This page is for people who rent housing in Poland, move within the country or have heard about the 30-day deadline and want to check it.
What is the registration deadline for Ukrainian citizens?
No later than the fourth day, counting from the day you arrive at the address. The Act on Population Records sets this deadline for foreigners from countries outside the EU. We have found no separate registration rules for holders of temporary protection, either in the Act on Granting Protection to Foreigners or in the 2022 special act.
| Who | Registration deadline |
|---|---|
| Citizens of Poland | No later than the 30th day after arriving at the address |
| Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, their family members from other countries, and certain family members of Polish citizens | No later than the 30th day |
| Other foreigners, including Ukrainian citizens | No later than the fourth day |
| Foreigners who stay in Poland for no longer than 30 days | No need to register |
Many publications give a 30-day deadline for everyone. For Ukrainian citizens it is wrong, unless they are among the family members of an EU or Polish citizen covered by the law.
How do you register?
You register at the office of the gmina (a city or municipality) where the home is located. There is registration of permanent residence (pobyt stały) and of temporary residence (pobyt czasowy).
- Form. You fill in a form for permanent or temporary residence. The owner of the home or another person with a right to it confirms that you live there by signing the form and shows the official a document proving their right to the home.
- Foreigner’s documents. For temporary registration you show your visa; if you entered without a visa, you show your travel document (passport), residence card (karta pobytu) or another document confirming your right to stay that the law lists.
- Personal attendance. A foreigner from outside the EU who does not yet have a PESEL number comes in person.
The temporary registration period you state cannot be longer than the period of your legal stay in Poland under the document confirming that right. We have not found an official explanation of what end date gminas enter for holders of UKR status after protection was extended until 4 March 2028.
Who can register permanent residence?
For permanent registration, the law requires a residence card issued in connection with a permanent residence permit, an EU long-term resident permit, humanitarian stay, subsidiary protection or refugee status, the “zgoda na pobyt tolerowany” document or the relevant decision. Temporary protection and the CUKR card are not on this list.
Check the procedure in your city on the website of the city or gmina office.
How is registration linked to PESEL?
A foreigner who lives in Poland is assigned a PESEL number automatically when they register their address. Holders of temporary protection get PESEL with UKR status on a separate application; we explain how on the page PESEL and PESEL UKR.
Does registration determine tax residency?
No. In its tax explanations, the Polish Ministry of Finance says that tax residency is not a matter of declaration and depends on all the facts. In one of its examples it states directly that a person’s registration in their parents’ apartment does not matter. We explain how residency is determined on the page Taxes in Poland.
What about the address on a residence card?
A residence card usually shows the registered address. The CUKR card does not show an address, but its holder has a separate obligation: to notify the voivode (the government’s representative in the province) of every change of address within 15 working days. More about the card on the page CUKR residence card.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Relying on the 30-day deadline: for Ukrainian citizens the deadline is four days.
- Coming to the gmina without the home owner’s signature on the form.
- Treating address registration as a basis for staying in Poland. Your basis is temporary protection or a permit.
- Expecting registration by itself to make you a tax resident or to exempt you from taxes.
- Forgetting, as a CUKR card holder, to notify the voivode of your move.