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How to legalize your stay in Poland

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Julia Dolińska

attorney-at-law
Welcome to my blog! My name is Julia Dolińska and I am attorney-at-law specialising in the legalisation of stay of foreigners in Poland. Several years ago, I was a foreigner myself. I left my home country of Poland and settled in Belgium [Read more]
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Work permit in Poland– basic rules and common mistakes

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From this article, you will learn in which situations a foreigner wishing to work in Poland will need a work permit. What type of permit should you choose and how can you obtain it? Where to submit the application and what documents to prepare? You will also learn who should submit such an application – the foreigner or their employer? I invite you to read on!

At seven in the morning, Oleh was standing in line for coffee in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. In one hand he held a cup, in the other a phone with a message from his future employer: “Are we starting on Monday?” He smiled – the job was exactly what he had dreamed of. There was only one problem – could he legally take it?

Just a week earlier, Oleh was convinced that a contract and the goodwill of both parties would be enough. It was only when he heard the terms “work permit,” “declaration”  and “voivode,” did he realize that Polish immigration law was not a sprint, but rather an obstacles course. Every decision, every deadline, and every missing document could determine whether he would be sitting at his desk on Monday or back at the office window.

This story is no exception. It repeats itself every day in hundreds of variations – among IT specialists, chefs, engineers, and employers who want to hire a foreigner quickly, legally and without risk. How not to get lost in all this? What really determines whether a work permit is needed? That’s what this article is about.

work permit in Poland

Exceptions – who doesn’t need a work permit in Poland ?

Let’s start with when a work permit in Poland is not required. Quite a large group of foreigners enjoy this privilege, so it is worth finding out whether you are eligible for such an exemption.

Although the starting point in the Polish legal system is the principle that a foreigner needs a work permit, the lawmaker has provided for a wide range of exceptions. In practice, this means that in many cases it is possible to employ a foreigner without going through the full procedure of obtaining a permit.

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Work permit in Poland– basic rules and common mistakesRead More »

Polish visa : How to apply and what to expect ?

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From this article, you will learn how to obtain a Polish visa, what types of visas are available, and how to successfully apply for a visa. I invite you to read on!

Let’s start with a story…

The suitcase was already by the door, but one thing was still missing before departure – a visa. Daniel joked that it was the ‘last piece of the puzzle’ without which the picture was still incomplete. Working in Poland offered tempting new opportunities, and the idea of moving aroused curiosity rather than stress.

polish visa

The visa process began with simple questions: the purpose of the trip, its duration, and what documents would be needed. With each subsequent step, the whole process became more and more organised. The forms were no longer a mystery, and the regulations were no longer an impassable barrier. It turned out that with a little knowledge, the procedure could be predictable and understandable.

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Polish visa : How to apply and what to expect ?Read More »

Polish citizenship by descent – a complete guide

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From this article, you will learn what polish citizenship by descent is, how to formally confirm it, and what documents will prove that you and your ancestors had Polish citizenship. Enjoy reading!

Let’s start with a brief history. In 1920, Chaim lived in Łódź. He was a tailor, like many others in his neighborhood, and like other Jewish residents of the city, he suddenly found himself in a new country. After the collapse of empires and the end of World War I, Poland returned to the map, and its citizens became people who, just a few years earlier, had been subject to completely different legal systems. For Chaim, citizenship was not a choice – it was a consequence of his place of residence and the applicable laws.

polish citizenship by descent

In the following years, the situation in Europe became increasingly unstable. Some of Chaim’s family emigrated to the United States before the war, others left in the 1930s. He himself left Poland just before the outbreak of the war. Like many Polish Jews, he did not renounce his citizenship and was unaware that in the future someone would investigate his legal status from a hundred years ago. The most important thing was safety and the opportunity to start a new life.

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Polish citizenship by descent – a complete guideRead More »

Polish citizenship step by step

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This article will tell you what conditions you need to meet in order to obtain a decision recognising you as a Polish citizen, how you should prepare your application, and what to do if you receive a decision refusing to recognise you as a Polish citizen.

On Monday morning, a man with a slightly worn briefcase under his arm entered the office. He spoke Polish fluently, although with a foreign accent that betrayed the years he had spent abroad.  He had been working in Poland for a long time, had founded a family here, paid taxes here, and planned his children’s future here. And yet, as he himself said, “formally, I am still just a guest.”

polish citizenship

His story is not unique. Behind the formal concept of recognition as a Polish citizen lie real people, life decisions, and often years of striving for stability and a sense of belonging. It is a procedure that combines administrative law with the everyday experience of foreigners for whom Poland has become home.

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Polish citizenship step by stepRead More »

Permanent residence in Poland – how to obtain a permit ?

