Financial support for Karta Polaka holders applying for permanent residence in Poland

Holders of the Karta Polaka (Pole’s Card) who apply for permanent residence (pobyt stały) in Poland can apply for an additional cash benefit from the state. Here’s who qualifies, how much it’s worth, and what has changed by 2026.

• the right to apply still exists, but in 2026 the processing of new applications is effectively suspended;


• the benefit application is filed together with the permanent residence application, or within 3 months of it;


• the benefit runs for up to 9 months: 50% of the minimum wage in the first 3 months, 60% from month 4 to 9;


• the benefit does not depend on income and is not counted as income for social assistance purposes.

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What changed for Karta Polaka holders

Over the past decade, Poland has repeatedly simplified the path to permanent residence and citizenship for people of Polish origin. One of the tools supporting this policy is a cash benefit for Karta Polaka holders who apply for permanent residence with the intent to settle in Poland long-term.

There is no stamp duty for the permanent residence application itself when it’s filed on the basis of the Karta Polaka: you only pay for the issuance of the residence card itself.

How to apply for the benefit

To qualify, you need to:

• file an application for a permanent residence permit based on the Karta Polaka;
• file a separate benefit application within 3 months of filing the residence application: to the same voivode handling the residence case.

If the three-month deadline is missed, the benefit application is left unprocessed: you cannot recover this right within the same residence case.

The amount in 2026

The benefit amount is tied to the minimum wage in force in the year the application is filed. As of 1 January 2026, Poland’s minimum wage is PLN 4,806 gross.

Only family members (spouse, minor children) who actually live with the applicant in Poland are counted. The benefit is paid monthly by the starosta of the district (powiat) of residence: in cash or by bank transfer.

The maximum payment period is 9 months. If the residence permit is refused, payment is suspended automatically, and once the refusal becomes final, the right to the benefit is lost entirely.

Important: the benefit is not counted as income under the Social Assistance Act: receiving it does not affect eligibility for other forms of social assistance.

Who can apply

• a holder of a valid Karta Polaka who applied for permanent residence on that basis;
• the benefit application must be filed no later than 3 months after the residence application.

Who cannot get the benefit

• if the permanent residence application based on the Karta Polaka was filed (or the permit granted) before 1 January 2017;
• if the three-month deadline for the benefit application has passed;
• if the applicant already received the benefit for the full 9 months under the same case.

Important 2026 warning: processing of new applications is suspended

Formally, the right to the benefit still exists: Articles 8a-8c of the Karta Polaka Act remain in force, and Article 24c of the same act specifically provides for this kind of budgetary suspension mechanism once the 75% annual threshold is exceeded (MSWiA communication of 22 January 2025). In practice, in 2025-2026 voivodeship offices are still working through applications filed in 2022-2024 as new funds become available, while new applications remain in the queue.

Recommendation: file the benefit application within the 3-month deadline regardless: it preserves your right for the future, even if payment doesn’t start immediately. Check the current suspension status on your voivodeship office’s website or via MSWiA (gov.pl/web/mswia) right before submitting your documents.

Documents to submit

• application for the benefit (one per applicant);
• proof of payment of the PLN 10 stamp duty for the benefit decision;
• a copy of a valid passport or another identity document;
• a copy of the valid Karta Polaka (original for verification).

For family members, additionally: a certified translation of the marriage certificate / child’s birth certificate, copies of passport pages with border-crossing stamps, and documents proving joint residence in Poland (spouse’s employment certificate, child’s school/kindergarten certificate, etc.).

Fees at a glance

• permanent residence application based on the Karta Polaka: no stamp duty;
• benefit decision: PLN 10 stamp duty;
• issuance of the residence card after the permit is granted: PLN 100 (PLN 50 for minors under 16, pupils and students).

Where to get more information

Current contacts and application forms are available on your voivodeship office’s website (Wydział Spraw Cudzoziemców), as well as on the cudzoziemcy.e-wojewoda.pl portal.

FAQ

Can I get the benefit if I’m already in Poland without a Karta Polaka? No, the benefit is only for holders of a valid Karta Polaka who apply for permanent residence specifically on that basis.

What happens if my permanent residence application is refused? Payment is suspended automatically, and once the refusal becomes final, the right to the benefit is lost entirely.

Does the benefit affect other social assistance payments? No: it is not counted as income when eligibility for other forms of assistance is assessed.

Bibliography

• Act of 7 September 2007 on the Karta Polaka (consolidated text: Dz.U. 2026 poz. 76), Art. 8a-8c, 24c.


• Communication of the Minister of Interior and Administration of 22 January 2025 on the suspension of processing benefit applications for Karta Polaka holders (gov.pl/web/mswia).

Author: the MojaFirma team.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Confirm the current suspension status right before submitting your documents. If something isn’t clear, feel free to book a free consultation with our team.