Have you lost or damaged your residence card? Accidents happen! Learn what steps to take to maintain your legal stay in Poland. In this article, we explain – step by step – how the replacement procedure works, when it is required, and within what time limits action must be taken.
What is a residence card?
A residence card is an official document that confirms a foreign national’s identity within Poland and entitles them to cross the Polish border without a visa. Residence cards are issued to foreign nationals whose stay in Poland is based on: – a temporary residence permit, – a permanent residence permit, – long-term EU resident status, – humanitarian stay.
What information does the residence card contain?
Each residence card includes the holder’s personal details – such as name, surname, parents’ names, date and place of birth, address, etc. The card may also contain official annotations depending on the type of residence permit granted, such as “researcher”, “student”, “trainee”, “volunteer”, “EU Blue Card”, “access to the labour market”, and others.
Example: If the residence permit authorises the foreign national to work in Poland, the card should bear the annotation “access to the labour market”.
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Why is it important to hold a valid residence card?
Everyone residing in Poland is required to possess a valid identity document. In addition, any foreign national crossing the Polish border must carry a valid travel document (typically a passport) and a document confirming their lawful stay in Poland.
Lost or damaged residence card – consequences and risks
Losing or damaging your residence card means you no longer possess a valid document confirming your legal stay in Poland. If the card is lost, there is also a risk that it may be misused by an unauthorised person, which may result in additional negative consequences.
What to do if you lose or damage your residence card
Replacing a lost or damaged residence card involves meeting specific formal requirements and deadlines. The process consists of four stages:
Stage 1: Notify the competent authority of the loss or damage within 3 days of the incident.
Stage 2: The authority should issue a confirmation of notification (free of charge). This confirmation is valid until the new card is issued, but no longer than 2 months.
Stage 3: Submit an application for a replacement card no later than 14 days after the loss or damage. The application must be submitted using the official form and accompanied by a recent photograph and documents confirming the data provided. The application is subject to a fee, unless the applicant is exempt.
Stage 4: If the application meets all formal requirements, the new card should be issued without undue delay.
Important: Failure to notify the loss or damage of the card within 3 days constitutes an offence and may result in a fine.
Replacing a residence card after its expiry
Residence cards are issued for a specific period: – 10 years from the date of issue – in the case of a permanent residence permit, – 5 years – for long-term EU resident status, – 2 years – for humanitarian stay, – or for the period for which the temporary residence permit was granted.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question 1: What if I find the lost residence card after submitting a replacement application? If the lost card is found after submitting the application, the foreign national should notify the authority that issued it. The recovered card must be returned if a new card has already been issued.
Question 2: Does replacing a residence card incur a fee? Yes. The replacement is subject to a fee of PLN 100, unless the applicant is exempt. The amount may vary depending on applicable exemptions or surcharges (e.g. for culpable loss).
Question 3: My card is about to expire – when should I apply for a new one? You should submit your application at least 30 days before the current residence card expires.
Question 4: I submitted an application, but haven’t received the new card yet – what can I do? Although the authority should issue the card without undue delay (usually within 7 days from receiving a complete application), some delays may occur. In the case of unjustified delays, a complaint may be filed for administrative inactivity or protracted proceedings.
Need professional legal assistance?
Do you need help replacing or applying for a residence card? Contact us – we provide support at every stage of the administrative process.
office@halasiwspolnicy.pl