New templates for documents and applications
Beginning on 2nd August 2021, documents for the citizens of European Union Member States, European Economic Area, Switzerland and their families will be issued in a new format, analogous to residence card. The new format is going to increase the security, durability and make the documents more uniform. New templates for applications will apply as well.
Beginning on August 2nd, the following documents are going to be issued in a format analogous to a residence card:
– certificate for registration of stay for a EU citizen
– residence card (issued to the family member of a EU citizen)
– document confirming the right of permanent stay (issued to a EU citizen)
– permanent residence card (issued to the family member of a EU citizen).
The above changes are introduced in the amendment to the Act on entry[i] caused by the changes in the EU law.
In consequence, new regulations of the Minister of Interior and Administration[ii] on applications and documents concerning the right of residence and the right of permanent residence on the territory of Poland for EU citizens and their family members will come into force on 2nd August this year. They set out, among others, the models for applications, certificates and the list of documents to be attached to applications.
The existing documents issued by August 1, 2021 will remain valid for the period for which they were issued, but not longer than until August 3, 2026.
Simultaneously, considering the need to harmonise the design and security features of all documents issued to foreigners on the territory of Poland, the following documents are also going to be adjusted to match the new template of the residence card beginning on August 2nd:
– “approval for tolerated stay” document
– foreign national’s Polish identity card
– temporary foreigner’s identity certificate[iii].
[i] The act of December 10, 2020, amending the act on entering the territory of the Republic of Poland, residence and departure from this territory of nationals of Member States of the European Union and their family members and certain other acts (Journal of Laws, item 2369)
[ii] regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 26 July 2021 on applications and documents concerning the right of permanent residence of citizens of the European Union and their family members on the territory of the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws, item 1391)
regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 26 July 2021 on applications and documents concerning the right of stay of citizens of the European Union and their family members on the territory of the Republic of Poland (Journal of Laws, item 1392)
[iii] the new formats of these documents result from changes introduced by the Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 26 July 2021 amending the Regulation on documents issued to foreigners Journal of Laws item 1388) and the Ordinance of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 26 July 2021 amending the Ordinance on temporary identity certificate of a foreigner (Journal of Laws, item 1389).
Applications can be downloaded HERE.
