PolandBusiness residence permit

Permit for carrying on economic activity in Poland

A temporary residence permit for foreign nationals carrying on economic activity in Poland. It is also available to management board members, partners and holders of a commercial power of attorney. It is issued for the period needed to run the business, from several months to several years. It allows you to work, hire staff and grow the business under the supervision of the local authorities.

Source: gov.pl — Działalność gospodarcza

How to obtain the business permit

The process consists of several stages: preparing the documents, filing the application electronically, checks by the security services and the decision.

Financial requirements

Income of no less than 12 times the average gross remuneration for the voivodeship for the year preceding the application
Alternatively: employing at least 2 Polish citizens or foreign nationals for at least 1 year
A stable and regular source of income confirmed by tax returns

Core documents

The completed application in electronic form through the MOS 2 portal
A valid passport (or identity document)
Tax returns PIT-36, PIT-28 or CIT-8 for the previous year

Supporting material

Statements from the company's accounts and bank accounts
Employment contracts and staff hiring agreements
Proof of contributions to the social and health insurance funds

When this programme will not suit you

Income below the set minimum and no way of hiring at least 2 people

A work visa as an employee

No source of funding for the activity

A job-seeker visa or a study visa

Refugee status or asylum-seeker status

Apply to the authorities dealing with refugees

What it costs

Stamp duty on the applicationOpłata skarbowa for filing the application through the MOS 2 portal	17 PLN
Stamp duty on issue of the permitOpłata skarbowa payable when the residence permit is issued	640 PLN
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	657 PLN

Paid separately

Consular fees — If the application is filed in Poland through MOS 2, no consular fee is charged
Company registration — The cost of registering a limited company or another form is separate and is not part of the cost of the permit

Documents to gather

All documents in foreign languages must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator. Copies must be certified.

A copy of a valid passport (all pages containing information)
Two colour photographs measuring 35×45 mm against a light background
The application for the permit (the form is available on the MOS 2 portal)
Tax return PIT-36 for the previous year (if self-employed) or PIT-28 (if working under contract) or CIT-8 (for companies)
A certificate from the tax office on the level of income, or an extract from the register of taxpayers
A company account statement for the last 3 months confirming the income
A certificate from the Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych (ZUS) on the payment of contributions
Employment contracts of the staff hired, stating a period of employment of at least 1 year
A business plan in Polish (or translated)
Contracts with suppliers and clients (where applicable)
Proof of accommodation in Poland (a tenancy agreement, registration at the place of residence)
A health insurance policy valid in Poland

How the process runs

The process involves administrative handling, verification of the information and a decision by the authorities.

1
Preparing the documents and registering on the MOS 2 portal
1-2 weeks
Gather all the required documents and have them translated into Polish by a sworn translator. Register on the electronic portal of the Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji (MOS 2) and create an account. Make sure the application form you download corresponds to the 'residence permit for carrying on economic activity' programme.
2
Filing the application electronically through MOS 2
1 day
Upload all the scanned documents and the completed application in electronic form through the MOS 2 portal. Make sure the application is filed no later than the last day of your lawful stay in Poland. Pay the stamp duty (17 PLN) electronically through the portal. You will receive confirmation of registration and a case number.
3
Checking of the documents by the local authority (the voivodeship)
2-4 weeks
The voivodeship authorities (Urząd Wojewódzki) check that your documents are complete. If information is missing, they will send you a request to supply it. It is advisable to check the status of the application regularly through the MOS 2 portal.
4
Verification by the security services
30-60 days
The security service carries out checks on the applicant and their activity. This stage can be the longest. During this period the application may be suspended without notice to the applicant.
5
Decision by the voivode
up to 60 days
Once the checks are complete, the voivode decides to approve or refuse the application, or requests further information. The overall time for handling the case is no more than 2 months from receipt of the complete package of documents, plus the time taken by the security service checks. The decision is sent electronically through the MOS 2 portal.
6
Collecting the permit
1 week
After a positive decision, visit the nearest office of the authorities with your identity document and a printed copy of the decision. Pay the stamp duty (640 PLN) when the permit is issued. The permit is issued as a physical document. You have 30 days to collect it.

Timelines and rights

Work

The permit is issued for one purpose — running your own company in Poland. The condition holds for the whole term: income of no less than 12 average monthly salaries for the voivodeship for the previous tax year, or 2 employees hired for at least a year.

Who you can bring with you

Family members obtain their status on the basis of their relationship with the main applicant.

