Who can be brought to Poland
A residence permit for family reunification covers, in principle, your spouse and your minor children. The rules differ depending on your own status: a family member of a Polish citizen, of an EU citizen, and of a third-country national holding a Polish residence permit are three different legal paths with different requirements.
What the office actually checks
- Your own status — what permit you hold and how long you have held it.
- Proof of the relationship — marriage and birth certificates, translated by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) and, depending on the issuing country, legalised or apostilled.
- Income — stable and regular, sufficient for the whole family without social assistance.
- Accommodation — a place of residence in Poland, documented.
- Health insurance for each family member.
Marriages are examined for genuineness. Where the authority suspects a marriage of convenience it can call both spouses for separate interviews and refuse the permit. This is a normal part of the procedure, not an accusation, but it is worth being prepared for it.
Documents from abroad
Foreign civil-status documents are the most common reason these files stall. Each needs a sworn translation into Polish, and depending on the country of issue either an apostille or consular legalisation. Getting this wrong means a request to supply missing documents, with at least 7 days to comply (art. 64 § 2 k.p.a.) — and documents from abroad rarely arrive within 7 days.
Filing and fees
The application is filed by or for the family member, electronically through the MOS system. Stamp duty for a temporary residence permit is 340 PLN, plus 100 PLN for issuing the residence card.
Legal basis and sources: Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 1650, as amended); Act of 20 March 2025 on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 621); Code of Administrative Procedure (k.p.a.). Fees verified against the Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców) and the MOS system. Legal status: 31 August 2026.
This page describes Polish procedure in general terms and is not individual legal advice. Dariusz Włodarczyk is a legal adviser running a Polish law office (kancelaria); he is not an adwokat or radca prawny — these are separately regulated Polish professions. Representation before administrative authorities (the voivode, the Head of the Office for Foreigners) is open to any authorised person under art. 33 § 1 k.p.a.
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