PolandFamily

Poland spouse visa: residence permit for spouses and partners of Polish citizens

Temporary residence permit for the spouse of a Polish citizen

In short

Foreign spouses of Polish citizens living in Poland can obtain a temporary residence permit for up to 3 years, with free access to the labour market. The marriage must be genuine and recognised by Polish law. After 3 years of marriage and 2 years of residence on this permit, the spouse can apply for permanent residence.

Apply on MOS – Moduł Obsługi Spraw (Office for Foreigners e-application portal) checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
More than 3 months up to 3 years
Validity
Up to 3 years; not renewed automatically
Fee
PLN 340Stamp duty, plus PLN 100 for the residence card. Spouses of Polish citizens do not pay the reconsideration fee after a Schengen visa refusal.
Processing time
Within 60 days of a complete application; appeals within 90 days
Work
Yes, without a work permit
Family
Children of a Polish citizen and stepchildren have their own routes on the MOS portal
Path to permanent residence
Permanent residence after at least 3 years of marriage and 2 years of continuous residence on this permit
Where to apply
In Poland via MOS while staying legally (for example on a Schengen or national visa)

Who qualifies

Third-country nationals married to a Polish citizen who lives in Poland, where the marriage is recognised by Polish law and was not concluded to get around immigration rules. Polish law recognises only a legally registered, non-polygamous union of a man and a woman that is not purely religious. The Polish spouse must not have returned to Poland after living together in another EU state; in that case EU free-movement rules apply instead.

Partners in unions not recognised in Poland can use the separate permit for persons leading a family life with a Polish citizen.

Evidence the voivode checks

You submit a current extract from the marriage certificate and evidence that the marriage is genuine, for example proof of living together before the application, regular contact, joint children or witness statements. The voivode examines whether you live together, share a household, communicate in an intelligible language and meet marital obligations.

Required documents

Identity

  • Application completed and e-signed in MOS (or on paper by the sponsor when the family member is abroad)
  • Digital photo (JPG) and scan of all passport pages (PDF)

Money

  • Proof of stamp duty and of the PLN 100 residence card fee

Family

  • Current extract from the marriage certificate
  • Copy of the Polish spouse's passport or ID card and declaration of residence in Poland
  • Evidence of a genuine marriage: shared residence, contact, joint children, witness statements

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Other

  • Sworn Polish translations of documents issued abroad

How to apply

You must be in Poland when you apply. A foreign spouse usually enters on a Schengen or national visa (if their nationality needs one) from the Polish consulate responsible for their place of residence, then files the application in MOS before the visa ends, signing it via login.gov.pl. Stamp duty is PLN 340 and the card PLN 100. Your stay is legal while the case is pending.

  1. Make sure the marriage is recognised in Poland and obtain a current extract of the marriage certificate.
  2. Travel to Poland legally, on a visa from the Polish consulate responsible for your place of residence if your nationality needs one.
  3. Create a MOS account, fill in the temporary residence application and attach your documents.
  4. Pay PLN 340 stamp duty and PLN 100 card fee; sign and submit via login.gov.pl before your visa ends.
  5. Attend the voivodeship office with your passport for fingerprints, and possibly an interview with your spouse.
  6. Collect the residence card after the decision.

Forms

Rights and next steps

The permit gives free access to the Polish labour market. After at least 3 years of marriage and 2 years of continuous residence on this permit immediately before applying, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. After widowhood, or divorce or separation where justified, a one-time permit of up to 3 years can be requested.

Refusal and appeal

Refusals by the voivode can be appealed in writing to the Head of the Office for Foreigners within 14 days of delivery, through the voivode that decided. The appeal is not lodged in MOS, but the portal offers a form to help draft it. It should be decided within 90 days.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply from abroad after marrying a Polish citizen?

This permit is applied for in Poland. You first enter Poland legally, on a visa if your nationality needs one, and then file in MOS during your stay.

When can I get permanent residence?

After at least 3 years of marriage and 2 years of continuous residence on this permit immediately before the application.

Do I need a work permit?

No. The permit gives free access to the labour market.

What if my Polish spouse lived with me in Germany first?

If the Polish citizen returns after living together in another EU state, the EU free-movement rules for family members apply rather than this national permit.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Poland

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: D visa up to 1 year; residence permit 15 months at first, then the length of studies plus 3 months (max. 3 years)
  • Language course visa Maximum stay: As stated on the D visa, at most 1 year; 90 days in any 180 in other Schengen states
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: Permit for the duration of the research, from more than 3 months up to 3 years
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Intern permit: from more than 3 up to 6 months; D visa up to 1 year

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: D visa up to 1 year; single permit from more than 3 months up to 3 years
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: 3 months longer than the work contract, from more than 6 months up to 3 years
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 9 months, granted once
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Up to 3 years for managers and specialists; up to 1 year for trainee employees
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: At most 9 months per calendar year, counted from the first entry into Schengen that year

Family

  • Family reunification visa Maximum stay: As long as the sponsor's permit; 3 years if the sponsor has permanent or long-term EU residence

Residence

Protection

Poland visa guide