Documents, visas and offices
Passports, visas, Green Cards, citizenship and dealing with government offices, in Poland and abroad.
Topics in this section
Newest guides (12)
Registration in Poland: e-registration, deadlines, moving abroad, and myths about registration (2026)
Registration is free, has a 30-day deadline, and "serves only for registration purposes" – a property owner listed in the land and mortgage register will handle it online automatically, although from January 1, 2026, the online channel requires an e-Doręczeń mailbox; this guide addresses all variations, including what to do with registration when moving abroad and returning, and debunks myths that attribute more power to registration than it actually has.
Consular Assistance Worldwide: What a Polish Consul Can Do, Odyseusz, and Emergency Situations (2026)
The consul will issue a temporary passport, provide return assistance (repayment in 1–3 months), ensure the rights of the detained, and recommend lawyers, but will not pay bail or for the transportation of remains; additionally, there is a travel registry in Odyseusz, assistance from consulates of other EU countries, the EU temporary travel document, and fees effective from January 1, 2026 (passport 140 EUR).
Foreign Spouse and Family of a Polish Citizen: Marriage, Residence, and Citizenship in Poland (2026)
A guide for Polish-foreign couples: marriage in Poland (including court exemption for US citizens without a certificate of legal capacity), transcription of foreign certificates and surname declarations, temporary residence for spouses without income requirements and work without permits, permanent residence after 3 years of marriage, citizenship with B1 certificate (fee 1000 PLN), children-citizens by law, driver's license exchange, and NFZ.
Legalization of Residence and Work in Poland for Non-EU Foreigners: Permits, MOS System, and Reform 2025/2026
A comprehensive guide to the legalization of residence and work in Poland following reforms: mandatory e-applications via the MOS system from April 27, 2026, abolition of the labor market test, new fees, declarations only for 4 countries (Georgia removed), student and business pathways, CUKR card for Ukrainians, travel documents for Belarusians, realistic waiting times, and protection against dishonest intermediaries.
Polish Card, repatriation, and citizenship confirmation: the path to Poland for people of Polish descent (2026)
Three paths to Poland: the Polish Card (conditions, free application at the consulate or governor, permanent residence, benefits for up to 9 months, citizenship after one year), repatriation from the Asian part of the former USSR with a deportation requirement starting in 2025, and citizenship confirmation for descendants of Polish citizens, e.g., from the USA.
Ukrainian Citizens in Poland 2026: UKR Status, CUKR Card, Work, Benefits, and What’s Next After the Special Act
All about the residence of Ukrainian citizens in Poland after the 2026 changes: expiration of the special act and new basis for temporary protection (until March 4, 2027), 3-year CUKR residence card through the MOS system, new conditions for 800+ (parent's work and child's school), limitations on healthcare for non-working individuals, Diia.pl, work and JDG, and pathways to EU residency and citizenship.
Official Alarm and Information Channels in Poland: Alert RCB, IMGW, GIS, CERT, and Odyseusz – How to Follow Them from Abroad (2026)
All official warning channels in one place: Alert RCB (also received by foreign SIM cards in Poland), the RSO app operating abroad, three-tier warnings from IMGW, recalled food (GIS) and medicines (GIF register), hazardous products (UOKiK), CERT Poland's warning list, the Odyseusz system for travelers, and a ready set for monitoring Poland from abroad.
How to Identify a Genuine Source: Verification of Offices, Companies, and Information in Poland – Official Registers and Warning Lists (2026)
Learn how to quickly verify if a website, company, lawyer, official, or 'new law' is legitimate: rules for .gov.pl domains (and important exceptions), the Journal of Laws and ISAP, the VAT white list, KRS and CEIDG, registers of lawyers and notaries, the KNF and CERT Poland warning lists, documented scams targeting the Polish diaspora (fake inheritance, paid consular intermediaries), and a 60-second checklist.
Polish e-Services from Abroad: Trusted Profile, mObywatel, e-Delivery, e-PIT, eZUS, and IKP – A Guide to Official Sources (2026)
A comprehensive guide to Polish e-administration for the diaspora: how to obtain PESEL and a trusted profile from abroad, e-Delivery changes effective January 1, 2026, e-Tax Office and your e-PIT without a trusted profile, eZUS, IKP, and cross-border e-prescriptions, EKUZ, e-consulate, and passport, open registers (KRS, land and mortgage registers), and a cheat sheet: what you need for which service.
Relocation Property: What You Can Bring to Poland, Limits, and Prohibitions
Returning to Poland from outside the EU: when personal belongings and a car can enter duty-free, VAT, and excise tax (12 months of residence abroad, 6 months of use, 12 months to declare), what is excluded, what documents to prepare, cash over 10,000 euros, and a checklist for verifying conditions.
Power of Attorney from the USA for Matters in Poland: Consulate or Notary Public
How to prepare a power of attorney in the USA that will be accepted by offices, courts, or notaries in Poland, including the form under Article 99 of the Civil Code, real estate requiring a notarial deed, consulate fees (47 and 470 USD), apostille, ZUS and tax office forms, and a document selection scheme.
Returning to Poland – What to Arrange at Offices in 2026
A list of offices and formalities when returning to Poland after years abroad – registration, ZUS, NFZ, tax office, driver's license.