Decision on Karta Pobytu (Residence Card) in Poland. How long should I wait?

Hi everybody. I am currently studying in Cracow. About a month ago I gave my documents for residence card. But I still don't have an answer. Is that normal? Because I don't want any problem. I heard that even success in studies and absenteeism have an impression for the decision of residence card. Is that true? I am waiting for an answer from you, thanks

There is no truth to them caring about grades or how many days of school you miss. It took more than one month for me to get a response from the office when I got my Karta Pobytu.

Hello BlockeeR,

This is the information I could get from the Polish Embassy:

An applicant going for the purpose of studying to Poland and applying for 1 year national visa should
prove the possession of 12 100 PLN (12*800+2500) or equivalent in other currencies (in addition to
the university or college fee)

Hope it helps you!

There can be many things taken into consideration. Someone with a poor attendance record at the university (indicating that they are working instead) could very well be denied a residence permit.

Merged: Applied for Poland's Temporary Resident card on the basis of marriage, how long to wait for decision?

hi All,

i applied for temporary residents card before 40 days and still no reply from them

i did apply on basis of marriage, my wife is Polish citizen

i am non EU and we got married in INDIA

anyone can help in about this

how long do i have to wait more ?

also i found job as well but they want temporary resident card,

i have visitor visa till 25 may only,

i have stamp on my passport saying that i applied for resident permit but i haven't got any reply yet,

will i be illegal after 25may

It takes usually about 30 days, I don't know why the delay..



This stamp makes your stay legal (for the waiting time for the decision) even when your visa expires.

thank you for your reply

Fellows, as of today, the office for foreigners in Warsaw is indicating a waiting period of 60 days for appointments, another 60 days for decision, and another 30 days after that for issuance of residence cards, making the total process duration from the date you call to make an appointment to the day you receive a card 5 months. Please be aware of this and share with your foreign friends residing or intending to reside in Mazowieckie.

That's interesting, aren't they still legally required to issue a decision (or automatic visa extension) for all applications received no more than 45 days in advance of the expiry of an existing visa?

What about Poznan ?

Nope that was per the old law. Now you can apply as late as last day of validity. They provide a stamp that makes you legal until a decision is issued. However you cannot leave Poland during that time (if old visa or residence expired and still waiting for decision on a new one). Which is why they are urging people to apply in advance. In theory they are obligated to provide a decision within 30 days now, and if they cannot, they are obligated to notify the applicant of an expected decision date, which they are doing by default these days, meaning they are notifying applicants on the day they apply that they will provide a decision in 60 days time.


Regarding Poznan, I have no idea.

That's an interesting interpretation of human rights; I hope Poland changes that idea before taxpayer money is wasted defending a court case that will inevitably be lost.

Harry let me clarify, you will be allowed to leave anytime you want, but you wouldn't be legal in other Schengen states, and if you leave Schengen zone all together during this time you will need a visa to return.

Merged: Polish temporary residence card being on French Schengen Visa - applying in Poland and waiting in India

I have been married to polish girl 2 months back in India only. Now, I would like to apply for temporary residence card. So, please let me know If I will visit Poland for week to apply for temporary residence card, how much time it will take as I have to come back India ASAP because of job.

As the procedure takes approximately 3 months and sometimes take longer. So is this possible If I apply for temporary residence permit there and once applied I will come back to India as I am working in India. Moreover, Once I will get permit only then I will plan to move to Poland.

And right now I have French Schengen Business visa till Dec 2015 to travel so Can I apply for temporary residence permit on this visa?

Merged: Waiting for karta pobytu (residence permit), while in need to leave Poland to UK.

Hi everyone,
Im an Indian married to Polish girland we are staying in Poland. I have applied for karta pobytu more than 2 months ago and still there is no decision about this, my wife got a job offer in UK and we are planning to go to UK. I have EEA family permit to enter UK but problem is we dont know when we'll get karta pobytu and we have to go to UK very soon. Is there a way to contact my inspector and ask about the situation and how much time does it take normally to recieve karta pobytu?

Thank you for reading :)

Per my latest info, current average waiting period for decision in Warsaw is ~4 months. A year ago it was 3 months and 2 years ago it was 2 months. I don't know about other areas. However, sometimes the waiting period is shorter or longer - nobody can predict how long yours will take.


