Polish Permanent Residence (want to start a life in Poland)

Good day gurus and Knowledgeable people,

I am a foreigner living in Poland. I am interested in making some clarifications regarding Permanent Residence Card application from those who have passed through the process or who have a clearer Idea of how things works in Poland.

1. When does it start counting my stay in Poland? when I came into Poland or will it be when I got my 1st TRC (Temporal Residence Card)?
For example, let assume I came into Poland in June 20, 2022, but got my first TRC in June15 2024?

2. Is there any salary cap I need to meet before I can apply for the card? I know that, there is one if I am interested in applying for Blue Card. Please do note that I earn above the Polish minimum wage and have been paying my taxes judiciously.

3. Assuming, I am to travel to my home country to visit my parents and siblings, what is the maximum number of months I could stay out of Poland and still be in legal perspective to apply for the Permanent residence when the time reaches? I don't want to overstay which will reset my time of stay in Poland, thereby triggering it to start counting afresh.

4. Is there any lawyer here who offers services in pro bono basis to foreigners or someone with knowledge about Polish law as regards to foreigners and TRC application. I would wish to apply my subsequent Residence Cards myself rather than engaging the services of Lawyers charging exorbitant fees.

5. In a situation I met a Polish woman, in which we are mutually attracted to each other and decided to move the relationship higher, is there a way to keep my TRC based on other reason rather than tying it to my marriage to her? Have heard scary stories of how things went south, and the foreign partner is on the extreme end of immigration issues based on marriage failure and challenges with trauma etc. Don't wish to put my stay and everything at the control of her just because I got married to her.

6. I am currently learning Polish and trying to practice the little I know myself when out there. Is there any advice you can give to know how to combine the verbs with the appropriate subjects? Also, always have issues putting the feminine and masculine words separately when speaking. For example, biznessmanka and biznessman.

7. Lastly,it is my dream to establish a business in the food sector especially restaurant business. Is there any way a foreigner can get little grants or funding from government agency or find interested and willing business partner willing to invest? Of course, the partner will take the higher investment percentage (Angel investor while I take care of the service delivery and frontal business), as well guide in trying to meet the legal holes involved in establishing the business.
My polish is not that great to engage is trying to learn or set it up myself. Once walked in urzad miasto to make such enquires, but walked out from the office more confused than I walked in. I am very optimistic that, this business will excel going by the fact that, it will be exotic and tasty meals. Open to discussion on this should someone want to make further enquiries or interested.

Enquiries from a foreigner interested in breaking free and reaching his full potential as an adult in Poland.

In Poland, you are expected to pay. Not paying requires a lot of research on your own which in the end is not worth it. Lawyers in Poland are relatively inexpensive so my take is to work with them. I'm not sure if there are grants for foreigners (if you are from an EU country you are not a "foreigner" in Poland).

@Ron2
I am not from EU, hence the reason for my question. As for your advice, I think I will stick to using the lawyers and hand over power of attorney to them.
As for setting up a business what is your view on that? can I be able to set it up without any complications or must I enlist the services of consultants that helps to do such?

If you're living in Poland there is no need to give them power of attorney. Just use their services in the normal way.

A lot of the questions you have can be answered just by looking at the official information portals which are available in English.

mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/en/potrzebuje-informacji/na-temat

Recently when I was in Poland, I went to a bar (mostly gyros-kind food) where owners and attendants hardly spoke Polish (I showed them on the menu what I want to order). The food was good and Poles visited the place every day. So I guess it's possible to make it happen if you are a foreigner in Poland. I'd start small and build your reputation. Perhaps you don't even have to rent a place but take online orders only if you plan to establish in a city and save on renting and other fees.

Thanks for the link. It is my first time of coming across them. I will definitely go through it later.

I didn't know it is possible that way. Moreover, to avoid running into issues for running unregistered business is what I am afraid of.

Following from this topic, I have a question also about obtaining polish residency. On websites, it states you have to demonstrate a stable income - however does this income have to be in Poland? what if I have a regular income source in the UK but wish to live in Poland? would this be accepted?

They don't specifically require that you earn money in Poland (I think). They just want to make sure you have regular income. These days, millions of people work online as independent contractors for companies located outside their country of residence. I don't think they would have a problem with your regular income originating in the UK as long as you pay taxes on this income in Poland.

At worse, you may set up a sole proprietorship and pay yourself as an independent contractor and receive payments from your UK bank to your Polish bank, but I doubt that would be necessary.

@Tlum
But then I would be paying double tax as I already pay tax in UK from any earnings. Poland and UK do have a double taxation agreement agreement so think I would only be taxed in the country where income comes from, if my income was generated in poland, then would pay tax there but if uk, tax is paid in UK. I was more wondering if anyone had experience of not having polish regular income but be able to demonstrate that can be self sufficient - ie not relying on state for purposes of polish residency application, as I would just transfer what i need to polish bank account.

No

Yes.

Tłum, bless him, doesn't live in Poland or the U.K. He's an American in America and helpful though he's trying to be, Polish residence for U.K. citizens and dual taxation etc are outwith his experience.

The best place for sound advice from people who have done this or are doing it is a page on Facebook called "Brits in Poland". These questions are asked and answered daily and some of the people there have done what you're planning to do. There's a lot of shared knowledge and experience there.


No, it's not quite like that, more the reverse. The dual taxation treaty means you'll be taxed where you live but won't have to pay it in the U.K. if you've paid already in Poland. There are a few pitfalls though (a lottery or premium bond win isn't taxable in the U.K. but is in Poland) and issues regarding inheritances and certain assets and I strongly recommend you have a look at that FB page which is genuinely helpful.

It's also strictly moderated (the page's admin used to post here a lot but doesn't nowadays) and is a civilised page and great for advice in residency, tax, and real estate.
facebook.com/groups/373470989454357

Jon is correct here. Still, you are in a great position; as I wrote above, you have two suitable options.

@jon357
thank you will have a look at the facebook page