EU long-term resident permit. Can I apply for it?

Today's post is a continuation of the thread on foreigners' residence in Poland. Upon meeting certain conditions, a foreigner may apply for long-term resident's EU residence permit, which entitles him to permanent residence in Poland. If you are interested in how to obtain such a permit, this post is for you.
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Who can apply for a long-term resident's EU residence permit?

Residence permit for a long-term EU resident is a special permit and its receipt is subject to a number of strict conditions. A foreigner who does not meet any of these requirements will not be able to obtain a positive decision. So who can obtain such a permit? A long-term resident's EU residence permit may be obtained by a foreigner who:

• - stayed in Poland legally and continuously for at least 5 years immediately prior to the submission of the application, although this period will in some cases actually have to be longer (e.g. a foreigner who has studied in Poland will only be able to count half of the study time towards the required period of residence);
• - has a source of stable and regular income sufficient to cover the living expenses of himself and his dependent family members;
• - has health insurance;
• - has Proven knowledge of the Polish language. This permit is granted for an indefinite period of time, but the residence card is valid for five years from the date of issue, after which the card must be replaced.

Where to apply?

As in the case of the temporary residence permit, the procedure takes place in the provincial office at the department responsible for foreigners. The foreigner should submit the application to the office competent for his/her place of residence.

What documents should be submitted with the application?

In addition to the completed application form, four photographs and a copy of a travel document, the foreigner should submit documents confirming the data contained in the application and the circumstances justifying the application for a long-term resident's EU residence permit. The foreigner should prove that he/she has been residing legally and continuously on the territory of Poland for at least 5 years, has a permanent and regular source of income and, moreover, should prove his/her income for the last 3 years. It is also necessary to have health insurance and to show the legal title to the occupied dwelling. As of February 2018, the foreigner must also present the following. a document certifying Polish language skills at least at B1 level. A document confirming this may be, inter alia, a certificate of completion of a school or university in Poland, a certificate of completion of a school or university abroad with Polish as the language of instruction or a certificate issued by the State Commission for the Certification of Proficiency in Polish as a Foreign Language. A simple certificate of completion of a Polish language course issued by a private language school is not sufficient.
Before submitting the application, the foreigner should check that he or she has enclosed all the required documents, which will allow the case to be dealt with more quickly.

Right to work

The advantage of having this type of permit is that the foreigner is entitled to work in Poland without a work permit. Once a positive decision has been obtained, the notation „access to the labour market” is placed on the residence card.

The procedure for applying for a long-term resident's EU residence permit is time-consuming and may seem complicated to non-Polish residents. If you are not sure you can handle all the formalities on your own, write to me!