PolandFamily residence permit

Family reunification in Poland

A temporary residence permit for the spouse, minor children and other family members of a foreign national lawfully resident in Poland. The applicant must prove a genuine marriage, be married without divorce, and hold a stable income, health insurance and confirmed accommodation. The permit is issued for a period of between three months and three years, with the right to work without a separate permit.

Source: gov.pl — Połączenie z rodziną

A family member's route to Poland

The reunification process consists of filing the application, the voivode's checks on the documents and receiving the residence permit.

The sponsor must be:

A foreign national with permanent residence
A holder of EU long-term resident status
A holder of refugee status or subsidiary protection
On a temporary permit for at least 2 consecutive years

The family member may be:

A spouse in an officially registered marriage
A minor child (including a stepson or stepdaughter)
A parent of a minor applicant who is not under guardianship
The guardian of an unaccompanied minor refugee

The application documents include:

The completed and signed application form
Two current colour photographs measuring 3×4 cm
The original and a copy of a valid passport
A marriage certificate (no more than 3 months old)

Financial documents:

Proof of a stable income above 823 zł net a month per person
Tax returns for the last year
A ZUS certificate (social contributions)
Proof of valid health insurance

Documents on accommodation and status:

A tenancy agreement or a letter from the landlord
Proof of the sponsor's residence permit in Poland
A document on the composition of the family (odpis aktu stanu cywilnego)
A sworn translation of all foreign documents

Documents for children:

A birth certificate (no more than 3 months old)
Consent of the other parent to take the child abroad
A certificate that there are no restrictions on leaving the country
A health insurance policy

When this programme will not suit you

The sponsor holds student or tourist status

The sponsor must hold permanent residence or EU long-term resident status

The marriage is only religious, without civil registration

The application may be refused; civil recognition of the marriage is required

The sponsor's family member is over 21 and does not fall into the defined categories

Adult children are not usually entitled to family reunification; exceptions require special circumstances

The sponsor has held a temporary permit for less than 2 consecutive years

You must wait for the 2-year period of lawful residence before filing the application

What it costs

Fee for the temporary permit applicationPaid when the application is filed through MOS 2	340 PLN
Issue of the plastic residence cardAn additional fee for the card itself; always compulsory	100 PLN
Renewal of the temporary permitPaid when the permit is renewed before it expires	+340 PLN
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Renewal of the temporary permit” adds 340 PLN. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	440–780 PLN

Paid separately

Consular fee for the visa — If a visa is required before arrival; the amount depends on the country of the consulate
Apostille and translation of documents — Additional costs for the sworn translation of foreign certificates
Immigration lawyer's services — Not compulsory, but may help in complex situations

Documents to gather

All documents are filed through the electronic MOS 2 portal as originals (scans) and copies. Documents issued abroad require an apostille and a sworn translation into Polish.

The completed application (the form is available in MOS 2)
Two photographs measuring 3×4 cm (colour, on a white background)
The original passport (a copy of every page)
A marriage certificate issued no more than 3 months ago
A birth certificate (if children are applying)
A document confirming the sponsor's residence permit in Poland
Proof of the sponsor's income: the latest tax return, a bank certificate or a ZUS certificate
Proof of health insurance for the sponsor and all family members
A tenancy agreement or a letter from the landlord confirming that accommodation is available
A translation into Polish of all documents issued abroad (with an apostille)
Consent of the other parent to take the child abroad (if minors are applying)
A certificate of no criminal record (in some voivodeships)

How the process runs

The process consists of several stages, from preparing the documents to receiving the plastic residence card.

1
Preparing the documents
2–4 weeks
Gather all the necessary documents and obtain apostilles and sworn translations. Make sure the marriage and birth certificates are no more than 3 months old (request new copies from the civil registry if necessary).
2
Registering in the MOS 2 system
1 day
Create an account on the portal at https://mos2.mswia.gov.pl (if the sponsor does not have one). The sponsor or their representative may file the application.
3
Filing the application through MOS 2
0 days
Upload all the documents in electronic form through the portal. Pay the fee of 340 PLN. The application must be filed no later than the last day of the family member's lawful stay in Poland (if they are already in the country) or before arrival.
4
The voivode checks the documents
3–7 days
The voivode checks that the documents are complete and may request further material by email. You will receive a letter notifying you of any shortcomings or of the start of the examination.
5
The voivode examines the application
up to 60 days
The voivode examines the application. The period may be extended by 30–60 days for checks on the details supplied, by law-enforcement bodies or by the security service. You will receive the decision by letter or through MOS 2.
6
Positive decision and payment for the card
1 day
If the decision is positive, the voivode will send a letter with a notification and the account details for paying the fee of 100 PLN for the plastic card. Pay to the account given in the letter.
7
Production of the residence card
7–14 days
The plastic residence card is produced. You will receive an SMS or a letter notifying you that it is ready.
8
Collecting the card and registering
1 day
Collect the card at the voivodeship office or an authorised point. Register with the municipal authority (gmina) at your place of residence to obtain a PESEL number. From that moment you hold full rights of residence and work.

