An EU resident card in Poland
An EU long-term resident card (zezwolenie na pobyt rezydenta długoterminowego UE) is not Polish permanent residence (stały pobyt). It is a separate status under EU rules: the permit itself is granted for an indefinite term, but the physical card is replaced every 5 years. Exchanging the card is not obtaining the status again.
From 27 April 2026 the application is filed via MOS only (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl). We will help you count whether your 5 years will be credited, assemble income and B1 and handle filing.
A free consultation on legalisation in the Republic of Poland
We will save you time and take the difficult parts on ourselves.
We will review the documents and propose the best option for your situation.
If we cannot deliver the service, we will refund you or file again at our own cost.
What an EU resident card gives
An EU long-term resident card gives the right to live and work in Poland and to open a company without a separate work permit. Compared with a temporary residence permit this is a more stable status; when moving to another EU country the conditions are usually simpler than with an ordinary residence card — we will go through the details at the consultation.
After several years of living in Poland in this status you can often apply for citizenship (a rough guide is about 3 years as an EU resident, plus the language and other conditions). This is a guide, not a guarantee for everyone.
How we handle the filing:
We will check whether your years of stay, income and Polish B1 will count. We will assemble the pack in MOS: scans, a digital photo, Profil Zaufany or an electronic signature.
We will file the application in MOS before lawful stay ends. Booking a paper filing appointment at the department is no longer possible.
We will accompany the appointment on the office’s summons: fingerprints, a signature specimen and the original passport.
We handle the case: requests, sending extra documents through MOS or e-Doręczenia.
If the decision is positive we will help you collect the card (plastic for 5 years). By law the review guide is about 6 months; in practice it depends on the voivodeship.
The service of obtaining an EU resident card
To obtain an EU long-term resident card with our support (filing through MOS) — send a request «Get the service».
Full support is in Warsaw, the Tri-City, Kraków, Łódź and Wrocław; partial — in any region of Poland. A consultant will call back, check the 5 years of stay and agree the steps.
EU RESIDENCE PERMIT
from 1500 PLN / netto
Each subsequent family member -50%
Children under 6 filing with the main applicant — FREE
Consultation | Counting 5 years, income and B1
Filling in the application in MOS | Document pack
Full support while the case is reviewed (Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Łódź and Wrocław)
How we can help with obtaining a resident card:
Partial support (online, across Poland):
- a consultation on EU long-term resident status;
- preparation for MOS: a checklist, scans, filling in the application, Profil Zaufany / an electronic signature;
- a check of the pack before sending and obtaining UPO;
- If needed — packs for family members.
Full support (Warsaw, the Tri-City, Kraków, Łódź and Wrocław):
- accompaniment at the summons appointment at the office;
- we send extra documents on request (MOS, e-Doręczenia or another specified method);
- we act as your representative and handle communication with the office;
- we watch the status of the case and tell you about the decision;
- We accompany collection of an EU resident card.
Result guarantee
If for any reason we cannot deliver the service — we will refund you or refile the application at our own cost.
Why legalise your stay with MIA CONSULT GROUP
Experience and expertise
A clear reading of your situation and expert help from specialists with 10+ years of practice.
Individual approach
We solve the case as a whole — for you and your family, in line with your plans.
Professional advice
Our specialists propose the most suitable legalisation path for your current situation and long-term plans.
Easy communication
Our offices are in Warsaw and Sopot. Most services are available online, from home or the office, with a short turnaround.
Full range of services
We help with legalisation as well as company setup, accounting, tax and HR in Poland.
Multilingual specialists
We work in Polish, English and Russian and act as your representative before the relevant authorities.
An EU resident card: who can obtain it
Usually you need 5 years of lawful stay in Poland without gaps in status, a stable income (they often look at the last 3 years; for a «Blue Card» — 2 years) and the Polish language not lower than B1.
Not all statuses count the same way: studies, some humanitarian grounds and other periods may be credited differently. We will count your history before filing.
The application in MOS must be sent by the last day of lawful stay (a residence card or a visa). You give fingerprints at the appointment when the office summons you.
Documents for an EU resident card
We assemble the pack for MOS.