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From this article, you will learn when you can obtain a permanent residence permit in Poland, how and where to submit your application, and what you should include with your application to make it complete. I invite you to read on!

When Liam first flew to Poland from Canada, he was convinced it would only be for a year. He was going to write his PhD thesis on Central European history, try pierogi, and return to Toronto. But life, as it often does, had other plans.

permanent residence permit in Poland

He fell in love—first with Krakow, then with Ania, who explained to him that “soon” in Poland can mean anything from five minutes to tomorrow 😊 After several years of studying, working, and improving his Polish, Liam decided to stay permanently. The only thing missing was a permanent residence permit.

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How much will you pay for a residence permit in Poland?

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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).

How much will you pay for a residence permit 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?

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How much will you pay for a residence permit in Poland?Read More »

Permission for foreigners to purchase real estate in Poland – will it always be necessary?

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From this article, you will learn whether, as a foreigner, you need to obtain a decision permitting you to buy real estate in Poland, how to prepare an application for such a decision, and what will happen if you purchase real estate without the required permit.

Do you know what the oldest Polish law still in force today is?

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It is the Act of March 24, 1920, on the acquisition of real estate by foreigners. It is already 105 years old! This act was issued in the interwar period, survived the Polish People’s Republic and the political transformation in Poland! Since its issuance, it has been amended many times, and its current version has little in common with the 1920 version. In fact, only one statement remains almost unchanged from its original version, namely:

The acquisition of real estate by a foreigner contrary to the provisions of this Act is invalid (in 1920 it was Article 7 of this Act, and currently it is Article 6(1)).

This provision is probably the most important provision of this Act. If you are a foreigner and want to purchase real estate in Poland, you need to know that in some cases you will have to obtain the appropriate permit in order to do so in a valid and effective manner.

If you purchase real estate without obtaining the required permit, this legal transaction will be considered invalid at the moment it is performed. This would mean that it would have no legal effect and that such a defective transaction cannot be “remedied,” e.g., by obtaining a permit at a later date. How can this be avoided? You will find out in this post. I invite you to read on!

Permission for foreigners to buy real estate in Poland

Permit for the purchase of real estate by a foreigner – who must obtain it?

A permit for the purchase of real estate in Poland should be obtained by a foreigner. However, you should know that according to the polish Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners, a foreigner is not only a natural person who does not have Polish citizenship.

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Permission for foreigners to purchase real estate in Poland – will it always be necessary?Read More »

Fast residence permit in Poland – is it possible?

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This article will tell you how long the procedure for issuing a residence permit in Poland should take and what you can do if the procedure takes longer.

Problems with the prolonged duration of procedures for obtaining a residence permit in Poland have been going on for many years.

A few years ago, on behalf of a client who is a US citizen, I filed a reminder regarding the protracted processing of her residence permit application, followed by a complaint to the Voivodeship Administrative Court. The result? The court acknowledged the complaint and a residence permit for the client was quickly issued.

Would such action be possible today, in 2025? You will find out in the article below. I invite you to read it!

Fast residence permit in Poland

 What are the official statutory deadlines for processing applications for residence permits?

The Foreigners Act specifies how long the procedure for granting a residence permit in Poland should take. According to these provisions, you should receive a temporary residence permit within 60 days of submitting your application. In turn, you should receive a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident’s residence permit within 6 months of submitting your application.

Sounds like an utopia? If you have already had contact with the authorities dealing with the legalisation of foreigners’ residence in Poland, then unfortunately yes. That’s how it sounds. It would be really good if foreigners’ cases were considered within these statutory time limits. Unfortunately, it is not how it works. …

Fast residence permit in Poland – is it possible?Read More »

How long can you stay in Poland without a visa?

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From this article, you will learn whether you can come to Poland without a visa, and if so, how long you can legally stay in Poland under the visa-free traffic regime.

I found some interesting information on the website of the Nadwiślański Border Guard Unit:

A 66-year-old Canadian citizen arrived at Warsaw Chopin Airport for passport control before her flight to Turkey. Border Guard officers determined that the Canadian had exceeded the permitted length of stay in the Schengen area by 57 days. The woman was fined and issued with a decision obliging her to leave Poland within 15 days. 

Could such an unpleasant and probably surprising situation for the person concerned have been avoided? Probably yes. 

Canada is one of the countries whose citizens are exempt from the visa requirement when traveling to the Schengen area (including Poland). However, visa-free travel is only possible for a limited number of days. 

How long can you stay in Poland without a visa

Perhaps the woman in the above story simply did not know how long she could stay in Poland without a visa?

This story inspired me to write an article about who can benefit from visa-free traffic and for how long. I invite you to read it!

Can you come to Poland without a visa? 

Let’s start with whether you can come to Poland without a visa at all. 

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How long can you stay in Poland without a visa?Read More »

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