A foreigner intending to stay in Poland for more than 3 months may apply for a temporary residence permit. This permit is issued for a maximum of 3 years, but the period of its validity may be shorter if the circumstance on which the foreigner justifies authorizing a shorter permit. Temporary residence permit is granted by the voivode competent for the region in which the foreigner lives.

The most common circumstances justifying the granting of a temporary residence permit:

• commencing or continuing work on the territory of Poland;
• performing work in a highly qualified job;
• performing work by a foreigner delegated by a foreign employer to Poland;
• running a business in Poland;
• completing a preparatory course to study at bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral studies in Polish;
• starting or continuing studies in Poland;
• conducting scientific research in Poland;
• coming to the family members of a Polish citizen or a family member of a foreigner;
• the intention of joining a family member to a national of an EU Member State, a Member State of the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) or a Swiss Confederation residing in Poland;
• being an underage child of a foreigner who is staying in Poland on the basis of a national visa or a temporary residence permit if the child was born within the period of validity of this national visa or temporary residence permit;
• being a minor child of a foreigner who is a spouse of a Polish citizen and who has a temporary residence permit issued for a family member of a Polish citizen;
• being a victim of trafficking in people who resides in Poland, engages in cooperation with authorities conducting proceedings in the matter of combating trafficking in human beings and who has broken contacts with
• persons suspected of trafficking in human beings;
• other circumstances (including education, vocational training, being a graduate of a Polish university and looking for a job in Poland).