EU Long-Term Resident Permit

Who Can Apply for EU Long-Term Resident Status? Main Conditions

To apply for this permit in Poland, you must meet several key conditions simultaneously:

• Be a citizen of a non-EU/EEA/Swiss country.
• Have resided in Poland legally and continuously for at least 5 years immediately before submitting the application. Correctly documenting and calculating this period is crucial – not all periods of stay (e.g., based on tourist visas, seasonal work, part of study periods) count fully or at all. Permissible interruptions in residence are also important.
• Have a stable and regular source of income sufficient to cover living costs for yourself and dependent family members (specific income thresholds apply).
• Have health insurance as defined by Polish regulations.
• Have confirmed knowledge of the Polish language at least at the B1 level. This usually requires passing the state certificate examination or possessing an exempting document (e.g., a diploma from a Polish school or university where Polish was the language of instruction).

What Are the Benefits of Holding EU Long-Term Resident Status?

Obtaining this status comes with numerous benefits:

• Right to indefinite stay: Provides a sense of stability and security.
• Full access to the Polish labour market: You can generally work in Poland without needing a separate work permit.
• Rights similar to Polish citizens: In many areas, such as social assistance and access to education.
• Facilitated mobility within the EU: You have the right to move to another EU member state to, for example, work or study, under conditions easier than for third-country nationals without this status (subject to the rules of the destination country).
• Enhanced protection against expulsion.
• Basis for obtaining a Residence Card with the annotation “rezydent długoterminowy UE” (EU long-term resident), which is valid for 5 years (renewable document).

How to Obtain EU Long-Term Resident Status? Application Process

To obtain this status, you apply for an EU long-term resident permit to the Voivode competent for your place of residence. Remember, you must submit the application in person, during your legal stay in Poland.

The main stages of the process are:

1. Submitting the Application and Fee: Filling out the dedicated application form and paying the stamp duty.
2. Key Documents: Attaching a complete set of documents confirming that you meet all conditions:
   • Proof of 5 years of legal and continuous residence (copies of passport with visas, previous residence cards, decisions).
   • Documents confirming stable and regular income (e.g., employment contracts, tax returns for the last 3 years, ZUS certificates).
   • Proof of health insurance.
   • Legal title to the occupied residential premises (e.g., lease agreement, ownership deed).
   • Certificate of Polish language proficiency at B1 level or a document exempting you from this requirement.
   • Current photos, copy of passport.
3. Fingerprint Collection.
4. Explanatory Proceedings: The office thoroughly verifies your residence, income, and other conditions. They may request additional documents. The waiting time for a decision can be long.
5. Receiving the Decision: After the proceedings conclude, you will receive the Voivode’s decision.
6. Collecting the Residence Card: After a positive decision and paying the card issuance fee, you will collect the document annotated “rezydent długoterminowy UE”.

Why Use Our Support?

The process of applying for EU long-term resident status is one of the most demanding. Our assistance ensures:

• Correct Calculation of Residence Period: We help determine if you meet the 5-year legal and continuous residence requirement by analyzing your residence history.
• Assessment of Income Stability: We verify if your income meets the required criteria in the eyes of the authorities.
• Comprehensive Documentation Preparation: We ensure all necessary evidence is gathered, including regarding Polish language proficiency.
• Professional Case Management: We guide you through the complex administrative procedure, minimizing the risk of errors.
• Support in Communicating with the Office: We monitor your case and respond to official requests.
• Increased Chance of a Positive Decision thanks to a professionally prepared application.