From this post, you will learn how much you will pay for a residence permit in Poland, whether you are entitled to a reduction or exemption from this fee, in what situations you can get a refund, and what will happen if you do not pay the fee.
Imagine this situation. You have a perfect application for a residence permit in Poland. You have documented that you have health insurance, the required income…. You have prepared everything perfectly. This what is necessary, you translated into Polish by a sworn translator. Satisfied, you go on an extended vacation to the beautiful Polish Baltic Sea, thinking that obtaining a residence permit is just a matter of time (a loooong time, but you don’t worry about anything, because after all, while waiting for the permit you can legally stay in Poland). While you are on vacation, a notice from the Office comes that you should still pay … stamp duty … Unfortunately, you don’t receive the notice. After all, you are on a long and well-deserved vacation! The official should know where to look for you, right?
How can this (fortunately fake) story end? Return of your application without processing it! Depending on your situation, this could even mean having to leave Poland immediately. Therefore …remember about stamp duty. Below is some information about it. You’re welcome to read it.
What is the price list for legalising a foreigner’s stay in Poland?
The fees for granting a residence permit in Poland depend on the type of residence permit you are applying for. The fees for granting a residence permit are as follows:
| Temporary residence permit issued due to the necessity of your personal appearance before a Polish public authority | PLN 85 |
| Temporary residence permit issued if your presence in the territory of the Republic of Poland is required in the interest of the Republic of Poland | PLN 85 |
| Temporary residence and work permit | PLN 440 |
| Temporary residence permit for the purpose of performing work in a profession requiring high qualifications | PLN 440 |
| Temporary residence permit for the purpose of performing work within an internal company transfer | PLN 440 |
| Temporary residence permit for long-term mobility of a manager, specialist or trainee within the framework of an intra-corporate transfer | PLN 440 |
| Temporary residence permit for seasonal work | PLN 170 |
| Temporary residence permit – other cases | PLN 340 |
| Permanent residence permit | PLN 640 |
| EU long-term resident permit | PLN 640 |
Remember that the fees for granting a permit (issuing a decision) are not the only official fees you will have to pay. If you receive a positive decision on a temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit, long-term EU residence permit, or residence permit on humanitarian grounds, you should request a residence card. In this case, you will have to pay an additional fee for issuance of a residence card which is PLN 100.
If you are handling your case yourself, the above official fees will be the only ones you will have to pay. If you have decided to empower a representative, you should give them written power of attorney and submit this document to the office. In this case, you will have to pay an additional fee of PLN 17 for submitting the power of attorney document to the office.
Remember also that the above fees apply to one permit, one residence card, for one person. If, for example, you are submitting four applications for permanent residence permits for your entire family of four, then you pay four stamp duties (640 x 4 for each permit). Similarly, after these permits have been granted, you will apply for four residence cards (i.e., you will pay 4 x PLN 100).
Who is free from paying for legalising stay in Poland?
Exemptions from stamp duty apply to specific situations. Here are some of them:
Foreigners who apply for a temporary residence permit for victims of human trafficking are not required to pay the fee. Citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who, until 31 December 2020, worked in the Republic of Poland as employees delegated by a foreign employer are also exempt from this fee.
Also, the following persons (among others) will be exempt from the fee for granting a permanent residence permit:
- close family members of a repatriate (a repatriate is a person of Polish origin who comes to Poland with the intention of settling permanently and acquiring Polish citizenship)
- foreigners who have been granted asylum
- people holding a Polish Card who intend to settle permanently in Poland
Some foreigners will also be exempt from paying the residence card fee. These will include foreigners receiving their first residence card who have been granted refugee status, subsidiary protection or a residence permit on humanitarian grounds.
Who can receive a fee reduction?
When it comes to fees related to granting a residence permit in Poland, the discount only applies to the fee for issuing or replacing a residence card. It amounts to 50% (i.e. if you are eligible for this discount, you will pay PLN 50 instead of PLN 100). You will receive this discount if:
- you are a child under 16 years of age;
- you came to Poland to study at a secondary school or university;
- you are in a difficult financial situation.
To obtain this discount, you will need to prove that you are eligible for it. You can do this by submitting the relevant documents. For children under the age of 16, you will need to show the child’s birth certificate, passport or other identity document confirming the child’s age. If you are a pupil or a student, you will need to provide a certificate confirming that you are attending secondary school or university. If you are in a difficult financial situation, you should provide a certificate from the social welfare authority confirming that you are receiving social welfare benefits.
Who will pay more for a residence card?
Is it possible to pay more than the standard PLN 100 fee for a residence card? It turns out that it is possible 😊 If you lose or destroy your residence card and the authorities decide that it was your fault, you will have to pay PLN 200 for a new one.
If you lose or damage your residence card again and the authorities again conclude that it was your fault, you will pay PLN 300 for a new residence card.
Which account should you pay for legalising your stay in Poland?
You should pay the stamp duty to a bank account or directly at the cash desk of the Mayor. Which Mayor? The one who holds office in the same city as the Voivode who will issue your permit.