Usually included:
- The application — we fill it in in MOS (a paper form is no longer taken to the department).
- Passport — scans into the system; you take the original to the summons appointment.
- The fee — proof of payment of stamp duty (we will say the amount at the consultation).
- A digital photo to MOS requirements.
- Housing — a rental agreement, ownership or another right to use the premises.
Almost always additionally:
- A stable income for 3 years (or 2 years for a Blue Card).
- Medical insurance / NFZ.
- A document on Polish at level B1.
Help obtaining a Poland resident card
MIA CONSULT GROUP helps you obtain an EU long-term resident card — from counting the 5 years through to MOS and the plastic.
We do not confuse this status with Polish permanent residence: the grounds and the term of the card are different. At the consultation we will say which path is closer for you.
The status of the case is visible in the client account. We do not leave filing to the last day of the residence card.
We work with foreigners, sole traders and companies.
Need a European Union resident card?
Leave a request — we will call you back within 10 minutes.
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00
Filing for resident status in Poland
By law the review guide is 6 months, in practice the time depends on the voivodeship and may be longer.
After filing through MOS stay remains lawful while the case is running (proof is UPO and the status in the system). For Schengen and leaving Poland, waiting for the decision does not in itself replace a visa — before travelling it is better to check with us.
Proof of a stable and regular income
For a «stable and regular» income over the last 3 years (2 years — for a Blue Card) we usually collect:
- ZUS reports (RMUA and similar) for the period needed,
- PIT-11 / PIT-37 and proof of filing at the tax office,
- contracts (umowa o pracę, zlecenie and others) and documents under which the work was lawful,
- a certificate from the current employer: post, rate, type of contract, working time,
- for sole traders and companies — proof of current income from the activity.
A guide is income not below the minimum wage per person taking the family into account, but the office looks at the picture as a whole. We will say in advance which certificates are missing.
The condition of lawful and uninterrupted stay in Poland
The office checks entries and exits: it matters not only to live in Poland, but that statuses run without gaps — cards and visas extended on time.
Over 5 years short trips are usually allowed: one trip no longer than 6 months, all together — no more than 10 months. For Blue Card holders it is softer: up to 12 months at a time and up to 18 months in total.
At the consultation we will check your trips.
Proof of knowledge of Polish
An oral «I speak Polish well» is not enough. You need a document from the list in the law, for example:
- a Polish-language certificate not below B1 (including under Art. 11a of the Act on the Polish Language);
- ECL / telc certificates, if they are recognised for this procedure;
- a diploma from a Polish school or university with Polish as the language of instruction;
- a school/university abroad with Polish as the language of instruction — if the diploma matches Polish requirements.
If you do not yet have a certificate — we will say which exam it makes sense to sit before filing.
Our company also provides extra legalisation services:
If refused you can file an appeal
The permit may be refused if years of stay, income or B1 are lacking, there are tax debts, the documents contain inaccurate data, there is a security threat or you are on lists of unwanted persons.
After a final refusal, if there is no other ground to remain, you usually need to leave (often a guide is 30 days). While an appeal is running the time limits are different — do not leave at once after the letter, write to us first.
As a rule you can appeal the voivode’s decision within 14 days. Review of the appeal often takes about 2 months, but can be longer. We will help assess the chances and not miss the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EU resident permit issued for an indefinite term?
The permit itself is for an indefinite term. The card plastic is valid for 5 years: it is replaced on application, without obtaining the status again «from scratch».
How does an EU resident card differ from Polish permanent residence?
Permanent residence (stały pobyt) — Polish permanent stay: Karta Polaka, origin, marriage to a Polish citizen and other grounds. A card for 10 years.
EU resident is a status after 5 years of lawful stay, income and B1, under EU rules. A card for 5 years. This is not Polish permanent residence.
How many years do you need to live in Poland for an EU resident card?
Usually at least 5 years of lawful stay. Some statuses (for example studies) may count differently. We will check your history before filing.
How is income assessed for an EU resident card?
You need a stable and regular income: they more often look at 3 years, for a Blue Card — 2 years. A guide is not below the minimum wage taking the family into account. We collect the specific set of certificates for your situation.
