In today’s world, we increasingly notice that Poland as a country is opening up to people from all over the world. Especially in larger cities, it can be observed that foreigners come to Poland not only to explore its beauty, culture, and cuisine but also to settle down here and start a new life. Legal entry to Poland can be facilitated through agreements between countries, which guarantee so-called visa-free movement. However, for many locations around the world, entry into Poland or the Schengen area still requires obtaining a visa. To obtain it, every Foreigner must indicate the purpose of their visit in the visa application form. Research shows that motivations for obtaining a visa vary, but the most common one is work. Obtaining a work visa, coming to Poland on its basis, and then obtaining a temporary residence permit, which extends the legality of stay in Poland, are the basic steps to feel at home here. However, comfort is often not possible without being connected with loved ones, meaning the prospect of starting a life in Poland with family or the possibility of inviting a family member to visit.
Can the closest relatives of a foreigner visit them “just like that”?
As mentioned above, every application for a visa must indicate the purpose of the application, and visiting friends and family is one of them. This means that in order to enter Poland to meet with a close relative or family member, it is necessary to apply for and obtain a special type of visa issued specifically for such circumstances. However, in many countries, simply stating the purpose of the stay in Poland and declaring the intention to visit is not sufficient. In such cases, an additional requirement imposed by the consulate is an official invitation for the foreigner. The invitation for a foreigner is a document issued by the Voivode, which can be obtained by entities that meet specific criteria. According to the law, with certain exceptions, the invitation for a foreigner can be registered by a person legally residing in Poland for a minimum of 5 years. This may be a foreigner holding a temporary residence permit or a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit, long-term EU resident permit, as well as an EU citizen or a legal entity. The invitation for a foreigner is obtained as part of a special procedure that must be completed at the Voivodeship Office, as this is where the records of foreigners’ invitations are kept.
What needs to be done to obtain an invitation for a foreigner?
An invitation for a foreigner who is a family member can be obtained by submitting a correctly completed application for the registration of the invitation to the invitation register and presenting appropriate documents.
According to legal requirements, the applicant must, among other things, prove that the invited person has accommodation for the entire period of their stay in Poland. A declaration by the foreigner stating that the family member will stay in a rented apartment is not sufficient confirmation of having a place to stay during the visit to Poland. To meet this criterion, it is necessary to present a legal title to the premises or a document confirming the possibility of accommodation elsewhere.
In addition, in order for the application for the invitation to be positively considered, confirmation of the ability to cover the costs associated with the stay of the family member must also be attached. The applicant must demonstrate that they are able to support the invited person and meet their basic needs. Financial means should cover the costs of accommodation and meals for the entire duration of the visit to Poland. However, this is not the only financial requirement, as the cost of the return journey must also be added to the final amount. To meet this requirement, it is necessary to add the cost of the return journey from Poland to the country from which the visitor will come, or to present a return ticket that clearly confirms the date and possibility of departure. When preparing to submit the application and filling out the forms, it is important to bear in mind that the registration of the invitation for a foreigner cannot be done for a period longer than one year. Therefore, all the criteria described above should be adapted to the chosen period for which we want to obtain the invitation.
Visiting a family member who is a foreigner with a residence permit in Poland
A residence permit and legal stay of a foreigner in Poland allow them to apply for the registration of an invitation for their closest relatives. In the earlier part of the article, we mentioned exceptions to the requirement of a 5-year stay in Poland. This type of exception applies to holders of the so-called EU Blue Card, the possession of which allows one to apply for the registration of an invitation already after 2 years from the date of receiving such a residence permit. Persons interested in obtaining the EU Blue Card are warmly invited to take advantage of our support.