Timelines and rights

Work

The permit confers the right to work without a separate work permit. The residence card carries the note «access to the labour market».

Who you can bring with you

In Poland, certain categories of person connected to a foreign national by blood or marriage are entitled to family reunification.

Spouse

An officially registered marriage, without divorce or polygamy, and exclusively civil (not merely religious). The marriage must be between a man and a woman. Its genuineness must be proved.

Minor child or stepchild

Under 18. A child of the sponsor or of the sponsor's spouse. The other parent must consent to the child leaving and staying abroad. Children over 18 are not usually entitled to family reunification.

Parent of a minor applicant

If the child applies in their own right on other grounds (for example as a student), one of the parents may apply for family reunification as a guardian.

Guardian of an unaccompanied minor refugee

A person named as the guardian in the decision granting refugee status or subsidiary protection to the minor. Formal appointment as guardian is required.

Ascendant relative (parent, grandmother, grandfather) in exceptional cases

A very limited entitlement, which may be granted only in exceptional and extraordinary circumstances and at the discretion of the immigration authorities, where there are documents showing complete financial and medical dependence.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

There is no minimum residence requirement. The permit is issued for the period needed for the purpose of stay: from 3 months to 3 years, and is then renewed.

The residence permit is issued for a period of between 3 months and 3 years. The renewal application is filed 3–4 months before the card expires, through the same MOS 2 portal. The voivode examines the renewal application within up to 60 days. If you have lived in Poland for 5 continuous years and have Polish at B1 level, you may apply for EU long-term resident status, which confers the right of open-ended residence. After 5 years of residence with a residence permit you may apply for Polish citizenship, although from 2026 Polish at B2 and passing a test are required.

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.

	Family reunification	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
Money	A stable and regular income of more than 823 zł net a month per person	Salary not below the minimum wage; funds for living costs and accommodation; for business — income	Salary not below 150% of the average annual salary in Poland (indexed by GUS)
Work	The permit confers the right to work without a separate work permit	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	There is 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: a stable income, health insurance and Polish at B1 are required. The stamp duty is 640 zł.

Route to citizenship

After 3 years with EU resident status or permanent residence you apply for recognition as a citizen. The voivode takes 6 months, the fee is 1,000 zł and a B1 certificate is compulsory.

Frequently asked questions about Family reunification

When can I start work on a temporary permit for family reunification?

You gain the right to work without a separate permit from the moment you receive the plastic residence card, which will carry the note «access to the labour market». If this is your first residence permit in Poland, however, that note is in rare cases delayed. Normally the right to work arises immediately.

What minimum income does the sponsor need for family reunification?

The minimum income is 823 Polish zloty (zł) net a month per person. If a spouse and two children are being reunited, the income must be at least 823 × 4 = 3,292 zł net a month. The income must be stable and confirmed by a tax return, a ZUS certificate or confirmation from a bank.

What happens if the voivode requests additional documents?

The voivode may send you a letter about incomplete documents or requesting further material. You will have a set period (usually 7–14 days) to supply the missing documents through the MOS 2 portal or in person at the voivodeship office. If you do not supply them in time, the application may be refused. The examination fee is not refunded.

Can I renew the temporary permit in the same voivodeship?

Yes, you may renew the residence permit several times by filing an application 3–4 months before it expires. Each renewal is examined within up to 60 days. Each renewal requires payment of the fee of 340 PLN. If you have lived in Poland continuously for 5 years, you may apply for EU long-term resident status instead of renewing.

Is knowledge of Polish required for family reunification?

Knowledge of Polish is not required at the stage of obtaining a temporary permit for family reunification. EU long-term resident status, however, requires level B1, and Polish citizenship (from 2026) requires level B2 and passing a special test on the history, culture and values of Poland.

How long can I stay in Poland on a family reunification permit?

The initial permit is issued for a period of between 3 months and 3 years, depending on the circumstances and the voivode's decision. You may renew this permit several times by filing fresh applications. After 5 years of continuous residence in Poland you become entitled to EU long-term resident status, which allows you to stay in the country indefinitely.

Who counts as a family member entitled to reunification in Poland?

Family members include: a spouse (in an official marriage), minor children (including stepchildren), the parents of a minor where the child applies in their own right, and the guardians of unaccompanied minor refugees. Adult children are not usually entitled to family reunification, save in special circumstances. Brothers and sisters may be included only in exceptional cases.

How do I obtain Polish citizenship after a family reunification permit?

After 5 years of continuous residence in Poland on the basis of a residence permit (including a temporary permit for family reunification) you may apply for Polish citizenship. From 2026 you must pass a B2 test in Polish covering knowledge of the history, culture and politics of Poland. The fee is 1,000 PLN. The application is filed at the voivodeship office for your place of residence. It may take several months to examine.

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.