Legalization of Residence

Every student who starts studying in Poland has to complete the formalities listed below. It is very important! It is advisable to do it as quickly as possible, to avoid unpleasant surprises.
After arriving in Poland foreigners are obliged to register themselves in the city hall for temporary residence with the address they have stayed at for 48 hours after their arrival. If a foreigner lives in a dormitory/hotel all the formalities are completed by the university/hotel. Certificate of registration is required during the procedures of legalization of residence.

Foreign students who ARE NOT citizens of European Union countries or Island, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland must gain the Card of Temporary Residency in Poland.

Rules:

• You need to apply for the card to the Voivode at least 45 days before the expiry date of the visa or previous permission.
• Once the application is accepted the procedure of legislation is set in motion
• Documents should be completed in Polish
• Originals of the documents should be accessible for inspection
• Document should be translated by a certified translator or a consul
• The application must be filled with capital letters in Polish so that it is legible
• Authorisation: you can be represented by power of attorney; such authorisation must be certified by a notary
• You must collect the card in person.

Required documents:

• 4 copies of filled application for temporary residence (for fixed time)*
• 4 exemplars of valid photograph in colour (size 4,5 x 3,5cm); the person should be bareheaded, not wearing glasses with dark lenses, the picture must show the left profile of the face with the left ear being visible, face of the person should be evenly exposed (it is advised to attach one additional photograph in order to facilitate the procedure)
• valid travel document (2 copies)
• confirmation of temporary accomodation address
• certification that the person starts or continues studies at Polish state or private university, with specified expected time of graduation
• document confirming that personal financial resources are sufficient to cover the cost of residence
• certificate of medical insurance policy

*Applications are available on the website of your Voivodship
The list of Voivodship

In Poland, you can obtain assistance from the:
Masovian Voivodship Office

Lower Silesian Governor's Office

Australian Embassy
3rd Floor, Nautilus Building
ul. Nowogrodzka 11
00-513 Warsaw, Poland
Telephone (48 22) 521 3444
Facsimile (48 22) 627 3500
Website www.poland.embassy.gov.au
E-mail ambasada.australia@dfat.gov.au