In other words, if you are submitting your application to the Mazovian Voivode (who is based in Warsaw), you will pay the stamp duty to the Mayor of Warsaw. And if you submit your application to the Governor of Małopolska (who is based in Krakow), you will pay the fee to the Mayor of Krakow, etc. What specific account should you use? Each Governor provides this information on their websites. Just check there (example – the website of the Mazovian Province Governor: click here).
After paying the stamp duty by bank transfer, print out the payment confirmation and attach it to your application for a residence permit. If you do so, your application is unlikely to be returned due to non-payment 😊
At the beginning, pay only the stamp duty for the residence permit. The fee for issuing a residence card is a different type of fee and must be paid to … a different account. You will pay the residence card fee of PLN 100 (or PLN 50 if you are eligible for a discount), when you receive information that you have been granted your residence permit. You will pay this fee to the account of the Voivode who issued your permit. You will also find the account number on the website of the relevant Voivode.
What will happen if you do not pay por legalising your stay in Poland?
It is extremely important that you pay the stamp duty correctly. You should definitely check this. Failure to pay the fee (or paying too little) may even result in the Voivode not considering your application and returning it. But don’t worry 😊 Before the Voivode does this, they are obliged to ask you to pay the fee. Therefore, keep an eye on your correspondence and collect your postal mail. If you receive a request to pay the fee, simply pay it and send proof of payment to the Voivode as soon as possible. In their request, the Voivode will set a deadline for you to fix this omission. It will be between 7 and 14 days. At the latest by this deadline, provide the Voivode with proof that you have paid the fee (e.g. transfer confirmation).
Do you have to pay the stamp duty again when appealing against a negative decision?
It may happen that the Voivode issues a negative decision. He will decide that for some reason he cannot grant you a residence permit. In such a case, you can always appeal to the so-called second instance authority, namely the Head of the Office for Foreigners. If this happens, remember that you only pay the stamp duty once. Regardless of whether your case is considered only by the Voivode or after an appeal, the case will continue and will be considered by another authority (the appeal authority).
In what situations will you receive a refund of the stamp duty?
If the Voivode or the Head of the Office for Foreigners (in the second instance) does not grant you a residence permit, you can apply for a refund of the stamp duty. The stamp duty is required for the issuance of a permit, i.e. for a positive decision granting a residence permit. If, for example, you have received a negative decision or a decision to discontinue the proceedings for any reason, or a resolution to refuse to initiate proceedings, you can apply for a refund of the stamp duty.
It may also happen that you have mistakenly paid overdue stamp duty. For example, you paid PLN 1,000 for a permanent residence permit instead of the required PLN 640. In this case, you can also apply for a refund of the overpaid amount (in the example given, this would be PLN 360).
How to apply for a stamp duty return?
You can apply for a stamp duty return within five years from the end of the year in which you paid the duty.
Submit your application to the office to which you paid the stamp duty. The stamp duty for a residence permit is paid to the account of the Mayor of the city competent for the seat of the Voivode who is to issue your permit (e.g. if the decision is to be issued by the Mazovian Voivode, who is based in Warsaw, you paid the stamp duty to the account of the Mayor of Warsaw). Therefore, submit your application for a refund of the stamp duty to that Mayor.
You do not have to pay any additional fees when submitting this application. You can attach proof of payment of the stamp duty to the application (e.g. a printout of the transfer confirmation). You can also attach a document justifying your application for a refund, e.g. a decision refusing to grant a permit or a decision discontinuing the proceedings. It is not mandatory to attach these documents, as the Mayor himself requests them from the Voivode. However, if you attach these documents to your application, you can expect your case to be processed faster and more efficiently.
The Mayor will then issue a decision specifying the amount of the refund and will refund the fee to you in cash or to the bank account you specify (according to your choice).
Individual offices may have their own stamp duty return application forms, available on their websites. If there is an ‘official’ form, it is worth using it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a refund of the stamp duty if I have received a decision refusing to grant a residence permit?
Yes, if you have received a decision refusing to grant you a residence permit, you can apply for a refund of the stamp duty. The stamp duty is payable for the issuance of a permit, i.e. for a positive decision granting a residence permit. If, for example, you have received a decision refusing or discontinuing the proceedings for any reason, or a decision refusing to initiate proceedings, you can apply for a refund of the stamp duty.
What will happen if I submit an application for a residence permit without the required stamp duty?
If you submit an application for a residence permit without the required stamp duty, the Voivode, as the authority handling your case, will send you a written request to pay this fee. If, despite this request, you still do not pay the fee, the Voivode will return your application without investigating it.
What are the fees for grantng a residence permit?
In case of an application for a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident permit, the stamp duty is PLN 640. In case of temporary residence permits, this fee varies depending on the type of temporary residence permit and ranges from PLN 85 to PLN 440. For detailed rates, see the table above.
Julia Dolińska
radca prawny
Photo by Alexander Grey