At the level of 2021, there were around 13,300 immigrants living in Poland. The good living conditions and lower living costs compared to neighboring countries, made many of those living here try and reunite with their families, thus making the spouse visa in Poland one of the most sought permits.
If you already live in Poland and want to apply for a dependent visa for a spouse, you can rely on our specialists. Our immigration lawyers in Poland are at your service if you want to reunite with your family here.
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Who qualifies for a spouse visa in Poland?
Foreign citizens who live in Poland based on temporary or permanent residence permits can bring their family members to join them. There is no special Polish spouse visa, as the applicant can file for bringing minor children and parents under the same conditions.
If you decide to reunite with your spouse in Poland, our immigration law firm can help you. It should also be noted that the Polish spouse visa requirements apply to citizens from non-EU/EEA countries.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Availability of marriage visa (YES/NO) | Yes, Poland issues marriage visas |
|
Availability for spouse visa for EU citizens (YES/NO) |
No, EU citizens do not require a Polish spouse visa |
|
Availability for spouse visa for non-EU citizens (YES/NO) |
Yes, the spouse visa is issued to non-EU and non-EEA citizens |
| Availability of spouse visa for unmarried partners (YES/NO) | Yes, partners of Polish residents can also apply for spouse visas |
| Requirement to apply for a Polish spouse visa from abroad (YES/NO) |
No, the process must be commenced in Poland by the supporting spouse/partner |
| Application requirements for the foreign spouse (if any) |
The foreign spouse may need an entry visa if he/she is a first-time comer to the EU |
| Application conditions for the Polish spouse (if any) |
The Polish spouse must have lived in this country for at least 2 years |
| Sponsorship requirements |
No, however, the Polish spouse/partner must have the financial means to support their family |
| Documents required to obtain a spouse visa |
– Residence permit of the Polish spouse; – proof of a local address, marriage certificate (where applicable); – passport copy of the foreign spouse/partner; – proof of financial means. |
| Visa application must be filed in person (YES/NO) | Yes, the application must be filed in person |
| Timeframe to obtain a spouse visa (approx.) |
30 to 60 days |
| Validity of Polish marriage visa |
3 years |
| Possibility to obtain permanent residency for the foreign spouse (YES/NO) |
Yes, provided that he/she remains in Poland for 5 years |
| Citizenship availability for the foreign spouse (YES/NO) |
Yes, Polish citizenship can be awarded based on naturalization |
| Support in obtaining a spouse visa for Poland (YES/NO) | Yes, our immigration lawyers in Poland are at your service if you want to apply for a spouse visa. |
Poland – spouse visa requirements
One of the most important aspects to consider is that in Poland, applying for a dependent visa for spouse, will attract a temporary residence permit for your partner if the marriage is completed under Polish law. This does not mean that the marriage must have taken place in this country, but that it can be recognized here.
Another thing to be noted is that the Polish resident must also meet certain requirements in order to apply for a spouse visa.
Here are the main requirements for the spouse living here to apply for a spouse visa in Poland:
- he or she must have lived in Poland for at least 2 years based on a temporary residence permit;
- he or she must have lived in Poland based on an EU residence permit;
- he or she must have lived here as a refugee, which is also the case for Ukrainian citizens who can apply for a spouse visa in Poland.
With respect to the type of residence permit, this could have been granted for various reasons, including for research activities, for working in various sectors, or even for intra-company transfers.
Should you decide to move to Poland and need support in bringing family members here, you can rely on our specialists.
Our lawyers can also help you apply for Polish citizenship through various means. If you decide to move here and want to stay on long-term, only then citizenship becomes an option. The same goes for people who want to come and go in and out of the country, so feel free to contact us about the eligibility conditions.
The procedure to obtain a Polish spouse visa
The foreign national who resides in Poland and receives a family member there, or who brings a member of their family with them, must file to the competent local authority the application for the spouse visa. These authorities are known as voivodships.