Spouse of the foreign national

May obtain a permit for the same period as the main applicant, provided there are documents confirming the marriage and living together

Children under 18 (or under 25 if in full-time education)

Receive a permit for the same period as the parent, provided they are dependants

Parents of the foreign national (in exceptional cases)

May be included where there are documents on guardianship or full financial dependence

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The permit carries no minimum residence requirement. Years spent on it do, however, count towards the 5 years needed for EU long-term resident status.

The permit may be extended for a further period (up to 3 years per extension) provided the applicant continues to meet all the requirements of the programme. The renewal application is filed no later than 30 days before the current permit expires, through the MOS 2 portal. Handling a renewal usually takes 1-2 months. After 5 years of continuous residence in Poland on the business permit, a foreign national may apply for EU long-term resident status, which provides greater legal protection and social guarantees.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Permit for carrying on economic activity	Karta pobytu	Blue Card
Visa term	More than 3 months and no more than 3 years, with the option of applying for further permits	Karta czasowego for 1-3 years, renewable; karta stałego is open-ended (the card is replaced every 10 years)	Up to 3 years (the term of employment plus 3 months), renewable
Grounds	The purpose of stay is to carry on economic activity in Poland	Employment / business / marriage	High qualifications
Work	The permit is issued for one purpose — running your own company in Poland	On a card issued on employment grounds — with the named employer; permanent residence — full access	Yes, in the highly qualified occupation with the employer
Residence	The permit carries no minimum residence requirement	For permanent residence: absences of no more than about 6 months in a row / 10 months over 5 years	Intention to stay for longer than 3 months

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 5 years of continuous lawful residence you apply for EU long-term resident status. You will need a stable income, health insurance and Polish at B1 level. The stamp duty is 640 zł.

Route to citizenship

Citizenship is not granted directly from this permit. First 3 years with EU resident status or permanent residence, then an application for recognition as a citizen — with a B1 certificate, income and accommodation.

Frequently asked questions about Permit for carrying on economic activity

What level of income counts as sufficient for the permit?

The income must be at least 12 times the average monthly gross remuneration in force in the relevant voivodeship in the year preceding the application. That minimum is recalculated each year by the statistical authorities. The exact figure for your voivodeship can be obtained from the local voivodeship office or on its official website.

Can I obtain the permit if my income is below the set minimum?

Yes, if instead you can prove that you have hired at least 2 Polish citizens or foreign nationals for at least 1 year and pay them an official salary. The employment contracts must be properly drawn up and registered with the social insurance authorities (ZUS). This serves as an alternative to the financial minimum.

How long does it take for the application to be examined?

The administration must examine a complete package of documents and issue a decision within 2 months. Added to that, however, is the time for checks by the security services, which can take between 30 and 60 days. The overall period may therefore run from 3 to 4 months. The exact timeline depends on the current workload of the authorities and the complexity of the checks.

For how long is the business permit issued?

The permit is issued for the period needed to achieve the purpose of stay, but for no less than 3 months and no more than 3 years per permit. The specific period is set by the voivodeship authorities on the basis of the business plan submitted and the financial figures. The permit may be extended for further periods where the conditions of the programme are met.

What health insurance is required?

You need a health insurance policy valid in Poland and covering the main types of medical care. This may be a policy from the state insurer (NFZ) or a private insurer. The cost of the insurance depends on the cover chosen and may run from several hundred to several thousand zloty a year.

Can a spouse obtain a permit if the main applicant has one on business grounds?

Yes, a spouse may file a separate application for a permit for the same period. The permit is usually issued on the basis of documents confirming the family relationship (a marriage certificate) and living together. The spouse must meet the general requirements of the programme (health insurance, place of residence).

What does EU long-term resident status give you?

After 5 years of continuous residence in Poland and compliance with all the conditions of the programme, a foreign national may obtain EU long-term resident status. That status provides: the right to work in any EU country, access to social benefits (in accordance with national law) and a simplified procedure for extending the residence permit. The stamp duty for this status is 640 PLN.

What are the requirements for Polish citizenship through the business residence permit?

Citizenship is possible no earlier than 3 years after obtaining EU long-term resident status. The minimum period is therefore 8 years from the business permit (5 years + 3 years as a resident). One of the main requirements is passing a Polish language examination at no lower than B1 level (able to hold a basic conversation). A certificate of no criminal record and no tax debts is also required.

Other ways to move to Poland

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Poland.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.