Don’t bother with zameldowanie if you don’t need it badly…
I have lived for 3 years already in Poland, and never really had the need to register. I have studied a master degree, I rent a flat, I work for a year, have bank account, health and pension funds, TAX ID and I am even taking driving licence classes without regsitration or PESEL number.

You might need to get zameldowanie if you want to get a PESEL number (which allows you to take credits or buy on several rates) or if you want to officially register as a citizen living abroad at your consulate (I am French, just registered on the list of French living abroad – ease up administrative procedures and allows me to vote) …

I have been told that the Polish parliament has passed an act stating that zameldoanie shoudl disappear, but was never enforced…

nobody will check you, don’t worry!

PS: a Danish friend also told me that registration in Poland can avoid you to have late taxes to pay in your home country – this way your home country’s tax office knows that you are officially living abroad and don’t have anything to do with them!

I came to Poland at the end of July, 2010 to live with my husband working here.

As a new foreigner, I attempted to get residence card first.

Here’s what I did and how long it took.

Most of things were done with the help of Polish agent.

Would you read the followings and answer the questions?

⇨⇨ 18.08.2010 Failed in Applying

The first thing I did was having photo taken. But I failed to apply because of the photos. It is important that photos show left side of face and left ear. Uwaga!!!! (Attention in Polish) I had to get my photo taken once again. It was a waste of time and money( 40 PLN x 2).

⇨⇨ 19.08.2010 Succeeded in Applying

I succeeded in applying. I submitted application form, rental agreement of my apartment in which I’m now living, and 4 color right photos etc.

■ Where: Katowice City Hall – ▪Śląski Urząd Wojewódzki

■ What I Submitted.

1. filled out application form (this form is in Polish, English and French)

2. 4 current ID photos

3. passport + 2 photocopies

4. family document + certified translation

5. certificate from appropriate tax office**( my husband & me)

6. permission to work or working visa ( my husband)

7. copy of contract to work /documents proving financial stability(my husband)

8. police inspection

9. proof of health insurance

10. rental agreement

11 carte blanche (to agent: my husband & me)

⇨⇨ 08.2010 Unexpected Visitors : Police Officers

I cannot remember the exact date when two police officers visited my house. They asked me a lot of questions like this: How long have you been here? How do you cover the living expense including apartment rental fee? Are you working in poland? Do you have a health insurance? etc, etc, etc.

⇨⇨ 14.10.2010 I Got Decision Letter.

Decision was made on the date of 8.october.

But it was a week later that my polish agent told me the fact that decision was made. Then he took my passport to pick up that letter on 14 October. Yes. I could get the decision letter in my hand on that day. As soon as I got it, I translated it into English with the help of Google. The first word was “DECYZIA” It means ” Decision” Followings are part of it. Original Polish version and translated English version.

Sender: Wojewoda Slaski (Governor of Slaski)

Date: Katowice 08/10. 2010r

o udzieleniu wnioskodawczyni zezwolenia na zamieszkanie na czas oznaczony na terytorium Rzeczypospolitej polskiej do 19.02. 2012r.

(to granta permit to an applicant for temporary residence in the Republic of Polish to 19.02. 2012)

Uzasadnienie / Wydaniezezwolenia na zamieszkanie na czas oznaczony jest celowe, bowiem zachodzi okoliczność uzasadniajaca zamieszkanie wnioskodawczyni na terytorium rzeczypospolitej polskiej przez okres dłuzszy niz 3 miesiące ze względu na pobyt z ( Justification / authorization of temporary residence is deliberate, because the circumstance justifying the applicant’s residence on Polish territory for more than three months due to stay with her husband )

⇨⇨ 26.10.2010 Delay and Questions

More than two weeks have passed since decision letter was issued. I was too impatient to wait for plastic residence card. So, I sent a text message to polish agent asking when to get the plastic residence card. I got a reply like this: “Tomorrow I’ll get new apartment rental contract and submit it to the authority concerned. (City Hall- Wojewoda Slaski). And city hall needs about 2 weeks to prepare the card. ”

I couldn’t understand. Decision was made about 20 days ago. Why and Who on earth asked another document proving my residence, New apartment contract? Nonsense !!!!

When deciding to permit my residence, the most important thing might be : I’m living in poland with a husband who has already got a residence card. Isn’t that enough? The final date when I can be in poland is the same with that of my husband. And I’m living in the same apartment. Furthermore, the expiring date of my apartment contract is January 2011. That means about 5 months are left from the date of my application and more than 3 months are left from the date when decision was made .

Now I want to ask questions to the person who might be concerned with.

Q 1: What is needed in the context of residence duration in a specific place?

How many months should be left from the expiring date on the contract paper?

More than 6 months? Oh my!!! Show me the evidence like directives appropriate.

Q 2:Am I expected to leave the territory of Poland and await decision abroad?

OOOhuhuhu!!!! Read the followings and check it.

” If application has been filed less than 45 days before the lapse of visa stay period or period for which previous residence permit for a specified time was issued and proceedings are not completed before expiry of your residence permit, you are requested to leave the territory of Poland and await decision abroad. In case you do not leave the territory of Poland, Voivode will refuse the issue of a residence permit for specified period of time. ”

When I asked that question to polish agent, he said, ” It’s just a theory!!!!”

⇨⇨ 28.10.2010 New Rental Agreement

Polish agent said, ” I need your passport to submit new apartment rental contract . And they need about 2 weeks to prepare the card. If you don’t submit the new rental contract, they’ll give just 3 month permission ( till the expiring date of the present rental contract) Then you will be bothered to do something to extend it.“

I said, “I don’t think so. That doesn’t make a difference. My expiring date of my residence permit will not be changed. Never!”

⇨⇨ 16.11.2010 I Got the Card

I went the city hall with the agent and signed when the very residence card was handed in.

then I asked the woman concerbed with one qestion : If I did sumit just the old rental contrat, expiring date is different from the one which I have now? The answer was, “No”.

I am happy to finalise the long proceedings. Still have small questions.

Q 3 : What is a way of notification?

According to the information on the internet, all the letters (notifications, decisions,) are delivered by registered to the address indicated by you or to your legal agent if you have appointed one. But polish agent said he has to call himself. Right? Isn’t it very inefficient? I can’t still believe it.

Q 4 : What was the reasons of delay?

Me again – finally got around to starting the process of zameldowanie – my landlord is very happy to fill out the form, but unfortunately he has lost the 2 (!!) that i brought him. He told me that I can find the form online to print off – however, as my Polish is limited, I haven’t been able to find it (the temporary one for 3 months). I can’t get to the Urzad place very easily as I have now started my new job (which is why I need the zameldowanie to get the NIP number….) and it starts and ends before/after the Urzad’s office hours… Do you know where I could find the form online?? I’ve found the forms that you need to register yourself here after 3 months – but not the 3 month one…

Any help would be appreciated!

PS: Thank you so much for posting such a blog!! It’s really a huuuuuge help! :)