The process of moving to Poland from Australia is comprised of several steps that should be first verified by the Australians relocating to this country. Depending on the duration of the stay, different papers must be submitted to the Polish authorities and various forms should be completed.
The Poland migration rules stipulate different regulations based on the duration of stay and this is why it is of high importance to study the applicable regulations or to request legal information from our immigration lawyer in Poland. However, Australians must have a valid passport regardless of the duration of their stay or the purpose of the visit. The Poland residence permit is accessible to citizens of foreign countries.
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What are the requirements for short-term stays in Poland?
In the case of those relocating to Poland from Australia for a short-term period of time, which under Polish law is defined as any visit with a duration of less than 90 days, there aren’t any visa requirements that must be met. The passport is necessary when the foreigner arrives from another Schengen state and the Polish authorities will no longer require the foreigner’s visa.
Still, it must be observed that even when immigrating to Poland from Australia for traveling purposes or visiting family members or friends, Australian citizens should have a passport that has a validity period of three months longer than the date at which they will depart the Schengen area. This requirement also applies when applying for a residence permit in Poland.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for Australian nationals | Not for stays below 90 days. |
|
Special conditions applicable (YES/NO) |
No, Australian citizens do not need to comply with any special immigration requirements. |
|
Relocation options |
Temporary and permanent residence permits can be obtained in Poland. |
| Temporary residence options |
– type C, – type D visas. |
| Permanent residence options |
Permanent residency can be obtained through employment, investment, marriage, and family reunification. |
| Employment visas under which Australian citizens can immigrate to Poland |
Types A, B, C, D, and S work visas can be obtained by Australian citizens. |
| Access to investor/citizenship by investment visa |
Poland does not have a specific citizenship by investment program, but it has an investor visa through which temporary residence can be obtained. |
| Timeframe for obtaining a residence permit (approx.) |
1 to 6 months. |
| Document to obtain a residence card in Poland |
– valid passport, – proof of local address, – health insurance, – proof of self-sustenance, – documents indicating the reason for relocation. |
| Investment visa requirements | A minimum of EUR 100,000. |
| Special immigration programs for Australian citizens |
The two countries have a Working Holiday Visa in place, however, it is available for Polish citizens traveling to Australia. |
| Citizenship requirements |
A minimum living requirement of 10 years. |
| Dual nationality permitted (YES/NO) |
Yes, both countries allow dual citizenship. |
| Poland – Australian double tax treaty (YES/NO) |
Yes, since 1992. |
| Support in moving to Poland from Australia (YES/NO) | Yes, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in Poland for support in moving here from Australia. |
Do long-term stays require a visa for Australian citizens?
Yes, all Australian citizens interested in moving to Poland for long-term stays (defined as visits longer than 90 days) must apply for a visa. Considering that the duration of the stay is a of minimum 90 days, this will also imply that the foreigner will have to apply for a residence permit, which is required for all foreigners immigrating to Poland for at least three consecutive months.
In this case, a person who wants to relocate to Poland from Australia should apply for a D-type visa (national visa). The document grants the right to live here for a maximum of one year and it also provides the opportunity to travel to all Schengen states. Our immigration lawyer in Poland can present the steps Australians should follow for the issuance of the document, and you may find below some of the basic requirements:
• a visa application form signed and completed with the required information;
• a valid passport and the proof of payment for the issuance of the visa;
• travel medical insurance that must have a minimum value of EUR 30,000;
• information on the purpose of the stay and the accommodation arrangements made by the applicant;
• proof of having sufficient financial funds for moving to Poland for the respective period and other documents, as per the provisions imposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.
If you want to apply for permanent residency in Poland, we can help you submit the necessary set of documents. We remind you that you need your valid passport, temporary residency card, and proof of income. After receiving them, we will file them to the immigration officials, who will stamp the passport with the residency stamp.
Long-term relocation is a suitable way of obtaining Polish citizenship.
How to immigrate to Poland from Australia for work
Employment is a great way for an Australian to relocate to Poland, as there are several types of work visas available for those interested in this option. Here are the permits one can obtain:
- the A work permit, which implies moving to Poland from Australia after obtaining a job offer first;
- the B permit, which is available for board members of Polish companies, enabling the Australian citizen to reside in the country for more than 6 months;
- the C permit, which is an intra-company transfer visa and enables the Australian person to stay in Poland for more than one month and work within the Polish branch;
- the D permit, which is available for foreigners working in the export sector;
- the S permit, which is a work visa enabling one to work in agriculture, fishing, hunting, or tourism.
Out of these work visas, the A permit is the one granting access to Polish residency in the long term.
Feel free to discuss all the pros and cons of each visa with our immigration lawyers in Poland, especially since for certain permits you need authorization from an Australian employer.
How to immigrate to Poland from Australia as an entrepreneur
Starting a company is definitely a good reason to immigrate to Poland, especially since the country has the strongest economy among the states in Southeastern Europe. For this purpose, you can choose between the following:
- obtaining a business visa, coming to Poland to register the company, and then filing for residency;
- applying for residency by investment that requires you to register a company in Poland and a minimum investment of EUR 100,000.
Both options allow to you apply for temporary residency. The main difference between them, apart from the investment in the case of the latter, is that you can also move directly with your family choosing the second option. If you decide on ordinary residency, each family member must apply separately for residence permits.
Our Polish immigration law firm can help you establish the best way for you to move here from Australia.
The Working Holiday Visa program between Poland and Australia
Cooperation between Australia and Poland is quite good, as Polish citizens can go to Australia under the Working Holiday Visa. Currently, Australians cannot come to Poland under this scheme. The program is open to Polish nationals aged 18 to 31 and is subject to a cap of 1,500 applicants per year. Considering this is a visa that can be issued for temporary stays if you want to apply for permanent residency or citizenship in Poland, we can help you choose another program.
If you want more information about this program, you can rely on our immigration law firm in Poland for details.
Can Australians obtain Polish citizenship?
Yes, Australians are eligible to obtain Polish citizenship, as is the case of other nationalities relocated to this country. Thus, those relocating to Poland from Australia on a permanent basis can verify the conditions prescribed by the Ministry of Interior and Administration, as there are several ways of acquiring Polish citizenship, which are prescribed by the Polish Citizenship Act, as follows:
• foreigners moving to Poland from Australia can become Polish citizens after 3 years of uninterrupted residence in this country (living as a permanent resident);
• persons who have been living for at least 2 years under a permanent residence card and who are permanent residents;
• persons who have been living here for at least 2 years and who have been married for at least 3 years to Polish citizens;
• persons who have been living in Poland for at least 2 years and who have obtained residence permits based on their Polish descendants;
• additional options are available under Article 30 Section 1 of the Polish Citizenship Act, as well as under Article 20 Section 2.
If a person moving to Poland from Australia, who is an Australian national, gets married to a Polish citizen, and if the couple has children, the child will be entitled to Polish citizenship, regardless if the birth takes place on Polish territory or elsewhere.
The Poland immigration legislation provides additional rights for gaining Polish citizenship. Australians interested to permanently immigrating to Poland from Australia are invited to address our lawyer for advice or legal representation on the steps they should expect during this process. Please contact our immigration lawyer in Poland for assistance on any of the immigration procedures applicable to foreigners.
