How much does a residence card cost for a Ukrainian?

Are you a Ukrainian national wishing to obtain a residence card in Poland? In this article, you will find out how much a residence card costs for a Ukrainian national in 2024. As well as detailing the fee for the residence card itself, we’ll also cover all the other costs that may be involved in this process, which will vary depending on your specific circumstances. We hope you find this article useful.

How much does a residence permit in Poland cost? The residence card fee isn’t the only cost!

Before we discuss the fees for a residence card, we must first mention the fees for a permanent or temporary residence permit in Poland. It is not possible to obtain a residence card without this type of permit. The type of permit can vary considerably and will depend on the specific case, your circumstances and your expectations.

So what are the stamp duty rates for the various applications for a residence permit in Poland?

1. Permanent residence permit: 640 zł (holders of a Pole’s Card are exempt from this fee);
2. EU long-term resident permit: 640 PLN;
3. Temporary residence and work permit: 440 zł;
4. Temporary residence permit for the purpose of working in a highly skilled profession: 440 PLN;
5. Temporary residence permit for the purpose of working as part of an intra-corporate transfer, as well as for the purpose of long-term mobility: 440 zł;
6. Temporary residence permit on the grounds of circumstances requiring a foreign national’s short-term stay in Poland, if the foreign national:
7. Must be present on the territory of the Republic of Poland due to exceptional personal circumstances: 340 PLN;
8. Is required to appear in person before a Polish public authority: 85 zł;
9. Must be present in the territory of the Republic of Poland because this is required in the interests of Poland: 85 zł;
10. Temporary residence permit for seasonal work: 170 zł;
11. Temporary residence permit in all other cases: 340 zł.

How much does a residence card cost for a Ukrainian national?

The amount of the fee for the issue or renewal of a residence card is specified in detail in the Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration of 26 July 2022 on the fees charged in the Republic of Poland to foreign nationals for the issue and renewal of documents which may be issued to foreign nationals, and the procedure for their payment. So how much does a residence card cost for Ukrainians and other foreign nationals?

In accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned regulation, the fee for the issue of a residence card, as well as for any replacement of a residence card, is: 100 zł.

However, if the residence card is replaced due to the loss or destruction of a previously issued residence card through the holder’s own fault, the fee for replacing the residence card will be 200 zł. If, on the other hand, the replacement is due to a second loss of the residence card through the holder’s own fault or its subsequent damage, the fee will be 300 zł.

When is there no charge for a residence card? It is possible to obtain a residence card free of charge!

The legislator, in paragraph 1 of Article 236 of the Act of 12 December 2013 on Foreigners (i.e. Journal of Laws of 2023, item 519, as amended) has listed situations in which it has determined that the fee for a residence card should not be charged due to special circumstances. So when do you not have to pay for a residence card?

1. When a first residence card is issued to a foreign national who has been granted in Poland:
2. Refugee status;
3. Subsidiary protection;
4. A residence permit on humanitarian grounds;
5. When the first residence card is issued to a foreign national who has been granted a permanent residence permit in Poland on the grounds of being a family member of a repatriate;
6. When a residence card is issued to a foreign national who has been granted a temporary residence permit on the grounds that they are a British citizen who, up to 31 December 2020, was working in Poland as an employee posted by a foreign employer;
7. When a residence card is issued to a foreign national who has been granted a temporary residence permit and who, immediately prior to submitting the application for that permit, was present in the territory of the Republic of Poland on the basis of a national visa issued: on humanitarian grounds, in the national interest or in accordance with international obligations, and who holds a specific nationality as defined by the relevant legislation;
8. When a first residence card is issued to a foreign national who has been granted a permanent residence permit, who is a British citizen and who, up to 31 December 2020, was working in Poland as an employee posted by a foreign employer and who meets additional conditions (including having resided in Poland legally and continuously for at least 5 years immediately prior to submitting the application, having a source of stable and regular income, and holding health insurance);
9. Where a previously issued or replaced document contained technical defects;
10. Where a residence card is replaced because Poland (or another EU Member State) has assumed responsibility for the international protection of the holder of a residence card issued in connection with the granting of an EU long-term resident’s residence permit.

Reductions in the residence card fee, i.e. a fee of 50 zł for the issue of a residence card

Article 237 of the Act of 12 December 2013 on Foreign Nationals (i.e. Journal of Laws of 2023, item 519, as amended) regulates, in turn, the circumstances entitling a person to a 50 per cent discount on the fee for obtaining (or replacing) a residence card. This relief is available to foreign nationals:

1. Who are in financial hardship;
2. whose purpose of stay is to pursue education at a secondary school or higher education institution in Poland;
3. Minors who, on the date of submitting an application for the issue or renewal of a residence card or — in the case of the issue of a first residence card — until the date of submitting an application for a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident’s permit, have not yet reached the age of 16.

In the above situations, how much does a residence card cost for a Ukrainian national? The fee for issuing a residence card, as well as for any subsequent renewal, will then amount to just: 50 zł.

What constitutes financial hardship and how is it verified?

In accordance with paragraph 4 of the aforementioned Regulation of the Minister of the Interior and Administration of 26 July 2022 on fees charged in the Republic of Poland to foreign nationals for the issue and replacement of documents that may be issued to foreign nationals, and the procedure for their payment, a document confirming that a person is in a difficult financial situation is a certificate from the competent social welfare authority confirming that the person is currently receiving cash benefits from social welfare.

A difficult financial situation is therefore a situation in which one receives money from social assistance.

Not sure how to obtain a residence card for a Ukrainian national?

Are you a Ukrainian applying in Poland for a permanent or temporary residence permit and a residence card? Not sure how to go about it? The ‘Firma Dla Każdego’ Foundation may be the solution to your problem.

The Foundation assists foreign nationals from various countries with all administrative matters, particularly those relating to residence permits in Poland and obtaining a residence card. The Foundation will also help you with legal matters, insurance and many other issues.

You can find more information about the support offered by the “Firma Dla Każdego” Foundation to Ukrainians (as well as other foreign nationals) on the website: https://firmadlakazdego.pl/cudzoziemcy/.