If you are planning to move to Poland from Russia in the near future, you can find out what to expect from this article. Feel free to ask for the support of our immigration lawyers in Poland in order to avoid difficulties.
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Restrictions for Russian citizens who want to relocate to Poland
Poland has become a very attractive relocation destination in Central Europe thanks to the low living costs correlated to great living options. These attributes have attracted many foreigners, including Russian citizens. However, at the moment, those who want to immigrate to Poland from Russia are facing certain restrictions because of the situation in Ukraine.
The Polish government has clarified its position on Russian citizens who are not part of the conflict at its borders, which is why these can move here through the usual means. However, there are certain restrictions imposed on various categories of Russian immigrants.
Here are the categories of Russian citizens accepted to immigrate to Poland:
- Russian family members of Polish and EU citizens;
- students who are enrolled with private or public universities in Poland can enter the country based on their sponsorship letters;
- Russian holders of Polish residence who can relocate here with their spouses;
- Russian professional cargo drivers;
- Russian citizens who participate in the Poland Business Harbor (PBH) scheme;
- medical personnel are still accepted in Poland.
If you find yourself in any of the categories presented above and you want to relocate to Poland from Russia, get in touch with our immigration law firm. We are at your service and will help you apply for the appropriate type of residence permit.
Temporary residency if you want to immigrate to Poland from Russia
Obtaining temporary residency is one of the most solicited ways to move to Poland from Russia, as it enables one to stay here for more than 3 months, time in which a decision on staying here longer can be made. If you want to apply for this type of residence permit, you can rely on our immigration lawyer in Poland. We can also help you apply for permanent residence in Poland. The minimum living requirement in this case is one year, however, it can span up to 10 years. This also applies if you choose to move through investment, which is very convenient for businesspersons looking for new countries to develop their activities.
If you also intend to work here, especially as a medical specialist, as this profession is in high demand, we can also help you apply for a work permit.
Feel free to get in touch with us if you are a refugee and want to relocate to Poland from Russia.
Should you be interested in Polish citizenship, contact us. We are at your disposal with tailored advice on how to obtain a passport for Poland with the minimum effort. However, it is important to note that this depends on whether you meet the conditions to become a Polish citizen.
Employment-based immigration to Poland from Russia
In case you are wondering if you can immigrate to Poland from Russia as an employee, the answer is yes. However, you have to meet certain requirements, among which:
- having an employment contract or a job offer, as the Polish company will act as your sponsor;
- having experience in the field you will be working in;
- obtaining EU health insurance;
- submitting a clean criminal record and a recent medical examination is essential (the documents must not be older than 6 months).
All foreign-issued documents must be translated into Polish upon submission.
Having good knowledge of an international language (usually English) can also be of help when you start the recruitment process.
Obtaining asylum in Poland as a Russian
If you are a Russian refugee, you can apply for asylum in Poland by filing a petition with the Head of the Office for Foreigners. When filing your request, you must supply the following information to the authorities:
- the personal information;
- the country of origin;
- the reason to apply for asylum.
Applications can take around 6 months to be processed, a time during which you can remain in Poland. Upon approval, you will receive a Polish temporary residence permit.
Clients can rely on our immigration lawyers in Poland for support in filing for asylum.
Documents required for people moving to Poland from Russia
Those who plan to relocate to Poland from Russia on a long-term basis, meaning for more than 90 days, must prepare a set of documents and file them with the nearest Polish Embassy or Consulate. The papers include:
- a valid passport with the visa;
- a valid health or travel insurance that covers at least EUR 30,000 of medical expenses;
- sufficient funds to cover the stay in Poland.
Please note that, based on the reason for immigration to Poland, Russian applicants must also have documents that attest to their reason for entering the country.
With respect to the fund to ensure Russian citizens stay in Poland without appealing to social welfare, the minimum amounts are:
- PLN 300 for a maximum stay of 4 days;
- PLN 75 per day if the stay exceeds 4 days.
The amounts will be higher if the applicant does not have a return ticket.
If you are a Russian citizen and want to move here, you can rely on our Polish immigration lawyers for assistance in gathering the necessary documents. We will review them and advise if anything is missing, so that you have a complete file.
How long does it take to obtain a visa for Poland?
Considering the uncertainty of the current conflict and the fact that Russian citizens need visas for Poland, here is what to expect:
- consider having a passport with a validity of no less than 6 months;
- visa processing times with the Polish authorities usually take around 5 days, however, for exceptional cases, the period can take up to 2 months;
- in case of emergency, visas can also be issued within 3 working days.
So, if you want to immigrate to Poland from Russia and need a visa, get in contact with our lawyers for assistance.
Non-EU citizens living in Poland
According to the latest data, there are approximately 2 million foreigners living in Poland as of 2019, representing around 5% of According to the latest data, the number of foreigners living in Poland rose by 6% in 2024, reaching a total of 1.13 million. Among them were:
- there were also 12,399 Russians living and working in Poland.
- 21,264 were Belarusians;
- 13,407 of them were Ukrainians;
If you are a Russian citizen and want to immigrate to Poland from Russia, please contact us. We are at your service if you want to stay here for a shorter or longer timeframe. If you already live and want to apply for permanent residence, we can also support you with that.
