Thinking of relocating to Poland with your spouse and kids?
Whether you’re a digital nomad-turned-expat, a work visa holder, or someone already juggling Polish bureaucracy solo, bringing your family over is more than just booking a one-way ticket. It’s paperwork, timelines, and navigating a web of visa laws that don’t always read like bedtime stories. With its EU membership, affordable cities, and growing expat communities, Poland has become a destination for families looking to relocate long-term. But settling here with your partner and children isn’t as easy as showing up with a suitcase and a smile.
This blog is your 2025-ready guide to moving to Poland with family, clear and updated with the latest laws and regulations. From visa types and eligibility rules to what your spouse can legally do once here, family reunification permits, to school access and child benefits, this guide explains what it takes to move to Poland with your family. Let’s break it all down.
Poland is a Family-Friendly Destination for Expats
Moving to Poland with your family is about reliable public infrastructure, free education, and a healthcare system that doesn’t bankrupt you. From Wrocław’s colourful streets to Kraków’s leafy parks, Poland offers a wholesome, budget-friendly life for families. And the best part? With Poland’s strategic EU location, you’ll be raising kids in a place that blends modernity and tradition in equal parts.
But before your family settles in, you’ll need to clear the legal maze of visas and residency rights. For expats raising families, it’s a mix of:
- Affordable living,
- Polish healthcare access,
- Public schooling options,
- And safe cities.
But here’s the catch: your residence card doesn’t magically extend to your spouse or kids. You’ll need to go through a process to get them here legally.
Visa Types to Bring Your Family to Poland
Visa options vary depending on your status in Poland. Bringing your spouse and children along depends heavily on your visa type or residency card. Here are the 3 main routes:
1. Family Reunification Visa (Karta Pobytu for Family Members)
You can invite your family once you have a temporary residence permit (karta pobytu) that mentions “access to the labor market” (dostęp do rynku pracy).
- Who it’s for: Spouse, minor children, and in rare humanitarian cases, dependent parents.
- Pre-condition: You must already hold a valid residence permit (temporary, permanent, or EU long-term).
- Legal basis: Article 159 of the Act on Foreigners – aka “joining a family member legally staying in Poland”.
- Ukrainian citizens and their non-Ukrainian spouses/children arriving on/after February 24, 2024, have the legal stay extended until September 30, 2025.
2. Dependent Visa – When You’re on Temporary Stay
What you’ll need: proof of legal stay, sufficient income, insurance, and registered housing.
- If you’re in Poland on a temporary residence permit (work, study, business), this is the go-to.
- Your family applies for a Type D visa, then for their own temporary residence once in Poland.
- Validity: Matches your current permit.
3. Spouse Visa – Married to a Polish Citizen
Your family gains more flexibility. You may skip the reunification visa and directly apply for EU family member karta pobytu, valid for 5 years (if applicable).
- Ideal route if you’re married to a Pole.
- Leads to faster Karta Pobytu, permanent stay, and even citizenship, provided you meet the cohabitation and residency conditions.
- Requires a civil marriage recognised in Poland. If you got married abroad, get it legalised.
- Spouses of EU Blue Card holders can freelance or work without a separate permit in 2025.
Eligibility Criteria For Moving to Poland with Family
- You must hold a valid residence permit (not a tourist visa).
- Stable income, registered accommodation, valid health insurance, and no criminal record.
- Proof of family relationship: marriage certificate, birth certificates (translated & legalised).
How to Legally Bring Your Family to Poland: Step-by-Step Process
From document preparation to applying at the Voivodeship Office, here’s a legally compliant process to sponsor your family’s move to Poland.
Step 1: Gather All Required Documents
- Proof of family ties (apostilled and translated if issued outside Poland)
- Sponsor’s residence card, passport copy
- Proof of financial means (income threshold varies by family size)
- Health insurance coverage
- Rental agreement or ownership documents
Step 2: Apply for a National D Visa or Temporary Residence for Family
- Initial entry often via Type D national visa
- Apply at the nearest Polish consulate if abroad, or the Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki) if already in Poland
Step 3: Apply for Temporary Residence Card (Karta Pobytu) for the Family
- Once in Poland, apply for a residence card within 90 days
- Application made at the Urząd Wojewódzki based on family reunification grounds
- Timeline: 8-10 months on average
How Long Does It Take to Get a Family Visa in Poland?
Poland’s dependent visa timelines can test your patience. Here’s what to expect and how to stay on track. The average processing time for family reunification (Karta Pobytu) applications in Poland ranges around 180 days or more, depending on the voivodeship (regional office). But delays are common. The good news is: from 2025, the MOS platform allows online application submissions and status tracking, streamlining the process.
Reasons for delays:
- Incomplete or incorrect documentation
- Missing translations or notary verifications
- High backlog at the immigration office
- Interviews or checks triggered by your case
What you can do:
- Submit all required documents upfront and keep a copy
- Track your case status using the voivodeship’s online system
- Consider submitting a formal request for expedited action if 90 days pass without an update
- Always keep your passport, PESEL number, and residence proof up-to-date
Remember, while your application is being processed, your family can legally stay in Poland, just make sure they applied before their entry visa expires.