An advantage of this visa is that there is no requirement for the family member to be present. After the decision to grant a temporary residence permit for Poland has been made, the presence of the spouse/partner will be required while applying for the issuance of a residence card so that their fingerprints can be taken.
If the reasons for applying for the Polish spouse visa imply staying in the country for a period longer than 3 months, a temporary residence permit will be issued.
In order to complete the purpose of this stay in Poland, a temporary residence permit is issued for a period of time greater than 3 months and up to 3 years, with the option to apply for additional permits, such as work visas.
If you want to bring your spouse or any other family member to Poland, as the same visa is issued to both categories, you can rely on our immigration specialists.
What documents should one file to obtain a spouse visa in Poland?
Immigrating to Poland will imply preparing the following documents as part of the spouse visa requirements:
- documents attesting to the applicant’s residence in Poland, such as a lease, a loan agreement, or title deed over a property here;
- evidence of relationship (the marriage certificate that must be translated into Polish and apostilled if the marriage was registered in another country);
- the applicant’s residence permit and the foreign spouse’s valid passport;
- proof of being able to support the foreign spouse once he/she arrives in Poland.
If the non-resident spouse has already entered Poland and has a temporary residence permit or a visa, proof of living together may be filed as proof for him/her to become a permanent resident here.
We are at your disposal with various immigration services in Poland, including applying for a dependent visa for a spouse.
We are also at your service if you want to apply for Polish permanent residency. Naturalization is the safest way to achieve it, however, it implies longer waiting times. If you want to secure a residence permit, contact us for tailored guidance and support in moving here indefinitely alone or with your family.
Validity of the spouse visa
The duration of a Polish temporary residency visa for family reunion, including one’s spouse, is 3 years. As long as you receive a residency card, you may also apply for a visa extension. During your stay in Poland, the residency card serves as identification documentation.
You can apply for a permanent residency permit, which will allow you to stay in Poland for 10 years, after spending 4 consecutive years there.
The spouse-based resident permit issued entitles you to employment in any Polish company, no matter if it was issued for temporary or long term. The main condition is to have a valid residence card.
The processing time for Polish spouse visa visas is 30 days. In some circumstances, you would have to wait up to 60 days due to high demand and a large number of applications.
If you need support in bringing your life partner to this country, do not hesitate to ask for the support of our immigration lawyers in Poland. You can find us at our office in Warsaw.
What happens in case of a visa refusal?
Oftentimes, when a spouse visa is denied, the lack of documents and the Polish partner not meeting the application requirements are the main reason for refusal. This is why it is recommended to verify meeting these conditions before starting the procedure for immigration to Poland for your foreign spouse.
In addition to the above-mentioned reasons for the denial of issuance of a temporary residence permit, the voivodship will refuse the issuance in the instance of a foreigner married to a Polish citizen if there are suspicions that the marriage was done in an effort to evade legal requirements.
The body conducting the procedures must assess if the marriage is not a fraudulent one, in order to avoid legal requirements when deciding whether to award a temporary residency visa. The foreigner may be asked to supply additional papers or to give testimony verifying the circumstances listed in the application if it becomes necessary to clarify or detail the proof possessed by the authorities in the case during the processes.
It is possible to appeal a denial of a residence permit to the Head of the Office for Foreigners or to ask a consul to review your visa application. The administrative courts will hear any additional appeals.
Our immigration lawyer in Poland can also assist in such cases. Even if rare, these are situations that can occur and need specialized attention.
Foreign citizens living in Poland
Even if the number of immigrants has registered a 27% decrease in 2021 compared to 2020 (due to the pandemic), Poland has registered an important influx of foreigners entering and settling here, according to recent studies. According to data:
- starting with 2017, when 13,300 immigrants entered Poland, their number kept increasing;
- in 2018, 15,500 foreigners came to Poland;
- 2019 was the year with the highest number of immigrants, 16,900.
If you want to apply for a spouse visa in Poland and need assistance, do not hesitate to contact our immigration lawyers.
