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Residence card — non-EU family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen

PolandFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

Being a third-country national or stateless person who is a family member of an EU citizen (including of a citizen of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland) exercising free movement in Poland; the card carries the annotation "family member of an EU citizen, Article 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC".

See recorded sources

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

The right is derived: the family member need not meet residence conditions independently if the EU citizen they join or live with does. For EU citizens who are employees, self-employed or economically inactive (e.g. retirees), the right extends to the spouse, children under 21 or dependent, dependent parents/parents-in-law and the parent of a minor EU citizen with custody; for students and vocational trainees, to the spouse and a dependent child.

See recorded sources

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

Up to 3 months only a valid travel document and a residence visa if required are needed; for longer stays apply in person (not via MOS) for a residence card to the provincial governor of the EU citizen's place of residence, presenting a valid travel document and giving fingerprints. No fee; waiting time up to 6 months; the card is valid 5 years or less (matching the EU citizen's intended stay). A new card must be applied for in person at least 30 days before the current one expires.

See recorded sources

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

Family members: spouse; child of the EU citizen or spouse under 21 or dependent; dependent parent or parent-in-law; parent of a minor EU citizen with actual custody. The card also confirms identity and citizenship, allows multiple border crossings without a visa on a valid travel document, allows travel in the Schengen Area up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and confirms the rights of a family member of an EU citizen.

See recorded sources

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

After 5 years of uninterrupted residence the family member acquires the right to permanent residence. The right of residence is retained on the death of the EU/Polish citizen (if they had resided in Poland at least one year), and on divorce or annulment where the marriage lasted at least 3 years (one in Poland), the former spouse has custody or visiting rights in Poland, or particularly compelling circumstances such as violence; a child in education and the custodial parent retain it until the end of studies. The official source does not state the absence rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Absence/continuity rules are not stated on this page (they appear on the permanent residence card page).

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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