Śląski Urząd Wojewódzki w Katowicach

What is a residence card?

A residence card is a document confirming the identity of a foreigner during his stay in Poland. This document, together with a valid passport, confirms the right to stay in Poland and entitles the foreigner to cross the Polish national border numerous times without the need to have a visa.

The residence card is issued by the voivode, who granted the temporary residence permit, the permanent residence permit or the long-term resident’s EU residence permit.

The first residence card is issued ex officio in case of granting a temporary residence permit, with the exception of a temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification.

Following the granting of temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification, the residence card is issued at the request of the foreigner who has been granted this permit.

The first residence card for the granting of a permanent residence permit or a long-term resident’s EU residence permit is issued ex officio. Any other residence card is issued at the request of the foreigner.

Any other residence card is issued at the request of the foreigner.

Documents

Application for replacement of a residence card (to download below) must be submitted within 14 days after the grounds for its replacement. A foreigner is obliged to replace the residence card in case of:

1. change of data included in the existing residence card;
2. changes in the facial image of the holder of the residence card in relation to the image placed on the card to a degree which makes it difficult or prevents identification of the card holder;
3. loss;
4. damage;
5. the acquisition by the Republic of Poland of international responsibility to protect the holder of the residence card issued in connection with the granting of a long-term resident’s EU residence permit with mark: “international protection granted by ...”
6. acquisition by another Member State of the European Union of responsibility for international protection of the holder of a residence card issued in connection with the granting of long-term resident’s EU residence permit

The application for replacement of the card is made on the form. A foreigner applying for replacement of a residence card is required to present a valid travel document and attach to the application:

  1) 2 recent photographs of the person covered by the application, taken in the appropriate format;

  2) documents necessary to confirm the data and circumstances included in the application.

In particularly justified cases, if the foreigner applying for replacement of the residence card does not possess and is not able to obtain a valid travel document, he may present other document confirming his identity.

Application form

GDPR information clause

Charges and place of application

The fee for issuing or replacement of the residence card is PLN 50.

The fee can be paid in cash at the cash desk at the Silesian Provincial Office in Katowice or cashlessly (bank transfer) to the mentioned below bank account of the Silesian Provincial Office:

                                               National Bank of Poland District Branch in Katowice

                                                               67 1010 1212 0053 4022 3100 0000

Decreased charge  in the stamp duty for issuing or replacing a residence card is granted to foreigners:

- who are in a difficult financial situation,

- whose purpose of the stay is to receive education in a secondary school and a university in Poland,

- minors who were under 16 years old on the day of submitting the application for the issue or exchange of a residence card or document.

The fee discount is 50% of the amount specified above.

for replacing a residence card resulting from its loss or destruction for which the foreigner is at fault – 100 PLN

for each subsequent loss or destruction of the residence card for which the foreigner is at fault - 150 PLN

 Where to submit the documents:

• in Silesian Voivodship Office Chancellery in Katowice, Jagiellońska 25 St, room no 161,
  posts no 23 and 24,
• in Silesian Voivodship Office in: Bielsko-Biała (Piastowska 40 St, ground floor, room no  14).
• in Silesian Voivodship Office in Częstochowa (Sobieskiego 7 St, first floor, the chancellery, room no 67).
  
  

It can be also sent to the following address :

                                                       Śląski Urząd Wojewódzki w Katowicach
                  Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich i Cudzoziemców, Oddział do Spraw Cudzoziemców,
                                                     ul. Jagiellońska 25, 40-032 Katowice

After submitting the application form, the foreigner will receive a letter with the date of his/her fingerprints and the list of other documents he/she needs to submit. Please, submit complete application form with photographs and stamp duty.

In case of any further questions, please send and e-mail to: cudzoziemcy@katowice.uw.gov.pl

In order to make identification easier, please provide the case number and the name and surname of the applicant.