Publication date: 24.04.2025
Ukrainian lawyer (advocate) with over 20 years of experience. I specialize in family, immigration, and administrative law. For over a year and a half in Poland, I have been providing legal assistance to foreigners, particularly in divorce cases, legalization, deportation defense, and international protection matters. I actively apply Polish law in practice, prepare complaints, administrative and judicial appeals, and conduct legal analysis. I have experience handling complex cases where previous lawyers failed to achieve a result.
Residence Card through Employment
One of the most reliable ways to legalize your stay in Poland is to obtain a residence card based on official employment. Foreigners who are legally employed in Poland have the opportunity to apply for a temporary residence permit.
Viktoriia Hubanova, an experienced immigration law specialist, helps clients find verified employers, prepare all the necessary documents, and go through the legalization process in accordance with Polish regulations.
Initial Case Data (Client Story)
Viktoriia Hubanova was approached by Oleksandr, a 27-year-old Ukrainian citizen who came to Kraków under a visa-free regime and was working at a warehouse under a temporary contract. His goal was to stay in Poland legally for a long period and eventually bring his wife over.
Oleksandr had no experience with the documentation process and was afraid of making mistakes during submission. Thanks to Viktoriia Hubanova’s support, he not only found a stable job but also successfully received his residence card within 4.5 months of submitting the application.
Legal Framework
The procedure for obtaining a residence card is governed by the Polish Act on Foreigners (Ustawa o cudzoziemcach) and related regulations. These define the required documents, formal criteria, processing times, and grounds for refusal. Successfully navigating the process requires strict adherence to legalization rules for both stay and employment.
Conditions for Obtaining a Residence Card:
- Official contract with a Polish employer (umowa o pracę or umowa zlecenie);
- Work permit or a declaration of intent to employ a foreigner;
- Income not lower than the legal minimum;
- Registered place of residence in Poland;
- Properly legalized documents.
Types of Residence Cards
- Temporary residence card – issued based on employment, study, or business;
- Permanent residence card – for individuals with Polish heritage or long-term stay;
- EU long-term resident card – for those who have legally resided in Poland for over 5 years.
Application Procedure
- The document package must be submitted to the appropriate Voivodeship Office. You need to prepare:
- Completed application form (wniosek);
- Copy of passport (all pages with entries);
- Employment contract;
- Work permit (if required);
- Four photographs (35x45 mm);
- Health insurance;
- Proof of income;
- Proof of residence (rental agreement or registration);
- Proof of payment of the administrative fee.
- It is recommended to submit the documents 2–3 months before your visa expires, as the application review may take 3 to 8 months.
Benefits of Working with Viktoriia Hubanova
- Verified employers with no risk of fraud;
- Full support at all stages of the application process;
- Professional legal consultation in Polish and Ukrainian;
- Individual approach tailored to each situation.
Applying for a residence card through employment is an effective way to live and work legally in Poland. Professional assistance from Viktoriia Hubanova ensures accurate document preparation, minimizes risks, and speeds up the process of obtaining a residence permit. Victoria has in-depth knowledge of migration law and many years of experience in successfully supporting clients.
