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EU Resident Card – What are the advantages?

The EU long-term resident permit (zezwolenie na pobyt rezydenta długoterminowego UE) is one of the key documents confirming the legal stay of a foreigner in Poland. This residence permit is permanent in nature, although the physical card is issued for a period of 5 years, after which an application for renewal must be submitted.

Main conditions for obtaining the card:

1. Minimum period of legal residence in Poland — 5 years.
   
   In each calendar year, the applicant is allowed to be absent from Poland for no more than 90 days. In other words, one must remain in the country for at least 9 months per year. In total, this amounts to no less than 4 years and 6 months of actual residence over the 5-year period.
   
2. Tax payment history.
   
   As a rule, the applicant must confirm at least 3 years of official employment, which is verified through the submission of annual PIT tax returns. Important: education in Poland (e.g., studying at a university or school) is considered only at 50% of the actual duration. This means that students planning to apply for the EU resident card will need 10 years of total residence.
   
3. Confirmation of knowledge of the Polish language.
   
   It is required to present a state-issued certificate confirming knowledge of the Polish language at a level no lower than B1. The certificate must be issued by an authorized commission of the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language. Registration for the exam must be done in advance, and its cost is 150 euros.
   
4. Confirmation of integration into Polish society.
   The applicant must confirm:
   • A stable source of income (e.g., an employment contract or self-employment),
   • Housing (rental agreement, property ownership, etc.),
   • Valid health insurance,
   • Active participation in social or professional life.

Advantages of the EU long-term resident card:

• No need to renew the work permit.
• The possibility to open a private business (działalność gospodarcza).
• The possibility of obtaining Polish citizenship within 3 years of receiving the EU resident card.
• The possibility to travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
• The possibility of family reunification.
• No need for an annual visit to the Urząd to renew the residence card.

Upcoming changes from July 1, 2025.

Due to planned changes in Polish legislation regulating the issuance of the EU long-term resident card, new requirements for confirming knowledge of the Polish language will come into effect in 2025. The changes will be implemented gradually, taking into account transitional provisions.

1. Transitional provisions – Art. 30 of the draft law.

✅ Proceedings initiated before June 30, 2025:

For cases initiated before this date and not concluded with a final decision, the current rules will continue to apply. This means that:

• Certificates of completion of Polish post-secondary schools (szkoła policealna)
• Certificates from schools abroad where Polish is the language of instruction

✅ Proceedings Initiated Between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026:

The above-mentioned certificates will still be recognized, BUT only within this transitional period. After submitting an application after July 1, 2026, such documents will no longer be accepted.

2. New Requirements Starting from July 1, 2026:

From this date, the only acceptable proof of Polish language proficiency will be:

• An official state certificate at level B1 or higher,

• Issued by the authorized body — the State Commission for Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language.

Certificates of completion from a szkoła policealna and other institutions will not be accepted, even if they were issued before.

Changes in the Polish Citizenship Application Process:

The rules for applying for Polish citizenship have also changed. According to the revised Article 30 of the Citizenship Act, the newly introduced Section 2a eliminates the possibility of confirming Polish language proficiency through:

• A certificate of graduation from a szkoła policealna.

The transitional provisions are similar to those mentioned above:

• For applications submitted before June 30, 2025 – such certificates can still be used.

• For applications submitted between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 – temporary acceptance is possible.

• For applications submitted after June 30, 2026 – only the official B1 certificate will be accepted.

Why Are These Changes Being Introduced?

The legislator aims to raise the real level of integration of foreigners and minimize cases of abuse. Specifically, cases were recorded where individuals obtained certificates from szkoły policealne without actual knowledge of the Polish language.

The new regulations are designed to ensure that foreigners applying for residency or citizenship:

• genuinely speak the Polish language, and

• are capable of functioning effectively in Polish society.

Real Practice: What Is Already Happening

In practice, we are already seeing stricter administrative approaches, even before the official law takes effect:

• Authorities are increasingly requesting additional evidence of Polish language proficiency.

• They are thoroughly verifying the origin of certificates issued by szkoły policealne.

This means that it is already recommended to take the B1 exam and prepare your documentation according to the strictest standards, in order to avoid rejections or prolonged procedures.

Legal Assistance for Foreigners

If you are planning to apply for an EU Long-Term Resident Card, we strongly recommend that you do not delay the process and start preparing your documents as early as possible — especially in light of the upcoming changes and tightening of requirements.

Our team at ONE PLUS provides a comprehensive range of legal services for obtaining the EU resident card, including:

• Legal assessment of your situation,

• Document verification and preparation,

• Language exam preparation support,

• Representation of your interests in the Urząd.

We guarantee an individual approach, up-to-date legal guidance, and support at every stage of the process

📍 Marsz. J. Piłsudskiego 43, Wrocław
📧 [email protected]
📞 +48 71 880 85 08
🌐 www.one-plus.pro