Poland EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in Poland without a visa or work permit. Stays over 3 months require registration of residence with the voivode (provincial governor), which gives a certificate valid for 10 years. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11}

Requirements

• Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland can live in Poland without a visa or residence permit. ^{1 8}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid passport or national ID card. ^{1 3}
• After 3 months, work, self-employment, study, or sufficient resources with health insurance is needed. ^{3 9}
• Residents who are not working or studying need sufficient resources not to burden social assistance, and sickness insurance covering stay costs. ⁹
• Registration needs a valid ID or passport plus proof of work, study, or resources and insurance. ²
• Applicants bring a valid travel document or other valid identity document, plus proof of work, self-employment, studies, or resources and insurance. ¹⁰
• Workers show an employer statement or contract; the self-employed show registry or CEIDG entry; students show a university certificate. ¹⁰
• Apply in person to the voivode for your place of residence, no later than the day after 3 months from entry. ^{10 9}
• The registration certificate is collected in person and, if issued after 2 August 2021, is valid for 10 years. ¹⁰
• The residence registration duty does not apply to EU citizens staying to seek employment. ⁹
• Registering your address with the municipality is a separate obligation from registering residence with the voivode. ⁹
• Permanent residence is acquired automatically after 5 years of continuous lawful residence. ⁴
• Spouses of Polish citizens acquire permanent residence after 3 years of uninterrupted legal stay. ⁹
• A document certifying permanent residence is issued on application. ⁹

Stay

• No time limit; apply to the voivode to register residence no later than the day after 3 months from the date of entry.
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance; registration of residence.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

EU citizens have free labour market access and may work in Poland on the same basis as Polish citizens, without a work permit.

Family

Spouse, descendants under 21 or dependent, and dependent ascendants may join, whatever their nationality; non-EU family members obtain a residence card for a family member of an EU citizen.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Work permits · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union, Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. The European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the North · European Parliament · checked 2026-10-10
9. Entry and residence rules · Ministry of the Interior and Administration of Poland · checked 2026-10-10
10. Registration of stay (EU citizens) · Wielkopolska Voivodeship Office in Poznan, Department for Foreigners · checked 2026-10-10
11. Registration of stay of the EU Citizen (FAQ) · Wielkopolska Voivodeship Office in Poznan, Department for Foreigners · checked 2026-10-10