21 September 2026
Relocate from the US to Poland
American citizens are invited to contact our immigration lawyers, if they want to immigrate to Poland from US, following the Poland migration laws.
If you want to immigrate to Poland from the USA, you need to apply for a residence permit, which is issued based on various grounds. Our immigration lawyers can guide you through the entire procedure to ensure its correctness.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for US nationals | No, if the stay does not exceed 90 days |
Special conditions applicable (YES/NO) | Schengen Agreement parties |
Relocation options | Short-term and long-term residence permits are available for those who relocate from USA to Poland |
| Permanent residence requirements | Living in Poland for 5 years |
| Access to investor/citizenship by investment visa | YES, it is possible to relocate from USA to Poland based on an investor visa |
| Timeframe for obtaining a residence permit (approx.) | 3 – 8 months |
| Family reunification visa availability (YES/NO) | YES, family reunification visas are available under the form of temporary residence permits |
| Investment visa requirements | Business creation with a minimum investment of EUR 100,000 |
| Permanent residence timeframe | US citizens must live in Poland for 5 consecutive years to obtain permanent residence |
| Citizenship requirements | After 2 years of living in Poland based on a permanent residence permit |
| Possibility to acquire real estate (YES/NO) | YES, it is possible to relocate from USA to Poland and buy a property |
| Poland-USA double tax treaty (YES/NO) | YES |
| Immigration services (YES/NO) | YES, we can assist those who want to immigrate to Poland from USA |
| Post-immigration support (YES/NO) | YES, tailored support in renewing documents about to expire, registration with the local authorities |
| Residence permit types | – Temporary residence permit; – Permanent residence permit; – EU Blue Card residence permit for professional workers. |
Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) | 4-8 months |
Temporary residence permit validity | 1-3 years |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence | – Application form; – Valid passport; – Health insurance; – Payment of stamp duty fee; – Four visa photos. |
| Stamp duty fee | €11 |
| Temporary residence permit fee | Around €94 |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder (Yes/No) | Yes, only if they have been living in Poland for 2 years based on a temporary residence permit. |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | 5 years |
| Sponsorship requirement (YES/NO) | No |
| Naturalization requirements | You are eligible if you have resided continuously in Poland for at least three years with a permanent residence permit, have a stable income in Poland, have been married to your Polish spouse for at least three years, are under 18 years old, have a parent who holds Polish citizenship, or hold a Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka). |
| Relocation steps | Obtain necessary visas or permits, arrange accommodation, set up a bank account, register with local authorities, secure healthcare coverage, seek employment or establish means of financial support. |
| Special conditions to respect in terms of short-term residency | Not necessarily, but you are required to personally submit your application for a temporary residence permit by the final day of your lawful stay within the territory of the Republic of Poland. |
| Easiest ways to move to Poland from the USA | – Study visa; – Work visa; – Entrepreneur visa. |
| Special requirements to secure a work contract (if any) | No, it is the duty of the employer to apply for a work permit if he/she wishes to hire expat employees. |
| Special requirements when moving to Poland from USA as a dependent (if any) | If the spouse is dependent, then the marriage must be recognized by Polish law, and the minor dependent must be under 18. |
Do I need to apply for a visa when moving to Poland from the United States?
Yes, if you want to relocate to Poland from the USA on a long-term basis, meaning for more than 3 months, you need to apply for a national D visa. The only exceptions are tourism and business visits of less than 3 months for which you can travel based on a valid passport.
How can I obtain temporary residence when I immigrate to Poland from the US?
You can apply for:
- a work permit, in which case you must first secure an employment contract;
- a business-related residence permit can also be obtained if you start a company or work as a sole trader in Poland;
- family reunification-based residency if you have at least one close relative who lives here;
- student-based residence permit if you have been accepted into an accredited educational facility.
NOTE: For each type of immigration procedure, specific steps and documents must be followed. So, if you want to be well prepared, you can rely on our Polish immigration lawyers for support before starting the relocation.
We also invite you to read more about this subject in the infographic below:
What are the steps that I need to follow when moving to Poland from the US?
The standard immigration procedure in Poland, which also applies to US citizens, implies:
- apply for the D visa with the Polish Embassy or one of the Consulates in the US;
- the application will then be sent to the immigration authorities in Poland;
- once you have been issued the D visa, you can arrive in Poland and apply for the temporary residence permit.
The entire process can take about one month, except for the temporary residence permit issuance, which is separate and can take at least 4 months.
What is the validity of a Polish temporary residence permit?
It depends on the issuance reason, and it ranges from 3 months to 3 years.
How can I immigrate to Poland from the US based on employment?
There are various work visas available from Poland that American citizens can apply for:
- the A type, which can be obtained if you have a job offer from a company with a Polish business registration;
- the B type, which is issued if you work as a board member and plan to stay in Poland for more than 6 months;
- the C type, which can be issued for intra-company transfers of more than 30 days;
- the D type, which is issued to American citizens working in the export sector;
- the S type, which is available for seasonal workers, and it is seldom applied for by Americans.
How can I move to Poland from the USA for family reunion purposes?
A family reunification visa is required for non-EU nationals who wish to reunite with non-EU family members in Poland, a scenario that also applies to American citizens who move here.
This category of visas is granted to:
- spouses;
- children who are under the age of 18;
- parents (if you must care for them because they are dependent on you and no other family member is available to help.
An extended 3-year stay in Poland is possible with a family visa. American citizens moving here are free to work and learn throughout this time.
If you want to move to Poland from the USA based on family reunion visas, you can rely on our immigration lawyers who can help with the paperwork.
Here is also our video on this subject:
How long must I live in Poland to get a permanent residence permit as an American?
At least 5 years.
How can I become a Polish citizen as an American?
If you meet any of the following requirements, you can become a Polish citizen:
- you have a permanent residence permit and have resided in Poland continuously for at least 3 years;
- you have a stable source of income.
Additionally, you must also have a good knowledge of the Polish language.
If you want to immigrate to Poland from the USA, we invite you to address our team of immigration lawyers in Poland for more information on the visa application process.