Please don't take my question the wrong way, but why did you apply for a residence permit in Poland if you don't want to live in Poland? FYI, having a residence permit and NOT actually staying here can make future permits problematic. If you just want the freedom to travel to Poland whenever you need to, then you should apply for a 2 year multiple entry Schengen visa. It is free for spouses of Polish citizens, and allows you to stay in Poland up to 90 days in a 180 day permit.


Officially no. If they need something from you or if they have a decision then they will write to you.


These days in Warsaw about 5.5 months from date of application (~4 months for decision and another ~1.5 months for actual card to be issued).

Shouldn't he be entitled to visa free access to Poland if he holds a UK residence permit?

I thought the general principle these days was that a valid EU/EEA/CH residence permit was enough if you accompanied the spouse at the time of travel?


1.5 months for the card to be issued? That's an absolute joke.

That is correct, but adherence to this principle is inconsistent, and varies from country to country and even from one officer to another at the same border crossing point. So better safe than sorry. If you want to look at principals, border guard are supposed to facilitate the entry of spouses of EU citizens even if they show up at the border with nothing but their passport and a document confirming their spouses are EU nationals. How much do you think they follow this rule? They airlines won't even let someone board the flight without a visa to start with.


Yup. Someone I know got his decision in late July and got his card in early September.

Hi polysr and delphiandomine


The reason behind this is my wife got the job offer later as we didnt preplanned and i had to apply for karta pobytu because i came to Poland on 3 months tourist visa which was about expire soon.

I have a question can i apply for 2 year multiple entry Schengen visa in Poland or in England? It'd be much better for me if i can apply for this Poland as we are planning to travel to UK by bus but im not sure my eea family permit is enough thats why iam waiting for this karta pobytu.

Thank you for reading and replying :)

If in doubt, pay the British embassy a visit and ask.

Hello Guy, Please Help me to find the answers

I have got married to Polish girl in July 2015 (almost 9 months back) in India only and in November in my first visit to Poland, I have applied for the temporary residence card in Wroclaw office. As per them, it takes 3-4 months to get the temporary residence card and they have given 25th Feb 2016 date to complete this process. But it's already 5 months passed and still I haven't received any update from them.

So, could you please guide me that what next needs to be done.

Because of my job in India, I don't just want to move to Poland as I have to plan things once I will get temporary residence card.

And would like to know the process and timelines to get the citizenship.

Thanks in advance.

Looking for to your reply.

i applied for my temporary residence permit on 21 december 2015 in warsaw and my decision was suppose to be on 16 may 2016 (already been extended once)
I hope they are not gonna extend my decision date this time or soon im gonna have a nervous break down :D

better get prepared for it.

Hi All, I know this post is a bit old (and I am new to the forum)

I have a temporary residency permit and work permit which is due next year (validity 3 years); last year I Married a Polish lady and we have a Baby together.

So I am trying to change my residency permit to a one "on the basis of marriage" so I do not have to ask for a new work permit if I change position or company.

And I CAN'T find which paper and forms I need to fill to do this, it would be like a change on my type of residency I guess

Thanks for any information you anyone can provide

Check this form:
migrant.info.pl/tl_files/formularze/Formularz%20zgloszeniowy/pobyt_czasowy%20WNIOSEK.doc

and the detailed information here:
migrant.info.pl/temporary-residence-permit-for-family-members-of-a-polish-citizen.html

If I apply for a temporary residence permit at the Radom or Siedlce office, rather than the very crowded Warsaw office, how long should I expect to wait for a decision to be issued?

Probably slower than in Warsaw, as any paperwork would have to be sent to Warsaw, where the decision is made. Sure, there may be fewer applicants in these places, but there are also fewer clerks to deal with them, and, like I said, they have to send the paperwork out of office to Warsaw, so you have to take that turnaround time into account.

That is unfortunate. Is this true of all Mazowieckie offices, or are there some that actually make the decisions themselves?

The decision is made by the marszałek, who is in Warsaw. Regional offices have no authority to make decisions on their own.

I am from India and applied for my residence card in early December. The expected date of my decision was 19 march but I still have no news from the immigration office.

Is it advisable to go to the office and ask them for information on my case and until when I can expect my card.
Also, is there a possibility to accelerate the process ?