To get Temporary Residence in Poland is very difficult even though I'm married to a Polish citizen!!

Hi everyone..

Just wanted to share about my experienced applying to get a temporary residence in Poland.
I went personally to the immigration office in Poznań and the lady was very nice to me explaining all what I must do to be able to to submit the documents. She gave me the list of all the requirements ( written in English and in Polish ) and application form for me to fill up.

I did all the requirements and also changed my marriage contract to polish language translated by a registered sworn polish translator.
I went back to the immigration and submitted all my documents they accepted my documents and I had to pay more 340 zloty and some other payment..then she told me that my translated marriage contract is not valid I must go to the registrar office and let them do the translation..

We went to the registrar office they accepted my marriage contract and we waited more than a week and then they phone that they need my original birth certificate, my husband's original divorced decree and my husband's original marriage certificate from his ex-wife which is impossible to get. :(

And then, after a week from the submission of my documents. I received a letter from the immigration stating that I must go and appear in the court for the interview and if I can't be at the certain time they given to me I will get a fine.

The worst was that they only gave me 7 working days to complete everything. And also, it stated in the letter that if I'm not able to speak polish language very well I must bring with me a registered polish language translator from my country :(

Anyone had the same experienced like this too?? Please share.. How did you cope up the problems?
Thanks for reading..

Best regards

Gina, you should get a specialist immigration lawyer quickly. The Polish courts system is inefficient and unpredictable - although a lawyer isn't cheap (get a specialist - not just any lawyer) it will make a very big difference.

Jon, thank you very much!!

Another question do you have any idea what office I must ask to get a specialist immigration lawyer? I am now in Poznań..

google "adwokat poznań" and browser websites which have English version.

Gina, I can recommend someone if you need a trustworthy lawyer.

Yes please Delph..........thank you very much!!

This may not be what you want to do but...

I would recommend getting remarried in Poland (It sounds like you only have a marriage cert. from your home country) This would make applying for future residency permits much easier (marriage cert. both you and your spouses zameldowania and copies of your I.D. ) is about all that you would need.

Write back to them and ask them on what legal basis they are giving you that deadline (the standard court deadline under Polish law is 14 days).

Again, ask them on what legal basis they are demanding that you bring with you such a translator. For one thing you will need an interpreter and not a translator, for another thing the interpreter will need to be sworn rather than registered and for a third thing I know of no legal basis at all for them to insist on a certain nationality of interpreter. And I'm very surprised that a court is demanding you provide an interpreter, the standard rule is that when a court wishes to speak to you, the court provides the interpreter.


Why is it impossible to get? At the very least you should be able to get a certified copy from the body which issued the original.

Hi Sparks, thanks for you help but I guess this time we won't do it yet.. :)

Good day Mr. Harry, thank you very much for your advices...
The reasons why I've said impossible to get all the requirements because they asking for the original papers ( we have the certified copy of his divorced). My husband got married first time in his ex-wife in south Africa and couldn't find the original marriage certificate.

And even though if the court give us 14 days to complete all of this things, there is no way I can make it the reason is because to get my original birth certificate from my country which is Philippines will take long time. And also to find a polish interpreter from my country which is I doubt very much.

I don't know how the law in Poland works..
I'm just wondering why......why is it that the registrar office asking for my birth certificate, my husband's first marriage certificate and his divorced decree..? In what reasons?

If they can't accept my marriage certificate which is translated to polish language already by a registered sworn polish translator?
What they will do with my birth certificate, my husband' s divorced paper and the first marriage certificate which is written in English?

Lastly, why is it that they still asking for the divorced paper and the first marriage certificate of my husband? I just can't understand why is this happening.

Law is a law and I respect all of this...just wanted to share this matter..
And if anyone wants to share very much appreciated..

Best regards

Sounds very strange and I bet you in another Province they will not bother you with all that.
You and your husband need to explain to them that in the country where he got divorced they retain the original marriage certificate.
It sounds almost absurd that they demand a document that has been annulled.
A divorce certificate is the only document that proves a person having been married in the past.
They will ask for originals because it's too expensive for them to verify foreign documents.
It is also possible to apply with a written document giving reason why you can not produce the original documents.
The onus is on your husband- he has to make things happen!
If you are in this together for genuine reasons you will need guts made out of steel.
All the best to you.

Right Buggsy, that is why i had difficulty to understand, as in before i got married i also had to submit my birth certificate and the divorced paper.

We phoned the office and they were so nice and they told us that we can withdraw the application and no problem i can get my money back the reason is that we informed them early....