Residence legalization for international students in Poland

In the event of commencement or
the territory of the Republic of Poland and
continuation of education (as well as
receives a temporary ban on re-entering
part-time and extramural studies) the
Poland. During the illegal residence in
following documents must be submitted:
Poland, an foreigner may also be detained
●● Confirmation of commencement or
and deported to the country of origin.
continuation of education
●● Document confirming sufficient financial
means for covering costs of living and
return
In the event of commencement or
continuation of vocational training the
following documents must be submitted:
●● Confirmation of commencement or
continuation of vocational training
●● Document confirming stable source of
income sufficient to cover the costs of living
(of the applicant’s and his/her dependants);
●● Document confirming the amount of costs
of accommodation.
Submitting the application within the
required deadline, the foreigner will be granted
a national visa which allows him/her to reside
in the territory of the Republic of Poland for the
time of the application’s examination. The visa
does not authorize the foreigner to travel to the
Schengen member states.
Submission of the application after expiry of
the deadline bears the risk that the international
student will not be granted permit within
the validity period of the visa or the previous
residence permit held, the applicant’s residence
will be illegal and he/she will be forced to leave
During the illegal residence in Poland,
student also cannot re-legalize his/her
residence without leaving the territory of the
Republic of Poland.
While lodging the application, originals
of
the
required
documents
must
be
submitted for review (i.e. they should be
presented to an official) and their copies
should be attached to the application. The
documents’ copies certified for conformity
with the original by a notary public may also
be enclosed to the application.
Documents
prepared
in
language
versions other than the Polish language
version must be submitted including the
Reasons for which the Office
refuses to issue the residence
permit
According to the Article 57 of the Act on
Aliens, issuing of residence permit may be
and did not obtain a conditional
time in Poland. The university must inform the
enrolment for the next academic year or
Province Office about any instances of removal of
semester;
international students from the list of students.
●● does not meet the above-referenced
requirements;
●● is entered on the list of persons
whose residence in the territory of the
Republic of Poland is undesired or
recorded in the Schengen Information
System for the purpose of refusal of
entry;
●● circumstances indicate that the purpose
●● it is required by aspects of state defense
or security or public order;
●● declared in the application for residence
Office informs the applicant about the date
permit or enclosed documents
of issuing a decision regarding his/her
containing untrue personal details or
application.
false information,
Aliens who are issued the residence
The card must be collected only in person. A
fee will be charged for issuing the card.
●● provided untrue testimony or concealed
the truth or used a forged document;
●● was diagnosed with a disease or
infection subject to compulsory
treatment in Poland and the alien does
the territory of the Republic of Poland.
not consent to the treatment;
Residence in Poland after expiry of the
Removal of the international student from
residence permit for the specified period of
will be different than declared;
permit are granted the Polish residence card.
Poland illegally.
●● failed to complete the academic year
or a consul.
of time takes approximately 45 days. The
●● resides in the territory of the Republic of
the list of students results in withdrawing the
of his/her entry or residence in Poland
Examination of application for the
financed by the state budget;
refused to the foreigner who:
translation into Polish by a sworn translator
residence permit for the specified period
●● did not repay the costs of deportation
Visa
According to the Polish Act on Aliens
extension of the visa validity period is
permissible only once and in exceptional
circumstances when it is necessary for
reasons beyond the alien’s control and
impossible to foresee at the moment of
issuing the visa. The need for continuing
studies alone does not provide grounds for
extending the visa.
However, if an unexpected situation arises
which would justify the extension of the
visa validity period (e.g. sickness), the
application in this respect must be filed
with the Province Office competent for the
place of residence of the applicant. The
application must be completed in Polish
language.
Application for extension of visa validity
period must be filed prior to its expiry: for
the so called Schengen visa - 7 days prior
to its expiry and for national visa - 14 days
prior to its expiry. After this deadline,
extension of visa validity period is not
possible.
For more information on extension of
visa validity period (in Polish) please
visit: http://bip.mazowieckie.pl/cmsws/
page/?D;1403
Residence
legalization
for international
students in Poland
Each foreigner entering into the territory
of the Republic of Poland in order to study,
complete a vocational training or conduct
a scientific activity must obtain a document
legalizing the residence in Poland.
Usually students entering into the territory
of the Republic of Poland on the basis of a visa
obtained in the country of origin or within
visa-free traffic1 have the right to reside in
Poland only for the visa validity period or for
the term permissible within visa-free traffic.
In order to extend the period of legal
residence and complete studies or vocational
training, an application for the residence
permit for the specified period of time must
be submitted. Without this, continuation of
education in Poland is not possible.
document authorizing to reside in Poland bears
serious consequences: upon leaving Poland,
For more information please visit:
the foreigner is entered on the list of personae
http://www.bip.mazowieckie.pl/cmsws/
non-grata (a record of undesirable persons) in
page/?D;1141
Prepared on the basis of the following provisions:
The Act on Aliens dated June 13, 2003 (Journal of Laws of 2006 no 234, item 1694 as amended)
Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration dated December 18, 2007 on visas for aliens (Journal of laws of 2007, item 1749)
Regulation of the Minister of Labor and Social Policy dated August 26, 2008 on minimal amount of financial means required for certain groups
of aliens to cover expense of living in the territory of the Republic of Poland and of return (Journal of Laws of 2008 no 163 item 1019)
1 For information on countries covered with visa-free
traffic please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs at www.msz.gov.pl.
