Residence Permits
Temporary Residence Permits Family Reunification EU / Permanent Residence Polish Citizenship Relocation Support
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Family Reunification
in Poland — together.

If you are legally residing in Poland and your spouse or children are still abroad, you can apply for a temporary residence permit that allows them to join you and live here legally.

What is family reunification?

Bringing your family
to Poland

Family reunification is the process by which a non-EU national who holds a valid residence permit in Poland can apply for a separate temporary residence permit for their spouse or minor children who are currently living outside of Poland.

When family members are currently abroad, the application is formally initiated in Poland by the sponsor (the family member already residing in Poland) acting on their behalf. The sponsor's legal framework — including stable income, verified accommodation, and type of residence permit — forms the absolute core of the Voivode's assessment.

Once granted, the family member receives their own temporary residence card, which also entitles them to work in Poland without a separate work permit.

Who can apply
Spouses and minor children (under 18) of a non-EU national who holds a valid temporary or permanent residence permit in Poland
Duration
Tied to the sponsor's permit — typically the same validity period. Renewable together with the sponsor's renewal
Work rights
Full — no separate work permit required after the family reunification card is issued
Submitted via
MOS system (online) — the application must be submitted through MOS by the family member residing in Poland
Who can apply

Spouses & children
joining from abroad

Family reunification in Poland covers two groups — a spouse and minor children of a non-EU national legally residing in Poland. Each case is assessed individually based on the sponsor's situation.

Spouse
Husband or wife joining from abroad

A non-EU national holding a valid residence permit in Poland can apply for a temporary residence permit for their spouse who is currently living abroad. The application is submitted in Poland by the spouse after they arrive.

The assessment focuses on the sponsor's situation — their type of permit, stable income, confirmed accommodation and health insurance. The marriage must be documented with a certificate that has been properly legalised and translated into Polish by a sworn translator.

Once the permit is granted, the spouse has full rights to work in Poland without a separate work permit.

Minor children
Children under 18 joining from abroad

Minor children of a non-EU national residing in Poland can obtain a temporary residence permit to join their parent. As with the spouse permit, the assessment is based on the sponsor's income, accommodation and overall circumstances.

The child's birth certificate must be properly legalised or apostilled and translated into Polish. If the child has two parents and only one is in Poland, the consent of the other parent is required — or, where this is not possible, a court order.

Timing matters
Processing times for residence permits in Poland can be lengthy — in some cases exceeding two years. If a child is approaching 18, submitting the application as early as possible is critical, as eligibility under the family reunification route depends on the child being a minor at the time of the decision.
How it works

From application to reunion

1
Sponsor assessment

We review the sponsor's permit, income, housing and overall eligibility before anything is submitted.

2
Document preparation

All foreign documents are identified, translated by sworn translators and legalised or apostilled as required.

3
Online submission

The application is submitted through the MOS system. This is the required channel for all foreigners residing in Poland.

4
Decision & card

We monitor the case, handle any requests from the office and notify you when the residence card is ready for collection.

Why family cases
need extra care

01
Two cases, one outcome

The family member's application depends entirely on the sponsor's situation. If the sponsor's permit is about to expire, has conditions attached, or the income documentation is weak — the family application is at risk. We assess both together from the start.

02
Foreign documents require careful handling

Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad must be properly legalised or apostilled and translated by a sworn translator. Errors in this step are a common cause of delays. We coordinate the full documentation chain.

03
Children approaching 18 — timing is critical

Processing times for residence permits in Poland can be lengthy — in some cases exceeding two years. If a child is close to turning 18, every week matters. We flag this risk from the very first consultation and plan accordingly.

Service fee only

Our service fee does not include government administrative fees, sworn translations, apostilles, notarisation costs, courier fees, document procurement fees or any third-party expenses unless expressly stated otherwise. Such costs vary depending on the applicant's circumstances and are payable separately.

Processing times

Processing times depend entirely on the competent authority handling the case. Relocation to Poland cannot guarantee any specific decision date, processing speed or application outcome.

Ready to bring your
family to Poland?

Start with a free assessment. We'll review the sponsor's situation and confirm whether the conditions for family reunification are met — before you invest time in documentation.