Poland: New EU Residence Registration Card Format May Require Visit to Submit Additional Documents

• Visits for pending applications.
  • Non-EU family members over six years of age as of August 2, 2021 may need to visit a Polish Immigration Office to submit their fingerprints as part of the Registration Permit process.
  • New Residence Permit applications for EU nationals and non-EU family members must visit a Polish Immigration Office to submit their photographs.
• Collection of documents. Applicants who did not submit their fingerprints with their applications can collect their documents through a representative with a power of attorney, without visiting the Immigration Office.
• Government notifications.
  • Those seeking to change their information (change of address/name, etc.) must do so within 14 days of the change of their circumstances. Those who fail to do so within the 14-day timeframe may face a fine between PLN 20 and 5,000.
  • Foreign nationals must notify the Immigration Office within three days of losing/damaging an EU registration document. Those who fail to do so within the three-day timeframe may face a fine between PLN 20 and 5,000.
  • Previously, these rules were not strictly enforced.
• Validity. New Residence Registration documents will be valid for 10 years for EU nationals and for up to five years for non-EU family members. Previously-issued EU Residence Registration cards will remain valid until August 3, 2026. Previously-issued Residence Permits for non-EU family members will remain valid until their expiration date or until August 3, 2026, whichever comes first.

The changes are meant to increase registration document security standards and prevent fraud.

EU nationals and those with non-EU national family members with pending Residence Registration documents may need to submit additional information to the Immigration Office in Poland, which in some cases may mean a personal appearance (and for some may mean traveling to Poland especially for this purpose). Those with Residence Registration documents may need to exchange these with a new Residence Card.

There are also stricter deadlines for reporting changes of information and lost/damaged Residence Registration cards.

The Polish government is likely to continue to modify its immigration policies with more technology and digitization of immigration documentation, which will create stronger security standards. Fragomen will report on related developments.