Studying in Poland is the dream of many young people from all over the world. However, in order to legally stay and study in our country, it is necessary to go through the process of legalising your stay. In this article, we present a comprehensive guide that will take you through all the steps of legalising your student residence.

Who can apply for legalisation of student residence?

Legalisation of residence for students applies to foreigners who:

• They have been accepted to study at a Polish university
• Have a valid travel document
• They have the financial means to stay
• Do not pose a threat to state security

Types of residence permits for students

Temporary residence for a student - basic permit issued for the period of study, for a maximum of 3 years.

EU long-term residence - for persons who have resided legally in Poland for at least 5 years.

Required documents for the legalisation of student residence

The complete list of documents includes:

Core documents:

• Application for a temporary residence permit
• Valid travel document
• 4 recent biometric photographs
• Receipt for payment of stamp duty (PLN 340)

Documents confirming the purpose of the stay:

• Certificate of enrolment
• Proof of completion of previous education
• Polish language certificate (if required)

Financial documents:

• Confirmation of financial resources (minimum PLN 701 per month)
• Bank statements for the last 3 months
• Financial guarantee of parent or legal guardian

Step-by-step application process

Step 1: Preparation of documents All foreign documents must be translated by a sworn translator and legalised or provided with an apostille.

Step 2: Making an appointment at the office An appointment should be made at the provincial office with jurisdiction over the place of residence or planned stay.

Step 3: Submission of the application The application shall be submitted in person with a set of documents and fingerprints.

Step 4: Awaiting a decision Processing time is up to 60 days from the date of submission.

Costs of legalising student residence

• Stamp duty: PLN 340
• Residence card: PLN 100 (PLN 50 in the case of a reduced fee)
• Sworn translations: PLN 50-80 per page
  • From as little as £46 net per page
  • PLN 55 gross per 1125 characters including spaces
  • From £50 to £120 depending on the language and difficulty of the text
• Legalisation/apostillefrom £60 per document
• Consular legalisationfrom £26 per certified document

The most common mistakes and how to avoid them

Incomplete documentation - always check the list of required documents before visiting the office.

Outdated documents - be aware of the expiry dates of all documents.

Errors in the application - Carefully fill in all fields and check the data for correctness.

Renewal of the residence permit

The renewal application must be submitted no later than 30 days before the expiry of the current permit. The procedure is similar to the first application.

Rights of students with residence permit

• Right to study in Poland
• Ability to undertake work (up to 20 hours per week)
• Access to medical care
• Right of movement within the Schengen area

Legalising student residency may seem complicated, but with the right preparation and knowledge of the procedures, it is fully doable. If you need professional assistance, contact our team of experts.