Eligibility For Permanent Residence Card Expanded

At a Glance

• Nationals of any country who can demonstrate their Polish origin and who speak Polish are now eligible for the Karta Polaka, a status that grants permanent residence immediately upon arrival in Poland. Previously, the card was only available to nationals of certain areas of Russia, as determined by law.
• Foreign nationals who travel to Poland with the card can apply for permanent residence without meeting the minimum length of stay requirement, which is usually five years unless the foreign national is married to a Polish national, when the requirement is reduced to three years.

The situation

Eligibility for the Karta Polaka has been expanded to nationals of any country who can demonstrate their Polish origins and speak Polish. Previously, the card was only available to nationals of certain areas of Russia, as determined by law.