Foreigners – FAQ
Does a Polish residence permit grant any additional rights?
A temporary residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy) entitles the holder to study for free on full-time studies conducted in the Polish language if the residence card was issued in connection with the circumstances referred to in art. 159 sec. 1 or art. 186 sec. 1 point 3 or 4 of the Act on foreigners of December 12th 2013 (Journal of Laws of 2021, item 2354 and Journal of Laws of 2022, item 91).
Where can a foreigner obtain a residence card (temporary residence permit)?
Residence cards are issued (after the submission of the required documents and the payment of a fee) by the Mazovian Voivodeship Office (Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki), which is located in Warsaw, on Marszałkowska 3/5.
The residence card application must be submitted on the last day of one’s legal stay in Poland at the latest (the last day of the validity period of a visa or a previous residence card). Otherwise, obtaining a new residence card will not be possible.
The University of Warsaw cannot legalize the students’ residence. If you need any help in the matter of legalisation of stay, please contact the Welcome Point:
https://welcome.uw.edu.pl/during-your-stay/legalisation-of-stay/
Where and how can a foreigner obtain a new visa?
It is not possible to obtain a new visa in Poland. It must be applied for at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in one’s country of citizenship. Information regarding the visa procedure and the required documents can be found on Polish embassies’ websites.
Does a Pole’s Card grant the right of residence in Poland?
No, the Pole’s Card is a document confirming that a foreigner belongs to the Polish nation. It does not grant the right to reside in Poland (neither temporarily, nor permanently) or to cross the Polish border.
Does having a Pole’s Card mean I am considered a person of Polish descent? What can I do to be recognized as a person of Polish descent?
No, issuing a Pole’s Card and confirming one’s Polish origin are separate procedures which are governed by different provisions (Act on the Pole’s Card). The decision and the confirmation regarding one’s Polish origin are issued by a consul (Repatriation Act).