Where and when to apply

The application for registration of residence of EU (EEA/ Swiss Confederation) citizen must be submitted in person (i.e. it is required to appear in person when submitting the application or at the request of the authority) to the competent province governor for the area where the EU citizen resides, no later than the next day after the end of the 3-month period following the date of entry into the territory of the Republic of Poland.  The registration of residence obligation concerns also family members of citizens of EU (EEA/ Swiss Confederation) who are also of such citizenship.

The application in case of:

1. a minor –  is submitted (i.e. signed) by parents or guardians appointed by the court or other authority or by one of the parents or one of the guardians appointed by the court or other authority;
2. a totally incapacitated person remaining under parental authority is submitted by parents, and for those not remaining under parental authority is submitted by a guardian appointed by a court or other authority;
3. an unaccompanied minor – is submitted by a guardian.

In particularly justified cases, including due to the health condition of an EU citizen, the requirement to appear in person may be waived.

The registration of residence obligation does not concern EU citizens who entered the territory of the Republic of Poland to seek employment who may stay in Poland without having to meet the conditions of residence for a maximum of 6 months, unless, after this period, they demonstrate that they are actively continuing to seek employment and that they have a genuine chance of being engaged.

Required documents

1. Completed application form for registration of residence of an EU citizen;
2. Four biometric photographs taken not earlier than 6 months before the date of application;
3. Valid travel document or another valid document confirming identity and citizenship (the original available for inspection); 

4. An EU citizen residence registration certificate issued to an EU citizen with whom their family member resides in the territory of the Republic of Poland (or a document confirming permanent residence right of the EU citizen);
5. Other required documents: 

for employees: 

• an employment contract, a certificate of performance of work, a written declaration of the employer or an entity authorized to entrust an EU citizen with the performance of work on the intention to entrust him/her with the performance of work (for the planned performance of work) or

for self-employed persons in Poland: 

• written statement on the entry to the National Court Register or the Central Registration and Information on Business, or any other proof that the EU citizen is a self-employed person in the territory of the Republic of Poland; 

for students or persons undergoing vocational training: 

• certificate of the entity conducting the studies on admission to studies or continuation of studies, or certificate of the entity conducting vocational training on admission to such training,,
• a health insurance document confirming:

1. covering with public health insurance in Poland (e.g. confirmation from the National Health Fund, or from the Social Insurance Institution), or
2. the right to use healthcare services under the provisions on the coordination of social security systems, or
3. having private health insurance covering all expenses that may arise during the stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland in connection with the need for medical assistance or hospital treatment, in which the insurer undertakes to cover the costs of healthcare services provided to the insured directly to the entity providing such benefits, on the basis of the invoice issued by this entity (insurance policy),

• written statement that the person concerned has sufficient resources for themselves and their family members not to become a burden on the social assistance system, or proof of such resources;

for economically inactive persons: 

• a health insurance document confirming:

1. covering with public health insurance in Poland (e.g. confirmation from the National Health Fund, or from the Social Insurance Institution), or
2. the right to use healthcare services under the provisions on the coordination of social security systems, or
3. having private health insurance covering all expenses that may arise during the stay in the territory of the Republic of Poland in connection with the need for medical assistance or hospital treatment, in which the insurer undertakes to cover the costs of healthcare services provided to the insured directly to the entity providing such benefits, on the basis of the invoice issued by this entity (insurance policy),

• proof of sufficient resources for themselves and their family members not to become a burden on the social assistance system (financial resources in the amount exceeding the thresholds of social assistance for single persons or persons in the family are considered as sufficient resources).

for EU spouses of Polish citizens: 

• a document confirming the conclusion of a marriage with the Polish citizen,

for EU family members of EU citizens: 

• spouse - a document confirming the conclusion of a marriage,
• direct descendants - a document confirming the existence of family ties and a document confirming age or being dependent on an EU citizen or his / her spouse,
• direct ascendants - a document confirming the existence of family ties and a document confirming being dependent on an EU citizen or his / her spouse.
• direct ascendants of a minor EU citizen - a document confirming actual custody of a minor EU citizen and a document confirming that a minor EU citizen is dependent on him/her.

Documents proving that the person concerned has sufficient resources for themselves and their family members not to become a burden on the social assistance system include in particular:

1. certificate of the credit card limit issued by the bank that issued the credit card - issued not earlier than one month before the date of submitting the application for registration of stay;
2. certificate of having cash in a bank or cooperative savings and credit union with its registered office in the territory of the Republic of Poland or another EU/EEA Member State, the Swiss Confederation or the United Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain and Northern Ireland - issued not earlier than one month before the date of submission of the application for registration of residence;
3. a document confirming the award of a domestic or foreign scholarship;
4. certificate of employment and the amount of earnings - issued not earlier than one month before the date of submitting the application for registration of stay.

Required fees

No fees are charged for registering EU citizen residence and issuing residence registration certificate for EU citizen. 

Case processing time

Registration of residence of EU citizen and issue of residence registration certificate for EU citizen should be effected immediately, i.e. without undue delay.
Information on the issued document

An EU citizen whose residence has been registered is issued with an EU citizen residence registration certificate valid for 10 years. When collecting the certificate of registration of the stay of an EU citizen, a valid travel document or other valid document confirming identity and citizenship must be presented. If the certificate is collected by the applicant's proxy, a special power of attorney must be presented to collect the certificate.

Penalties for failure to comply with the obligation to register residence of EU citizens in the territory of the Republic of Poland

Failure to comply with the obligation to register residence of an EU citizen in the territory of the Republic of Poland is punishable by a fine.