Poland Dependent Visa: What Rights Do Family Members Have?
Family members on a dependent visa in Poland can legally reside, access public services, and, in some cases, work and study without separate permits.
Spouses:
- Can work without a separate work permit if on a reunification-based residence card
- Can later apply for an independent residence card or permanent stay
Children:
- Can attend Polish public schools
- Need a separate residence permit or card, depending on age and legal stay
- From April 2025, dependent children on student visas will need work permits to work, unlike reunification-based permits.
Health Insurance and Social Benefits
- Family must be insured either privately or through ZUS if the sponsor is employed
- Eligibility for benefits (500+ for kids, maternity) depends on residence type and employment
What If Your Marital or Family Status Changes After Moving?
Family visas in Poland are usually tied to your legal relationship with the sponsor. If that relationship changes because of divorce, separation, or custody changes, it can affect your family’s legal stay in Poland, here’s what to know.
- In case of divorce: Your dependent’s right to stay might expire unless they qualify for an independent residence permit (e.g., based on work or long-term stay).
- If custody changes (children): The sponsoring parent must inform the voivodeship. The child’s visa may need to be reprocessed.
- Legal separation or annulment: Similar to divorce, it can trigger a reassessment of residency rights.
What to do:
- Contact a migration lawyer immediately
- Apply for a change in the purpose of stay if eligible
- Never let the visa expire. Overstaying leads to bans
Family changes are sensitive. But with timely legal steps, your family can still stay protected and compliant.
Poland vs Other EU Countries for Family Visas
Is Poland the easiest gateway to Europe for relocating your family? Here’s how it stacks up.
Compared to Germany, France, or the Netherlands, Poland offers a simpler and cheaper pathway for family reunification, especially if you’re already working legally in Poland.
| Country | Initial Visa Cost | Language Requirement | Work Rights for Spouse | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | ~€74–€141 | Not mandatory | Allowed to work | up to 10 months |
| Germany | ~€80–€110 | Basic German (A1) required, with exemptions | Allowed to work | 4–9 months |
| France | ~€99 | A1 French required, with limited exemptions | Allowed to work | 3–6 months |
| Netherlands | ~€228 | A2 Dutch required, with exemptions | Allowed to work | 3–9 months |
Why Poland wins:
- Lower application fees
- No strict language mandate for family
- Easier documentation
- High approval rates if a sponsor holds a legal residence permit
It’s a solid entry point for expats eyeing a future in the EU. (Source)
Avoid These Common Mistakes When Applying for a Family Visa in Poland
Many applications are delayed or rejected due to incorrect visa entry, missing documentation, or failure to meet residence permit conditions, avoid these with careful planning.
- Applying while still on a tourist visa (not allowed)
- Missing or mistranslated documents (must be in Polish + apostilled)
- Not applying early enough. Processing can take up to 8 months
- Assuming that a child’s school enrolment equals legal residence (it doesn’t)
Conclusion
Bringing your family to Poland isn’t impossible, but it demands planning, paperwork, and patience. The good news? Once here, your family can live, work, study, and grow with you in one of Europe’s most welcoming countries.
Need help with family reunification or residence permits? SG Adwokaci can guide your entire process, because the only thing tougher than Polish bureaucracy is doing it alone.
FAQs – Moving to Poland with Family
Q1: Can my spouse work in Poland with a dependent visa?
A: Yes, if the residence card was granted on family reunification grounds. No separate work permit needed.
Q2: Can I bring my parents to Poland under family reunification?
A: Only in exceptional humanitarian cases or if they’re legally dependent on you.
Q3: How much income is required to sponsor a family in Poland?
A: Varies by family size, but roughly PLN 800 per adult and PLN 640 per child/month, plus housing.
Q4: Do children need separate residence permits?
A: Yes. Each child must have their own application and Karta Pobytu if staying long term.
Q5: What if my family is already in Poland on a tourist visa?
A: They cannot apply for residence from within Poland. They must return home and apply at a Polish consulate.
Q6: Do children born in Poland get citizenship?
A: No. Poland doesn’t grant automatic citizenship by birth unless one parent is Polish. But the child is eligible for residence permits and later naturalisation.
Q7: Can I work while my family’s visas are being processed?
A: Yes, if your current visa or karta pobytu allows work. However, your spouse cannot work until their card also grants labour market access.
Q8: How long does it take to get a family member’s karta pobytu?
A: Usually 6-8 months, but delays are common. Submit all documents correctly, and don’t wait until the last minute.
Q9: Can I switch from a tourist visa to a family visa inside Poland?
A: No. Tourist visa holders (Schengen Type C) must apply from their home country. Only certain visa types allow in-country status changes.
Further read: How to Get a Temporary Residence Card (Karta Pobytu) in Poland
