What to choose at first: the Pole’s Card or the Permanent residence Permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card)?

Choosing between the Pole’s Card or the Permanent Residence Permit in Poland can be confusing for people of Polish origin. Both options open the door to living, working, and studying in Poland, but they differ in requirements, procedures, and long-term benefits. In this article, we will explain the main differences, highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each choice, and help you decide which path may be the best first step for your situation.

Basic info

Obtaining the Pole’s Card and obtaining a permit for permanent residence in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card) are quite similar procedures in the process of acquisition, but they are regulated by two different legislative acts:

The Pole’s Card – Ustawa z dnia 7 września 2007 r. o Karcie Polaka (https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20071801280/U/D20071280Lj.pdf)

The Permanent residence Permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card) – Ustawa z dnia 12 grudnia 2013 r. o cudzoziemcach (https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20130001650/U/D20131650Lj.pdf)

In order to understand which specific procedure for the future legalization of your stay is most suitable for you, we have prepared a list of advantages and disadvantages for each of these options:

The Permanent residence Permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card)

Advantages:

1. Submitting documents for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card) is an administrative procedure, the consideration of which officially lasts up to 6 months, but in some cases may even take 1–2 years, depending on the voivodeship in which the case is being processed¹. Later, this permanent residence permit accelerates the time required to submit documents for obtaining Polish citizenship through the voivode (the procedure of recognition as a citizen of Poland)². In this case, documents for citizenship procedure can already be submitted 1 year after obtaining the permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin³.
2. There is a possibility of undergoing an interview on history, traditions, customs and culture together with a sworn translator in any convenient language.

Disadvantages:

1. If you do not apply for a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card) simultaneously for your minor children, later they may be reunited with you on the basis of the permit for temporary residence in the country for 3 years⁴. This method creates inconveniences due to the constant renewal of documents and the continuous need to prove the family’s financial support in Poland, since the legal basis for the children’s permition is no longer the Pole’s Card, but the documents of one of the parents.
2. If you have adult children, in the future they may lack the “Polish roots” required for a separate application (principle: 1 parent, 1 grandparent, or 2 great-grandparents simultaneously)⁵. You and your permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card) do not confirm your Polish nationality for the future generations, unlike the Pole’s Card⁶! Such a permition is only an administrative decision.
3. In the case of submitting documents for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card), you should be prepared for a full interview on history, traditions, customs, and culture, which lasts at least 1.5–3 hours, with an official protocol being recorded on the territory of Poland.
4. At this stage, it is necessary to have confirmation of the intention to remain in Poland for permanent residence (stable employment or business, or studies, payment of taxes, confirmed place of residence).
5. You cannot choose where the interview will take place. This interview will determine your level of proficiency in the Polish language as well as your knowledge of the history, traditions, customs, and culture of Poland. It is scheduled by an inspector of the Voivodeship administration according to your place of residence in Poland.
6. For the procedure of obtaining a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card), only the original documents and civil status certificates clearly indicating “Polish nationality” must be submitted on the territory of Poland. Duplicates or modern extracts from registries are not taken into account in this procedure. All originals are sent for thorough examination. A decision granting the Pole’s Card to one of your direct-line ancestors is also not a legal basis for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card). The latter applies to adult descendants.
7. If you obtain a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card), but later wish to obtain the Pole’s Card due to the advantages it provides, this will be impossible⁷. In this case, your “Polishness” is interrupted for your descendants precisely because of this procedure.
8. In the case of receiving a negative decision regarding the permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin, it can be appealed only through the official process of appeal, as in other administrative procedures, to the higher administrative authorities.
   

The Pole’s Card

Advantages:

1. A one-time financial assistance within 9 months after submitting documents for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of the Pole’s Card. The amount of such financial assistance for each Pole’s Card holder in the family is approximately 10,000 PLN in total. Financial assistance is also calculated for members of the immediate family who reside in Poland together with the Pole’s Card holder, amounting to approximately 5,000 PLN in total per person⁸.
2. The Pole’s Card is a confirmation of your Polish origin, as well as a confirmation of your Polish nationality. In other words, for your descendants, you could potentially become one of the parents, a grandmother or grandfather, or one of the great-grandparents. Of course, if the Pole’s Card Act remains valid at that time⁹. We remind you that an administrative decision on a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of Polish origin (without the Pole’s Card) is not such a document!
3. For the procedure of obtaining the Pole’s Card, both originals and extracts from registries, as well as lists of residents of towns and villages, house books or military documents are taken into account.
4. In the case of submitting documents for obtaining the Pole’s Card at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in your country, you should also be prepared for an interview. This conversation will be significantly shorter and simpler compared to the full interview with an official protocol conducted on the territory of Poland. Of course it does not exclude the assessment of language proficiency and knowledge of history, traditions, customs, and culture, at least at a basic conversational level.
5. Since 2022, citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and stateless persons have had the opportunity to undergo the interview for obtaining the Pole’s Card directly on the territory of Poland¹⁰. It is also important to know that if you have legal grounds for residence in any other country in the world, you can also undergo the interview at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland, confirming during the interview your legal right to reside there.
6. In the case of receiving a negative decision regarding the Pole’s Card on the territory of Poland, it can be appealed only through the official process of appeal, as in other administrative procedures, to the higher administrative authorities. However, in the case of undergoing the interview in other countries, the Consul does not issue any written decisions. Therefore, it is possible to take the interview several times without negative consequences.
7. At this stage, there is no need to have any confirmation of the intention to remain in Poland for permanent residence.

Advantages:

1. Longer path to citizenship: after the successfully interview for obtaining the Pole’s Card, a decision must be signed within the administrative period of up to 2 months. In practice, this period is sometimes extended even up to a year. The next step is submitting documents for obtaining a permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of the Pole’s Card. This is also an administrative procedure, the consideration of which officially lasts up to 6 months¹¹. In some cases, it may take 1–2 years, depending on the voivodeship in which the case is being processed. Documents for obtaining citizenship through the voivode (the procedure of recognition as a citizen of Poland) can also be submitted 1 year after obtaining the permanent residence permit in Poland on the basis of the Pole’s Card¹².

It is up to you the decision which method of legalizing your stay in Poland will be the most comfortable for you and your family. And regardless of your choice, each of them is correct! We will accompany you on this journey.