How Much Does It Cost to Obtain a Residence Card in Poland?

The first question almost every client asks is: “How much does it cost?” It is a perfectly reasonable question, but the answer is rarely simple. The reason is that the cost of obtaining a residence card consists of several components. The amount you often see online — “a stamp duty of PLN 440” — is only one of the expenses and is not always the largest one.

In this article, we will look at the full picture: government fees, additional costs associated with applying independently, the cost of professional assistance, and — most importantly — what happens when documents are submitted incorrectly and the entire process has to be started again.

Would you like to know the exact cost of a residence card in your situation? VisaV.pl will review your case and provide the actual cost based on your individual circumstances

Submit an enquiry — we will review your situation free of charge and explain how much obtaining a residence card will actually cost in your particular case.

Part 1: Government Fees Are Fixed and Mandatory

Government fees for applying for a residence card must be paid regardless of whether you submit the application independently or use the services of a specialist. These fees are the same for everyone and are established by law.

The applicable fees in 2026 are:

Temporary residence card (standard) — PLN 440 stamp duty + PLN 100 for production of the physical card
CUKR residence card for Ukrainians with PESEL UKR — PLN 340 + PLN 100 for the physical card
Permanent residence card — PLN 640 + PLN 100 for the physical card
EU long-term resident’s card — PLN 640 + PLN 100 for the physical card
Residence card for a child under the age of 16 — reduced physical card fee: PLN 50 instead of PLN 100

“IMPORTANT”: from 5 March 2026, the stamp duty is non-refundable, even if the immigration office refuses the application or leaves the case unexamined. Previously, it was possible to obtain a refund in certain situations. This is no longer the case. It is another reason why preparing the documents correctly is more important than ever.

Part 2: Hidden Costs of Applying Independently

This is where most people make mistakes in their calculations. They see “PLN 440” and assume that this is the total cost. In reality, applying independently involves a number of additional expenses that quickly add up:

Document Translations

Most documents issued in Ukraine or other countries require a sworn translation into Polish. The cost of translating one document ranges from PLN 80 to PLN 150. A standard set of documents for a work-based residence card usually includes three to five documents, which means that translations alone may cost between PLN 250 and PLN 700.

Apostille

Foreign documents often require an apostille in the country in which they were issued. The cost depends on the country and the type of document. For Ukrainian documents, the price starts from UAH 670 per document through the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

Health Insurance

For certain grounds of residence — including applications without an employer, business-based applications, or study — proof of medical insurance is required. A Polish insurance policy costs between PLN 300 and PLN 800 per year, depending on the level of coverage.

Photographs

Biometric photographs that meet the relevant requirements must be submitted with the application. They usually cost between PLN 30 and PLN 50 at a photography studio.

Costs of Correcting Mistakes

This is the largest hidden cost, and almost nobody considers it in advance. If the documents are submitted incorrectly and the immigration office refuses the application, the stamp duty is not refunded. A new application means paying another PLN 440, obtaining new translations and updated certificates, and then waiting another three to eight months.

The actual cost of independently applying for a work-based residence card is: PLN 440 (stamp duty) + PLN 100 (physical card) + PLN 300–700 (translations) + PLN 50 (photographs) = between PLN 890 and PLN 1,290 in mandatory expenses alone. This does not include the risk and cost of having to submit a new application.

Part 3: VisaV.pl Service Fees — What Is Included and Why Professional Assistance Is Worth Paying For

Now let us look at professional services. Below are the current VisaV.pl prices for assistance with different types of residence cards. It is important to understand that these are not “residence card prices.” They are professional service fees for legal and administrative assistance designed to help you obtain your residence card on the first attempt.

Temporary Residence Cards

Service	Price
Work-based residence card (standard application)	PLN 2,000
Work-based residence card (renewal)	PLN 800
Residence card through family reunification	PLN 2,000
Residence card through business activity	PLN 2,800
EU long-term resident’s card	PLN 2,600
Expedited residence card assistance	PLN 1,800

Permanent Residence Cards

Service	Price
Permanent residence card	PLN 2,600
Polish Card	Price on request

Additional Services

Service	Price
Updating a surname in the administrative decision	PLN 1,000
Notification letter regarding a change of employment	PLN 500
Replacement of a lost or damaged physical card	PLN 600

Government fees and document translations are paid separately and are not included in the professional service fee. A residence card consultation will help determine the exact list of documents required and the total cost applicable to your particular situation.

Part 4: Applying Independently or With a Lawyer — An Honest Comparison

Let us compare the two options using a specific example: a work-based residence card.

Applying Independently

Stamp duty — PLN 440
Physical residence card — PLN 100
Translations of three to five documents — PLN 300–700
Photographs — PLN 50
Time required to collect and verify documents — 10–20 hours
Risk of refusal due to an error — relatively high for first-time applicants with no previous experience
In the event of a refusal — another PLN 440 + new translations + another three to eight months of waiting

Total cost if the first application is successful: between PLN 890 and PLN 1,290 + your time Total cost if a new application is required: between PLN 1,330 and PLN 2,200 + time already lost + additional months without secure legal status

With VisaV.pl Assistance

VisaV.pl professional service fee — PLN 2,000
Stamp duty — PLN 440
Physical residence card — PLN 100
Translations — we can arrange them, including through our trusted partners
Your time spent collecting documents — minimal, as we guide you using a clear and precise checklist
Risk of refusal — minimised because we verify the complete set of documents before submission

Total cost: from PLN 2,540 + translations, with comprehensive assistance throughout the entire process

Lawyer

Elizaveta Zaderey

← Online, by phone, or via messengers — whichever is more convenient for you.

