Polish visa resources
After you arrive in Poland
What to do once in Poland: register your address, get a PESEL number, and complete or collect your residence permit and card.
Important
Once you are in Poland on a national (D) visa, the main steps are to register your place of residence, obtain a PESEL number, and (if you plan to stay beyond the visa) apply for a residence permit before your legal stay ends. If you already have a residence permit granted, the final step is to collect your residence card in person.
Address registration (zameldowanie) and the PESEL number are both free services provided by the municipal (gmina) office, and they underpin most other administrative dealings in Poland.
Register your address (zameldowanie)
- You must register your place of residence by the 30th day of your stay
- Register for temporary residence if staying at an address for more than 3 months, or for permanent residence if settling there
- The registration service is free of charge and is handled by the municipal office
Get a PESEL number
- The PESEL is Poland's national identification number, used across public administration
- It is assigned automatically (ex officio) when you register a stay of over 30 days
- Otherwise you can apply for it in person at any municipal office, free of charge, stating the legal basis for needing it
Residence permit and card
- To stay beyond your national visa, lodge a temporary residence permit application with the voivode before your legal stay ends
- Collect the finished residence card in person; your fingerprints are checked against the card's chip at collection
- The card is typically issued within a few weeks of the print order being placed
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.