Non-EU citizens seeking to reunite with family members in Poland must apply for a family reunification visa. This visa is specifically for spouses, partners, or minor children of Polish citizens or residents. Successful applicants will be granted a temporary residence permit, valid for three years and renewable thereafter.
Anyone who is not a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerland requires a family visa to accompany or reunite with a family member in Poland. For EU/EEA/Swiss citizens intending to stay in Poland with a family member for more than three months, registration with the local registration office is necessary, distinct from the visa application procedure.
How to apply the visa?
To initiate the family reunification process, your family member should begin by applying at the nearest Voivodeship office in Poland. Here's a breakdown of the steps:
Step 1: Gather Necessary Documentation
You and your family member need to compile the required documents to support the visa application, such as proof of family relationship (e.g., marriage certificate, birth or adoption certificate).
Step 2: Apply for Family Reunification at the Voivodeship Office
Your family member, residing in Poland, must submit a request for family reunification at the nearest Voivodeship Office. They'll need to complete application forms for each family member seeking reunification.
Upon approval of the family reunification application, you can then apply for a national visa D at the Polish embassy in your home country, enabling entry to Poland to join your spouse/family member.
Step 3: Translate Documents into Polish
Before submitting all necessary documents for a Poland family reunification visa, ensure they are translated into Polish and legalized. Both the original and copies of the documents must be submitted.
Step 4: Apply for a National D Visa at the Polish Embassy
Following the completion of the preceding steps, proceed to submit all necessary documents to your nearest Polish embassy or consulate to obtain a national D visa for family reunification. This may entail your family member mailing certain documents from Poland to you.
You can schedule an appointment through the e-Konsulat website or by directly reaching out to the embassy or consulate. Once your application is submitted, await a response.
Processing time:
The Poland dependent visa processing time is 30 days. In some cases, due to high demand and a high number of applications, you might have to wait for up to 60 days.
Documents required:
- Valid passport
- Polish passport or residence permit
- Proof of relationship
- Proof of financial stability
- Proof of health insurance
A temporary residence permit for family reunification in Poland is valid for three years, with the option to apply for an extension provided you are issued a residence card. This card serves as official identification during your time in Poland. Upon completing four consecutive years in Poland, you become eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit, granting a ten-year stay in the country.