The calculation is simple: if an independent application succeeds on the first attempt, the difference between applying independently and using professional assistance is approximately PLN 1,000–1,500. However, if the independent application is unsuccessful and a new application must be submitted, that difference disappears. You also lose additional months without secure legal status, experience unnecessary stress, and waste valuable time. This is why many VisaV.pl clients who initially tried to apply independently and received a residence card refusal later come to us and ask: “Why didn’t I contact you in the first place?”

Part 5: The Cost of a Mistake — What Happens After a Refusal

Very few people speak openly about this, but a refusal to grant a residence card is not simply an inconvenience followed by another application. The consequences can be more serious:

The PLN 440 stamp duty is not refunded
The three to eight months spent waiting for a decision are wasted
In certain cases, a refusal may create a risk of violating the conditions of legal residence in Poland if you do not manage to submit a new application on time
A new application means paying another fee, obtaining new translations, and waiting through a new processing period
Psychological stress and uncertainty continue throughout the entire process

The most common reasons for refusal encountered by VisaV.pl clients include:

An incorrectly completed MOS application — a formal error in the applicant’s details
An incomplete set of documents — one document was omitted or had expired
Incorrect grounds for residence — the wrong type of residence card was selected for the applicant’s circumstances
Insufficient or incorrectly documented income — the applicant was unaware of the minimum employment income threshold of PLN 4,806 gross
Changing employers after submitting the application — the immigration office was not notified within the required period

It is important to know that when the immigration office sends a request for additional documents, it sets a specific deadline for responding. Missing that deadline or submitting an incorrect response may result in the application being left unexamined. Technically, this is not a refusal, but the outcome is the same: the entire process must be started again.

Part 6: What Determines the Cost and Processing Time in Your Situation?

The cost and processing time for a residence card are not fixed. They depend on several factors:

Grounds for the Residence Card

Employment, business activity, family reunification, and education are different grounds for residence. Each requires a different set of documents and involves a different level of complexity. For example, obtaining a residence card through business activity requires evidence of genuine business operations and income, making the preparation process more complex than for a work-based residence card. If you are only planning to open a business and are considering obtaining residence status, a business start-up consultation will help you organise everything correctly from the outset.

Voivodeship

Processing times vary considerably between regions. In Warsaw, which is located in the Masovian Voivodeship, the process may take between six and twelve months. In smaller voivodeships, it may take between three and six months. This affects when you receive the final decision, but it does not affect the government fees.

Availability and Condition of Documents

If documents were issued abroad and require an apostille, this creates additional costs and delays. If there are problems with proving income or confirming your place of residence, additional preparation may also be required.

First Application or Renewal

Renewing a residence card is usually easier and less expensive. Most of the documents are already available, and the required set is smaller. This is why a renewal through VisaV.pl costs PLN 800, compared with PLN 2,000 for a first-time application.

Where to Begin: A Consultation Before Taking Any Action

If you do not yet know which grounds are suitable for your situation, whether you have all the necessary documents, or how much your particular case will actually cost, the best place to start is a consultation.

A migration consultation with VisaV.pl will help you identify the most suitable route to legal residence, understand the actual costs and processing times, and avoid mistakes before you spend your first zloty on stamp duty.

If you already know that you want to obtain a residence card and only need clarification on the details, a residence card consultation will provide a clear step-by-step plan tailored to your circumstances. Our immigration consultant will analyse your case and provide the exact cost with no hidden fees.

Find Out the Exact Cost of a Residence Card in Your Situation VisaV.pl — professional assistance from the initial consultation until you receive your residence card

Submit an enquiry — we will provide a free initial consultation, identify the appropriate grounds, calculate the total cost, and explain how long the entire process is likely to take in your particular case.

Frequently Asked Questions

The government fee is PLN 440, plus PLN 100 for the physical residence card. Additional costs include document translations of approximately PLN 300–700, photographs, and health insurance where required. When applying through VisaV.pl, the professional assistance fee is PLN 2,000, while government fees are paid separately.

No. From 5 March 2026, the stamp duty is not refunded if the application is refused or left unexamined. This makes the correct preparation of the documents critically important.

The government fee is PLN 340, plus PLN 100 for the physical residence card. This is lower than the fee for a standard temporary residence card. One of the requirements is that the applicant must have held uninterrupted UKR status for at least 365 days.

The process normally takes between three and eight months, depending on the voivodeship. In Warsaw, it may take up to twelve months. During this period, the applicant’s stay in Poland remains legal on the basis of confirmation generated through MOS.

VisaV.pl offers expedited application assistance for PLN 1,800. This does not mean that the immigration office will process the application faster, as there is no official expedited procedure for residence card cases. It means that we prepare the documents as quickly and accurately as possible to prevent any avoidable delays on our side.

The service includes an analysis of your circumstances and selection of the correct grounds, preparation of the complete set of documents, verification before submission, completion of the MOS application, assistance until the decision is issued, consultations throughout the process, and support in responding to requests for additional documents from the immigration office.

Yes, technically you can. However, you need a thorough understanding of the requirements, must select the correct grounds, collect the complete set of documents, and complete the MOS application correctly. A mistake at any stage may result in months of additional waiting and the need to pay the stamp duty again.

The service fee is PLN 800, plus the government fee of PLN 440 and PLN 100 for the physical residence card. A renewal is less expensive than a first-time application because most of the documents are already available and the required set is smaller.

You must respond within the deadline specified in the request. When VisaV.pl is assisting with the case, we prepare the response together with the client and monitor all applicable deadlines. Missing the response deadline may result in the application being left unexamined and the entire process having to be started again.

Government fees are the same throughout Poland. Only the processing times differ, and they are generally longer in Warsaw. VisaV.pl charges the same service fees in both offices.