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Zaproszenia – Invitations for Foreigners to Poland

Inviting a foreigner to Poland requires submitting an application to enter the invitation into the Register of Invitations. This process is governed by Polish law, specifically the Act of 12 December 2013 on Foreigners and related regulations.

Who Can Apply for an Invitation?

The following individuals or entities can apply to invite a foreigner to Poland:

  1. Polish Citizens residing in Poland.
  2. Citizens of EU/EFTA Member States or Switzerland, residing in Poland with the right of residence or permanent residence.
  3. Foreigners who have legally and continuously resided in Poland for at least 5 years or hold a permanent residence permit or long-term EU residence permit.
  4. Legal Persons or Organizational Units (e.g., companies, associations) registered in Poland.

Required Documents for Invitations

The documents required depend on whether the inviter is an individual, a business, or a legal entity.

For Individuals:
  1. Application Form: Completed legibly in capital letters in Polish. (Note: A new form template applies for applications submitted from 12/08/2018 onwards.)
  2. Identity Document: A valid ID card, travel document, or residence card.
  3. Proof of Financial Resources: Documents confirming the ability to cover the costs of the foreigner’s stay, including accommodation, meals, and return travel. Options include:
    • Bank Account Statement: A current printout (no older than 30 days) showing a balance of PLN 515 per month for each person (inviter, family members, and the invited foreigner) plus the cost of return travel.
      • Example: Inviting a foreigner for 6 months with no dependents requires a balance of PLN 8,680 (PLN 515 x 2 people x 6 months + PLN 2,500 for the ticket).
    • Employment Certificate: Showing a monthly net income of at least PLN 515 for each person.
    • Pension/Disability Pension Decision: Confirming a monthly income of at least PLN 515 for each person.
  4. Proof of Accommodation: Documents confirming the legal title to the premises where the foreigner will stay, such as:
    • Ownership deed or extract from the land and mortgage register.
    • Lease agreement (with the owner’s consent if the premises are not municipal).
    • Hotel reservation (must include the inviter’s and foreigner’s names and the reservation period).
For Businesses:
  1. Application Form: Completed in Polish.
  2. Identity Document: ID card, travel document, or residence card.
  3. Proof of Financial Resources:
    • Bank Account Statement: Showing a balance of PLN 515 per month for each person.
    • Tax Documents: Such as the annual PIT or CIT-8 with proof of submission to the Tax Office.
  4. Proof of Accommodation: As above (ownership deed, lease agreement, or hotel reservation).
  5. Business Registration: Current extract from the National Court Register.
For Legal Entities (e.g., Associations):
  1. Application Form: Completed in Polish.
  2. Proof of Financial Resources: Bank account statement showing a balance of PLN 515 per month for each person.
  3. Proof of Accommodation: As above.
  4. Registration Document: Current extract from the Register of Associations.

Calculating Financial Resources

The inviter must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover:

  • Living Costs: PLN 515 per month for each person (inviter, family members, and the invited foreigner).
  • Return Travel Costs:
    • PLN 200 for neighboring countries.
    • PLN 500 for European countries.
    • PLN 2,500 for non-European countries.

Processing Time

  • The voivode (local administrative authority) will issue a decision within 30 days.
  • If all documents are complete, the invitation may be issued on the same day.
  • Applications can also be submitted by post, with a processing time of about 30 days.

Legal Basis

  • Act of 12 December 2013 on Foreigners (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 2094).
  • Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 27 July 2018 (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 1526).
  • Code of Administrative Procedure (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 2096).
  • Act on Stamp Duty (Journal of Laws of 2016, item 1827).

FAQ

1. What documents are needed to issue an invitation?
You need a completed application form, proof of financial resources (e.g., bank statement or employment certificate), proof of accommodation (e.g., ownership deed or lease agreement), and a fee of PLN 27 per invitation.

2. Can a proxy submit and collect the invitation?
Yes, a proxy with written authorization (power of attorney) can submit the application and collect the invitation. The fee for a power of attorney is PLN 17, but spouses, parents, children, and siblings are exempt.

3. For how long can a foreigner be invited?
A foreigner can be invited for up to 1 year.

4. What information should a bank statement include?
The statement must include the account holder’s name, date of printing, and final balance. It cannot be older than 30 days.

5. What is the required income for an invitation?

  • PLN 515 per month for each person (inviter, family members, and the invited foreigner).
  • PLN 200 for immediate family members (spouse, parents, siblings).

6. How to document pension income?
Submit a pension decision, pension slip, or bank statement showing pension deposits.

7. Does the ownership deed need to be original?
Yes, the original must be presented for inspection, but a photocopy is submitted to the office.

8. Is an extract from the land and mortgage register sufficient?
Yes, provided it includes the property description and owner’s name.

9. What if the apartment owner is the inviter’s spouse or parent?
You must provide the owner’s legal title to the premises and their written consent for the foreigner’s stay.

10. What if I only have a lease agreement?
Submit the lease agreement and the owner’s written consent for the foreigner’s stay.

11. What should an employment certificate include?
It must include the date of issue, earnings (gross or net), type of employment, and be signed/stamped by an authorized person.

12. Is the RMUA form sufficient?
No, the RMUA form does not include employment type.

13. What should a hotel reservation include?
The inviter’s and foreigner’s names and the reservation period.

14. What financial documents are needed for businesses?
Submit a bank statement or tax documents (e.g., PIT-36 or CIT-8) and proof of accommodation.