Residence permit through family reunification
Family reunification is a right guaranteed by law, but with precise conditions: the sponsor's status, income for each family member, housing. We calculate the case in advance — when you can file, how much you need to earn, and which route suits couples without a registered marriage.
When can a family reunite?
Three conditions are checked together: the sponsor's status, the financial base, and proof of the relationship. We calculate everything before filing — including the exact income figure for your family size.
Sponsor's status
Whether family members can obtain a residence permit depends on the main applicant's grounds for their own residence permit and the specific situation. In some cases, documents can be filed at the same time; in others, you need to wait until certain conditions are met.
Income and housing
More than 823 zł net per month for each family member (after housing costs) — stable and documented. Plus housing sufficient for the whole family, and insurance for everyone.
Who counts as family
A spouse in a marriage recognized by Polish law, and minor children (including the spouse's children and adopted children). Parents are not included in the reunification circle.
The marriage certificate must be recent (up to 3 months old) and sworn-translated — we check the full set before filing.
Marriage or an unregistered partnership?
We handle both routes — including unregistered and same-sex couples. But the legal consequences differ, and you need to know about them before you start.
| Partnership without marriage | Registered marriage | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Right to family life | Family reunification, art. 159, 186 |
| Evidence | Relationship dossier: joint tenancy, shared bills, photos, trips, duration of the relationship | Marriage certificate |
| Right to work | No | Full labor-market access after obtaining a card under art. 159, and none under art. 186 |
| Predictability | The decision is at the voivode's discretion — the quality of the dossier is decisive | Refusal is possible under art. 100 and 165 |
| Path to permanent status | EU resident status after 5 years — on general grounds | EU resident status after 5 years; for the spouse of a Polish citizen — permanent residence. |
For same-sex couples with a marriage or partnership registered in another EU country, 2025–2026 rulings by European and Polish courts have given new, strong arguments — we handle such cases individually.
What the family gets
Work without permits
A reunification card under art. 159 is issued with full labor-market access: the spouse can work and run their own business without separate procedures.
Filing for a residence permit from outside Poland
In certain cases, it is possible to file documents for a residence permit for family members who are outside Poland.
Synchronized statuses
The family card is valid until the end of the sponsor's permit (3 years — when the sponsor holds permanent residence or refugee status): the family's statuses move together.
Protection in case of divorce or loss
Divorce or the sponsor's death doesn't automatically void the status: the law allows obtaining your own card for up to 3 years where there's a significant interest (art. 161).
Schengen 90/180
With a Karta Pobytu, every family member can travel freely within Schengen for up to 90 days in any 180.
An independent path to residency
Years spent on a reunification card count toward each family member's own 5-year tenure for EU long-term resident status.
Case calculation before filing: sponsor status, income for your family size, housing
Legalization of a spouse, children — and partners without a registered marriage
Family strategy: a unified plan and synchronized filing for all family members
Preparation and sworn translation of kinship documents, apostille
Electronic filing through MOS; for a family abroad — filed by the sponsor
Support for complex situations: different citizenships, previous refusals
Work stages
- 01
Case review
Analysis of your situation, selecting the optimal legalization strategy.
- 02
Preparing the family's documents
We put together a complete document package accounting for the individual features of your situation: family members located outside Poland, whether the marriage is officially registered, the main applicant's residence-permit grounds, and income-verification requirements.
- 03
Electronic filing via MOS
From 27 April 2026, applications are filed only online through the MOS system (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl), signed with profil zaufany. We prepare the application and go through the filing with you; you visit the office only once — for biometrics, by appointment.
- 04
Monitoring and communication
We track the progress of the review, keep documents up to date, respond promptly to requests from the authorities, and keep you informed through the platform.
- 05
Obtaining the Karta Pobytu cards
After the decision, family members abroad receive “łączenie z rodziną” national D visas and enter Poland.
Documents for application
The package is assembled for each family member. Below is the basic set; the exact list depends on the sponsor's status and where the family is located.
1.Application in the MOS system
for a family abroad, filed by the sponsor
2.4 photos 35 × 45 mm
3.Passports
4.Payment receipts
340 zł + 100 zł for the card
5.Marriage certificate
with sworn translation
6.Children's birth certificates
with sworn translation
7.Sponsor's Karta Pobytu / decision
8.Proof of the sponsor's income
contract, PIT
9.Housing document
lease or ownership
10.Medical insurance for each family member
NFZ or a private policy covering treatment in Poland
Common refusal reasons — and how we address them
Family refusals sting twice as much — and are almost always preventable. Here's what we check before filing.
Income below the threshold
We calculate 823 zł net per person after housing costs — based on the actual family size, with a margin and demonstrable stability.
Wrongly chosen grounds for the residence permit
Filing for “pobyt z cudzoziemcem” in a situation where it doesn't apply, including a first reunification with a spouse who holds a work- or business-based residence permit.
We determine the correct grounds for filing before we even start preparing documents.
Suspicion of a sham marriage
Art. 169: separate interviews, checks of addresses and the shared household. We prepare the couple for the interview and gather evidence of genuine cohabitation, where such a risk exists.
No proof of residence address
Not all family members are listed on the lease, or it expires while the case is under review.
We track deadlines and update documents in time.
Carelessness when preparing documents
A missing translation, an unpaid fee, inaccuracies in documents, or a missing UPP for declarations — small things that can delay the review by months or lead to a refusal.
We check every detail before filing and rule out mistakes that could affect the decision.
Missed requests from the voivode and procedural deadlines
Correspondence with the office is often electronic. Requests may arrive by email, and missing the set deadline can negatively affect the case review.
We keep a case calendar, monitor deadlines, track correspondence, and prepare timely responses to the voivode's requests.
A refusal can be appealed within 14 days via the voivode to the Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców. We analyze the reasons and strengthen the case for a second attempt.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to start?
Book a case review. We'll assess your situation and suggest the optimal legalization strategy.