The possibilities for legalizing your stay in Poland are numerous and depend on your individual circumstances. At Czechowska Legal, I assist my clients primarily in the following three areas:

You are already in Poland and wish to legalize your stay for family, educational, or economic reasons

First of all, please remember that, as a rule, you have only 90 days from the date of your entry into Poland to submit an application for legalisation of your stay. The Polish authorities apply this rule very strictly, and failure to meet this deadline is one of the most common reasons for refusal.

It is also essential to provide clear evidence that your stay in Poland is lawful. The main challenge when completing the application is not its complexity or level of detail, but rather the fact that all official forms are available exclusively in Polish.

It is crucial to avoid mistakes already at the application stage, as errors may result in a refusal decision and, consequently, in an obligation to leave Poland within the time limit specified by the authorities.

You are a citizen of a European country and wish to build your future in Poland

In principle, you do not need to legalize your stay in Poland. However, you are required to register your residence with the competent authority responsible for your place of residence.

To do so, you must complete the relevant application form and submit the required supporting documents. The authorities need to know why you intend to live in Poland and for what purpose — whether you plan to study, work, or spend your retirement here.

Depending on the purpose of your stay, you will need to provide the appropriate documents demonstrating, among other things, that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself while living in Poland.
Please remember that you must register your stay within 3 months of entering Poland.

Your application for a temporary or permanent residence permit has been refused

First of all, if the decision is not yet final, you still have 14 days to file an appeal — and it is definitely worth doing so.

The Polish authorities examine residence permit applications very carefully and apply the relevant regulations strictly. As a result, applications are sometimes refused because the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the legality of their stay or the reasons for remaining in Poland.

The authorities are bound, among other things, by the provisions of the Foreigners Act. However, certain grounds for refusal are formulated in broad terms, particularly those relating to the security and public order of the Republic of Poland, and therefore require particularly strong arguments and supporting evidence.

For this reason, it is essential to gather the relevant documentation carefully and to demonstrate your genuine ties to Poland. These ties should be supported by appropriate evidence, which can significantly increase the chances of a successful appeal.

Assistance and Representation before Polish Administrative Authorities

It is still rare for employees of Polish administrative authorities to communicate in English. And even when they do, it is important to remember that they are required to process cases exclusively in Polish, which is the only official language in Poland.

For this reason, at Czechowska Legal, I also provide support services for foreigners dealing with Polish administrative authorities. My command of the English and French language allows me to fully assist clients in this area.