EU Long-Term Resident Permit in Poland (2026): 5 Years, B1 and Income
The most stable status most foreigners can reach before citizenship: an indefinite permit, a 5-year card and EU mobility. Here are the conditions and how the 5 years are counted.
EU Long-Term Resident Permit in Poland (2026): 5 Years, B1 and Income
The most stable status most foreigners can reach before citizenship: an indefinite permit, a 5-year card and EU mobility. Here are the conditions and how the 5 years are counted.
5 yearsof legal and uninterrupted residence in Poland
B1official Polish certificate or Polish school/university diploma
640 złstamp duty for the permit, plus 100 zł for the card
Who can apply
Under art. 211 of the Act on Foreigners you can get the permit if you have lived in Poland legally and continuously for at least 5 years immediately before the application, and you have:
a stable and regular income sufficient for you and your dependants (documents usually cover the last 3 years);
health insurance;
confirmed Polish at B1 level: a state certificate, or a diploma from a Polish school or university completed in Polish. See our B1 exam guide.
Holders of an EU Blue Card can count residence in other EU states, provided the last 2 years were in Poland.
Which years count
Residence on study permits counts half.
Some stays do not count at all, e.g. seasonal work, posted-worker permits, a pending asylum procedure, tolerated stay and residence as a diplomat (art. 212).
Continuity: no single absence longer than 6 months and no more than 10 months in total during the 5 years (exceptions apply for e.g. posting by a Polish employer or serious personal reasons).
How to apply
Collect proof of 5 years: previous decisions and cards, PESEL and meldunek history, travel history.
Collect income evidence (PIT returns, contracts, ZUS records) and the B1 certificate.
File the application online in MOS; you must act personally, a proxy cannot submit for you.
Pay 640 zł stamp duty; the 100 zł card fee is paid when the card is issued.
Give fingerprints at the voivodeship office and keep your filing confirmation (UPO).
While the application is pending, your stay can remain legal if you filed before your current permit expired. See what happens after you submit.
What you get
The permit is granted for an indefinite period; the card is valid for 5 years and is then exchanged. You can work without a work permit, and you can move to another EU state under that state’s long-term-resident rules. Holding the status for at least 3 years is also one of the bases for recognition as a Polish citizen (art. 30 of the Citizenship Act, see our citizenship guide).
A government draft (UD491, October 2026) would lengthen citizenship residence periods. It is a draft, not law; current rules apply.
Frequently asked questions
How long must I live in Poland for the EU long-term resident permit?
At least 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence immediately before applying. Study years count half and some stays do not count.
How long can I leave Poland during the 5 years?
No single absence over 6 months and no more than 10 months in total, with limited exceptions.
What does it cost?
640 zł stamp duty for the permit and 100 zł for the residence card.
Can a lawyer file the application for me?
No. You file it personally in MOS; a representative can help in the later procedure.
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