Residence with family in Poland

Choose the family route by the sponsor’s nationality, residence status and relationship to the applicant.

Identify the family route

Reunification with a non-EU foreign resident is different from residence with a Polish citizen or an EU citizen. For ordinary reunification, the sponsor must hold a qualifying residence basis and the relationship must fall within the statutory categories. Lawful residence of the sponsor alone does not establish eligibility in every case.

Spouse and children

Prepare the marriage or birth records relevant to the application, evidence of the sponsor’s status and documents concerning custody or dependency where needed. A marriage must be recognised under Polish law. Minor children have specific rules; adult relatives do not automatically qualify under the same route.

Financial and accommodation evidence

For the applicable reunification category, prepare evidence of health insurance, a stable and regular income and accommodation. Check exceptions for your category. Foreign civil-status documents can require sworn Polish translations and additional formalities.

Applying from Poland or abroad

Use the current MOS instructions if the applicant is in Poland. Certain applications for a family member outside Poland use a different submission route; follow the official exception rather than creating the wrong electronic application. After a separation, divorce or a sponsor’s status change, promptly check notification duties and whether another residence basis is available.

Editorial summary checked against official sources: 2026-10-25

• Family residence: official questions and answers
• Family reunification: minor children
• MOS: application steps and exceptions