Foreigners residing in the Lower Silesia region (Dolny Śląsk) handle the process of obtaining temporary or permanent residence permits through the regional voivodeship authority. The main office of the institution is located in the city of Wrocław, and there are also branch offices in the cities of Jelenia Góra, Legnica, and Wałbrzych.
The central office is located in Wrocław, the capital of the voivodeship, while the others function as its branches. This means that many online services are available in all branches.
We will first look at the details of each office individually, and then discuss general information regarding registration and visiting the office.
Opening hours: Contacts:
Jelenia Góra: Opening hours: Contact: 75 722 94 49
Legnica: Opening hours: Contact: 0 801 43 00 86
Wałbrzych: Opening hours: Contact: 0 801 43 00 86
Each voivodeship has its own CRM system, which means the system names differ.
What is it used for?
Note: Please note that the website and email address are the same for all offices. Also, the same phone number applies to the cities of Legnica and Wałbrzych, while the ePUAP address is provided only for Wrocław.
Booking a visit to the Voivodeship Office in Wrocław
There may be various reasons for visiting the voivodeship office. However, currently, a prior appointment is required.
It is important to understand that an account in the system is necessary for booking. Therefore, the process can be divided into two main stages: registration in the system and scheduling the date of the visit.
Registration in the DUW system, or what is a PIO code
The PIO number (Numer wniosku PIO) is a unique number assigned to a specific residence card application. In other words, one must first register on the voivodeship’s website, create an application, submit it, and only then will this code be generated.
The PIO number is an individual application number assigned when submitting an application for a residence permit in Wrocław either in person or through the website pio-przybysz.duw.pl (The portal is available only for residents of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship).
If the paper application is not delivered to the Office within 6 months, it will be deleted from the system.
It is also important not to confuse the application number with the case number, as the PIO number is received immediately after completing the application, while the case number is assigned by the Office during the processing of your application.
Please note: submitting an application according to the procedure described below does not constitute the submission of documents. It is only the completion of a form and its registration in the system, where it can be stored for up to 6 months. Only the personal submission of documents at the office is considered an official application, from which the processing time begins, including the legality of stay in the case of visa or visa-free regime expiration.
To register your application and obtain a PIO number in Wrocław, follow the instructions below.
Registration of the application at the Voivodeship Office in Wrocław:
Go to the Pio-przybysz website and select a convenient language: English, Polish, or Russian.
Fill out the registration form by providing the required information such as last name, first name, passport number, date of birth, address, and email.
Verify the entered data and agree to the terms and the processing of personal data, then click “Register.”
Wait for an email with your login and temporary password.
Log in to the website using the received credentials and change your password.
Click “Submit a new application.”
Proceed to fill out the application form by selecting the appropriate type of residence card.
Carefully complete the form and click “Send.”
Wait for an email with your unique application number (PIO).
Please note that you have created an application and saved it in the system, but the registration for a visit to the office has not yet been completed. Find your application, print it out, and sign it.
Registration of the appointment date for submitting residence permit documents.
To schedule an in-person visit to the Voivodeship Office in Wrocław, use the special website wizyta.duw.pl . To register, you need to provide the following information:
Last name
First name
Email address
PIO application number
Also, select the desired city. The process of registering for an in-person visit through the internet consists of several simple steps:
Go to the website wizyta.duw.pl.
Select “Złożenie wniosku” for a new appointment or “Odwołanie wizyty” to cancel a previous reservation (in our test, the language selection function did not work).
Fill in the required information: last name, first name, email address, PIO number, select the city, check the box to confirm you have read the terms and conditions, scroll down the page, and click “Wyslij.”
All done! Now, just wait for the message about the scheduled visit date. The date and time do not need to be selected, as they will be assigned automatically. Additionally, the message will include a new code – the registration code.
When visiting the office, you must arrive 15 minutes before the specified time with a complete set of documents for the appropriate type of residence card, as well as the registration code. Failure to comply with these rules may result in refusal of service.
How long to wait for the appointment date for submitting the residence permit application?
According to the stated waiting time, the appointment for submitting the residence permit documents will take 3 working days. However, during periods of high workload, this period may extend to a month or more.
Transferring the appointment to another person is not possible – the office must be visited only by the person whose data was provided during registration.
Previously, group registration was available at the office, whereas the system described above is intended for individual document submissions. For group applications (from 5 people), it was previously required to send a request to the email: rezerwacje.opt@duw.pl . However, this method is no longer functional, and only individual registration is active.
In case group submissions are resumed, a special form must be filled out, available via the link, and sent to the provided email address.
How to check the number of people in the queue?
During periods of high demand, available slots may run out. In such situations, it is possible to check the number of people already waiting for a visit (electronic queue). There is a special service for this purpose.
It is also worth noting that documents can be submitted via regular mail with a registered letter and acknowledgment of receipt. It is important to remember that, for example, if you send documents by mail for obtaining a residence card at the Wrocław office, the date of submission will be considered the date they are received by the post office. This can be helpful in situations where time is critical, and no available slots remain.
The process of obtaining a residence permit may vary depending on the region, but we are well-acquainted with the procedures in the largest cities in Poland and are ready to assist you, regardless of your location.
If you need help with obtaining a residence card, fill out the form on our website or call +48 537 272 400.