Formalities
Residence permit for the
specified period of time
the territory of the Republic of Poland
(Article 53 section 1 item 18 of the Act).
referenced
situations
●● 4 completed application forms;
an
The application for the residence permit
administration authority issues the permit
for the specified period of time must be
●● 4 current color photographs;
requires residence permit for the specified
if the applicant submits the application with
submitted to the Province Office (Urząd
●● Valid travel document for review (and 2
period of time. Granting such permit depends
all required documents.
Wojewódzki) competent for the student’s
on the type of the commenced studies.
the
Documents required for submission by all
foreign students include:
residence of international students in Poland
According to the Polish Act on Aliens,
In
Where and when to submit
applications
According to the Act, the residence
place of residence in Poland.
According to the Act, a foreigner is granted a
permit for the specified period of time may
It is important that you submit the
residence permit for the specified period of time
be issued also in the event in which an
residence permit for the specified period
(and residence card) in the event that:
alien intends to commence or continue in
of time within the set deadline, i.e. at the
●● He/she participates in vocational trainings
the territory of the Republic of Poland the
latest 45 days prior to expiry of your visa or
and apprenticeships as part of EU programs
following:
a previous residence permit for the specified
(Article 53 section 1 item 4 of the Act),
●● education, including part-time and
period of time. If you fail to adhere to this
●● He/she enters into or resides in the
territory of the Republic of Poland in order
to commence or continue full-time first
extramural studies (Article 53a section
deadline you might be obliged to leave the
1 letter a)
territory of the Republic of Poland and
●● vocational training (Article 53a section
or second degree studies (BA/BSc or MA/
1 letter b),
MSc) studies, also in the event that he/
In
the
above-referenced
events
she commenced studies in the territory
granting the permit is not mandatory. The
of another EU member state, which he/
administration authority may grant the
she intends to continue or supplement in
residence permit to the alien but it is not
Poland (Article 53 section 1 item 16 of the
legally bound to do so.
Act),
●● He/she is a scientist who enters into or
The residence permit for the specified
period
of
time
for
the
purpose
of
commencement or completion of education
of Poland in order to conduct scientific
or studies is in principle issued for the period
activity based on an employment agreement
of duration of studies or scientific activity,
for the conduct of a scientific research,
concluded with a research institution
approved by the minister competent for
science (Article 53 section 1 item 17 of the
Act),
●● He/she holds a residence document with
annotation “scientist”, issued by another EU
member state if an employment agreement
for the conduct of a scientific research
concluded with a competent scientific
institution of that country provides for
the conduct of scientific research also in
however for no longer than one year.
Upon expiry of this period, the primary/
Required documents
If you apply for the residence permit for
●● Confirmation of temporary registration;
agreement, certificate issued by a dorm
containing details on fees, confirmation
of university including information
specification of fees);
●● Document confirming valid health
insurance (covering the costs of medical
●● Receipt confirming payment of the required
the specified period of time for the purposes
the account specified by the Province Office
of education, studies or participation in a
examining the application.
vocational training in Poland, you have to
Above that, the foreigners who apply for
submit the required documents. The list
the residence permit based on full-time studies
of such documents depends on the type of
in Poland must present:
education and the studies.
●● Confirmation of enrolment to the university
Polish Migration Forum
www.forummigracyjne.org
university (compliant with the current
template);
●● Confirmation of payment of the study fee if
such confirmation from the university);
●● Document confirming sufficient financial
residence card, the international student
means for covering costs of living and
must submit a record in the student’s book
return as well as costs of studies (if
confirming completion of the academic year
required)
enrolment).
Mazowieckie Province Governor
www.mazowieckie.pl
or continuation of studies issued by the
of government scholarships must submit
academic year of studies (or conditional
Association of Legal Intervention
www.interwencjaprawna.pl
fee for issuing the residence permit into
application for another residence permit in
of the studies and enrolment to the next
Project partners:
treatment, not only accidents)
required (students who study on the basis
In order to extend validity period of the
Project co-financed by the European Fund for the
Integration of Third-Country Nationals and the state
budget.
on accommodation in a dorm with
secondary/tertiary student may submit an
order to continue education.
Information prepared by the Polish Migration Forum
as part of the project entitled „Information Center
for Foreigners”, in consultation with project
partners.
●● Legal title to the premises (e.g. lease
Design & production: Studio Arian | www.studioarian.eu
resides in the territory of the Republic
discontinue your studies.
copies of the entire document);
The Polish Migration Forum is responsible for the
published contents. Any opinions contained therein
do not reflect any official positions of the European
Union.
The comprehensive Guidebook for foreigners.
Learning and studying in Poland has been published
by the District Chamber of Legal Advisors in Warsaw.
For the text publication in the Polish language version
please visit www.forummigracyjne.org and go to “For
Foreigners” or visit www.oirpwarszawa.pl