These are two distinct statuses with different grounds. EU long-term residency is the general path after 5 years of continuous legal stay in Poland. Permanent residence (PMJ) applies to specific cases: Polish origin, marriage to a Polish citizen, refugee status. At the consultation, we'll determine exactly what you qualify for under the law.
We check what you actually qualify for under the law: the general 5-year stay requirement for EU long-term residency, or one of the narrow grounds for permanent residence — Polish origin, the Pole's Card, marriage to a Polish citizen, refugee status. This isn't a matter of preference — it's a matter of meeting specific legal criteria.
For EU long-term residency, we calculate the 5-year legal stay (no single absence longer than 6 months, no more than 10 months total) and confirm stable income over the last 3 years. For permanent residence via Polish origin, we verify documents proving Polish ancestry of your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents.
We compile PIT tax declarations, bank statements, and employer letters.
If your path is via the Pole's Card or Polish origin: we gather archival documents proving the Polish nationality of a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent. We work with archives and help recover missing records.
We file your application through MOS 2.0 — an in-person appearance is only needed for fingerprinting and signing documents at the voivodeship office. We monitor document acceptance and provide a written report every 30 days.
We track the case and file requests to expedite review when there are delays. We manage the case until the card is issued.
Any combination of visas, residence permits, and PESEL UKR periods — regardless of which ground you were staying on. Continuity of stay and documentation for each period matter.
You'll need stable income over the last 3 years, health insurance, and a Polish language certificate at B1 level or above (or a diploma from a Polish school/university). These are mandatory legal requirements — without them, the status won't be granted.
Both permanent residence and EU long-term residency are issued once and don't need renewing every 1–3 years, unlike a standard karta pobytu. This removes the recurring paperwork and the risk of missing a renewal deadline.
The most common path to permanent residence in our practice. If at least one parent, grandparent, or two great-grandparents were of Polish nationality, this is a standalone ground that doesn't require any minimum stay in Poland.
At least 3 years of marriage and at least 2 years of continuous legal residence in Poland specifically on this ground, immediately before filing.
5 years of continuous stay specifically under this status before filing — a separate ground for permanent residence, unrelated to the general 5-year stay required for EU long-term residency.
Both permanent residence and EU long-term residency are a required step before naturalisation. We help you plan the right sequence based on your actual ground.
We review all periods of stay and check for any of the narrow grounds for permanent residence: origin, marriage, refugee status. If none apply, we calculate your stay for EU long-term residency.
We determine the exact status, define the document list, and flag risks — including the language requirement for EU long-term residency.
Financial documents, translations, apostilles, archival documents on origin (if applicable), guidance for the language certificate (if applicable).
Electronic filing via MOS 2.0; we accompany you at the Office for Foreigners for biometrics and the full document package; case managed through to card issuance.
The fee is fixed. Government fees are billed separately — the exact amount is confirmed after reviewing your situation. There are no add-on charges along the way — your quote doesn't change until the decision is issued.
No surprise charges — your quote is fixed until the decision is issued.
This depends not on how long you've lived in Poland, but on a specific legal ground. Permanent residence is granted under a closed list of cases: Polish origin or a Pole's Card, marriage to a Polish citizen (at least 3 years married plus 2 years of legal residence on that ground), refugee status or subsidiary protection (5 years specifically under that status), and a few other narrow situations. If you've lived in Poland for 5+ years on a work permit, through business, or on other standard grounds, but don't fall into any of these categories, the law doesn't entitle you to permanent residence — and EU long-term residency is the realistic path. We confirm this precisely at the first consultation.
Permanent residence is an open-ended right to live and work in Poland with no need to renew your documents. EU long-term residency gives you the same in Poland, and additionally counts as a basis for an easier move and access to employment in most other EU countries — although relocating to a specific country still requires obtaining a residence basis there under that country's own rules, EU long-term residency noticeably simplifies that process compared to the status of an ordinary third-country national.
A total absence of up to 10 months over 5 years is allowed, but no single absence may exceed 6 months. Visa-free entries count. We calculate this precisely at the consultation.
Yes, Ukrainians under temporary protection can include these periods. There are nuances around continuity and documentation — reviewed individually.
For EU long-term residency — yes, mandatory: either an official certificate at B1 level or above (issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Polish as a Foreign Language; TELC, ECL, and several other certificates from the approved list are also accepted), or a diploma from a school or university in Poland, or a foreign school taught in Polish. Children under 16 are exempt. For permanent residence, no language exam is required — this is one of the key differences between the two statuses.
Permanent residence is voided after an absence of more than 6 years or relocation to another EU country. EU long-term residency is preserved for absences of up to 12 consecutive months. We recommend consulting in advance.
The application itself is filed electronically through MOS 2.0 — no in-person visit is needed for that. You only need to appear in person twice: for fingerprinting and signing documents, and later to collect the finished card.
Describe your situation — the first consultation is free. Reply within 24 hours, usually faster.