis is valid for 10 years and then replaced. Unlike the EU long-term resident card, it does not require 5 years of residence and income — instead you need one of the specific grounds listed in the Act on Foreigners.

Who can get permanent residence

• a holder of the Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka) who intends to settle in Poland permanently;
• a person of Polish origin who intends to settle in Poland;
• a spouse of a Polish citizen: married for at least 3 years, and immediately before filing you lived in Poland continuously for at least 2 years on temporary residence granted because of that marriage;
• a child of a Polish citizen, or a child of a permanent or EU long-term resident permit holder, under their parental authority;
• people after 5 years with refugee, subsidiary or humanitarian protection, and other cases set out in the law.

We check the basis and any breaks in residence case by case.

Documents needed

• the application form (in Polish);
• 4 colour photos, 35 × 45 mm, taken within the last 6 months;
• a copy of your valid passport (original to be shown);
• proof of fee payment;
• documents proving your basis: for example a marriage certificate issued within the last 3 months, your spouse’s ID, a copy of the Pole’s Card or proof of Polish origin;
• sworn translations of foreign-language documents.

Applicants over 6 years old give fingerprints when filing.

Fees and timing

The stamp duty is 640 zł (Pole’s Card holders are exempt) and the card fee is 100 zł. According to voivodeship offices, the decision is issued within 6 months. You must file no later than the last day of your legal stay. In Łódź, cases are handled by the Łódź voivodeship office.

How we help

• we check whether your basis qualifies and count your periods of residence;
• we draw up the document list and check the translations;
• we prepare the application and explain how to file;
• after filing we reply to the office’s letters — see case support.

We quote the price of our help individually after the consultation; official fees are paid separately. We do not guarantee a positive decision — the voivode decides.

Permanent residence in Łódź and the Łódzkie region

Office: Al. Tadeusza Kościuszki 39, Łódź. We advise residents of Łódź and the whole Łódzkie voivodeship. If no permanent residence ground applies, see the EU resident card or temporary residence; overview: legalisation of stay. A comparison of statuses is in the article “Temporary, permanent and EU long-term residence”.