Order a consultation and document preparation services for obtaining resident status and citizenship

Residency (permanent or national/long-term EU residency) allows a foreigner to legally reside in Poland, work, enjoy social rights, receive medical care, education, and other benefits. Polish citizenship is a higher legal status that gives the right to vote, a Polish passport, equal rights with citizens in all areas, including the right to vote and the opportunity to hold positions that are closed to foreigners. Acquiring residency or citizenship is often a logical step for those planning a long-term stay, investment, or business in Poland.

Who is eligible for residency and citizenship: main grounds?

There are various legal grounds for obtaining residency and subsequently citizenship:

• Residence: legal and continuous stay based on a temporary permit, residence card, or EU resident status.
• Origin: if you have Polish ancestors, proof of origin can greatly simplify the procedure.
• Marriage to a Polish citizen: after a certain period of cohabitation and compliance with other requirements.
• Polak Card: for persons who have proven ties to the culture, language, and history of Poland.
• Other grounds: for merit, restoration of citizenship, unique circumstances, humanitarian grounds, etc.

Our experts will help you determine which grounds are appropriate in your case and whether it is worth combining several.

Stages of consultation and document preparation — what exactly we do

When you order our service, you receive full support:

1. Initial consultation: analysis of your situation, determination of a possible path (origin, marriage, residence, etc.).
2. List of documents: we compile an individual list that corresponds to your case.
3. Verification of the authenticity and completeness of documents: archival records, translations, legalization/apostille, correct forms.
4. Filling out an application at the appropriate authority: voivodeship or Kancelaria Prezydenta, depending on the grounds.
5. Preparation of justification (uzasadnienie prawne), correspondence with the administration.
6. Submission of documents and monitoring of the process: status verification, responding to requests from authorities, providing assistance if necessary.

What documents are required and how to avoid the most common mistakes?

Here is a basic list of documents that are often required in residency and citizenship cases:

• valid passport or other identity document;
• birth certificate;
• marriage/divorce certificate, if applicable;
• documents confirming legal residence: residence card, permits, visa;
• evidence of Polish origin (certificate, archive documents, family records) or documents confirming fulfillment of the conditions under the Kartą Polaka;
• proof of income/means of subsistence;
• proof of knowledge of the Polish language, if required;
• photographs, translations with sworn translations or legalization/apostille of documents.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• incorrect translations or lack of apostille;
• incomplete set of documents or lack of specific evidence;
• incorrectly chosen grounds or incorrectly formulated justification;
• missed deadlines, inattention to detail;
• incorrect application forms or missing sections;
• incorrect submission to the wrong authority.

Special situations: marriage, origin, Karta Polaka, refusal, and appeal

Some situations require additional attention:

• If you are married to a Polish citizen, you will need certificates of cohabitation, language proficiency, and family stability.
• In the case of origin, it is important to have archival materials and evidence that can be thoroughly verified.
• Karta Polaka — specific requirements for participation in Polish culture, volunteering, language skills.
• If status or an application has been previously denied, you need a strategy for appeal, correction of errors, and response to past decisions.
• Changes in circumstances — moving, changing jobs, marital status — can change the grounds or deadlines.

Why it is important to seek legal assistance?

• A lawyer has experience and knows exactly which authorities are responsible for which part of the process, how applications are processed (voivodeship offices, Kancelaria Prezydenta, Urząd Wojewódzki).
• Assistance in collecting complex and archival documents that may be unavailable or difficult to find.
• Translations, apostilles, legalization — often reasons for refusals due to minor but critical defects.
• Legal justification of the application — a correctly drafted justification — improves the chances.
• Representation or assistance if there is a need to appeal a refusal or appeal.
• Client peace of mind — you will know that the entire process is under control, deadlines and risks are minimized.

Cost, timing, and what to expect after submitting an application

• The cost depends on the complexity: the basis, the number of documents, whether translations or apostilles are required, and whether an appeal is necessary. Approximately: consultation + analysis, preparation of the package, submission, support.
• Timeframes: for simple cases (origin, marriage) – may take several months; for more complex cases – 6-12 months or more.
• After submission: receiving confirmation of application acceptance, possibility of requesting additional documents, monitoring status, awaiting decision, receiving decyzja o nadaniu obywatelstwa.
• After obtaining citizenship: registration, obtaining a PESEL, obtaining a passport, rights and obligations, elections, access to all rights.