Poland higher education temporary residence permit

Non-EU nationals and stateless people whose studies are the purpose of a stay in Poland lasting more than three months.

• Be eligible and in Poland legally

  Be a third-country national or stateless person legally staying in Poland when applying. The guidance excludes certain grounds of stay, including temporary protection, an intra-company transfer permit as a trainee and a Blue Card permit.

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• Pursue qualifying studies

  The declared and actual purpose of the stay must be to start or continue full-time first-cycle, second-cycle or long-cycle master's studies, or to study at a doctoral school. The studies must justify a stay in Poland of more than three months.

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• Study at an eligible institution

  The study institution must be approved by the minister responsible for internal affairs or, if it is not subject to approval, must not have received a decision prohibiting it from admitting foreigners.

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• Pay tuition if applicable

  If the studies are fee-paying, provide proof of payment for the semester or academic year.

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• Have health cover

  Have health insurance within the meaning of the Act of 27 August 2004 on healthcare services financed from public funds, or confirmation that an insurer will cover medical treatment costs in Poland.

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• Have living funds

  Funds available each month after deducting actual accommodation costs must be higher than PLN 1,010 if there are no dependants, or higher than PLN 823 for the applicant and each dependent family member. The guidance exempts citizens of Belarus from documenting and deducting accommodation costs.

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• Have return-travel funds

  For the applicant and each dependent family member, have PLN 200 for return to a country neighbouring Poland; PLN 500 for an EU country not neighbouring Poland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland; or PLN 2,500 for another country.

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• Have funds for study fees

  Have sufficient financial resources to cover university study fees, where payable.

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• Complete application formalities

  Submit the electronic application and required annexes through MOS, pay the stamp duty and, when summoned, attend the provincial office to present a valid travel document, give fingerprints and provide a specimen signature, subject to the exceptions described in the guidance.

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• Temporary residence permit stamp dutyResearched just now · being double-checkedSourcezł 340 per person
• Residence card issuance, standard fee; the official card-fee page describes a 50% reduction for eligible people whose purpose of stay is higher educationResearched just now · being double-checkedSourcezł 100 per person

1. Get ready

   • Confirm your qualifying studies

     Check that your full-time studies or doctoral-school place is at an institution eligible to admit foreign students.

     You’ll need: University confirmation of admission or continuation of studies

   • Prepare funds and health cover

     Gather evidence of health cover and sufficient funds for living costs, return travel and any study fees.

     You’ll need: Proof of health insurance, Evidence of funds, Proof of tuition payment if studies are fee-paying

2. Apply

   • Get the university annex

     Ask an authorised university representative to complete and electronically sign the annex to your application.

     You’ll need: University-signed electronic annex

   • Pay the separate fees

     Pay the permit stamp duty and the applicable residence-card issuance fee into their separate accounts.

     You’ll need: Proof of stamp duty payment, Proof of residence-card fee payment

   • Submit your application through MOS

     Complete and sign the electronic application, attach the required documents and save the official acknowledgement of receipt.

     You’ll need: Electronic application, University-signed annex, Scan of every page of the valid travel document, Current digital photograph

3. Travel

   • Enter Poland for your studies

     When you arrive

     You must be legally staying in Poland when you apply for this residence permit.

     You’ll need: Valid travel document

4. Settle in

   • Attend the provincial office when summoned

     Present your travel document, provide fingerprints and give a specimen signature as required.

     You’ll need: Valid travel document

   • Collect your residence card if granted

     If the permit is granted, a residence card is issued and you collect the personalised card from the provincial office.

     You’ll need: Residence card

A further residence permit may be sought before this permit expires; after graduating from a Polish university, a graduate may seek a temporary residence permit to look for work or prepare to start a business.

• mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/en/categories-information/possibilities-legali…Official
• mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/en/categories-information/possibilities-legali…Official
• Permit-Studies | Moduł Obsługi Sprawmos.cudzoziemcy.gov.plOfficial
• mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl/en/categories-information/documents/documents-…Official
• Information on stamp duty and residence card issuance fees - Office for Foreigners - Gov.pl websitegov.plOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.