Temporary residence permit for a volunteer

Introduction

Within the meaning of the Act on Foreigners, a volunteer is a foreigner who voluntarily (therefore voluntarily, on their own initiative) and without remuneration, with the exception of reimbursement of costs or payment of pocket money, performs certain activities (benefits) as part of participation in the European Voluntary Service program, for the benefit of an entity that has been approved by the minister responsible for internal affairs for the purpose of accepting foreigners as volunteers.

A temporary residence permit for a volunteer is a type of temporary residence permit, i.e., a permit entitling to stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland for a specified period.

This permit is granted in the form of an administrative decision to third-country nationals (i.e., persons who do not have the citizenship of one of the EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) and stateless persons if the purpose of their stay in Poland is to participate in the European Voluntary Service program in an organizational unit (e.g., foundation, association) that has been approved under the appropriate procedure by the minister competent for internal affairs.

Only those foreigners who have been accepted as volunteers by concluding an appropriate agreement with them by the receiving entity can apply for this permit.

The provision of volunteering services must also justify a stay on the territory of the Republic of Poland longer than 3 months.

This permit is granted by the voivode, competent for the place of residence of the foreigner, and in the case of appeal proceedings – by the Head of the Office for Foreigners, for the period necessary to implement the volunteer contract – for a minimum period of more than 3 months, but not longer than for a period of 1 year.

This permit is not automatically renewed – a foreigner interested in continuing their stay in Poland before its expiry should apply for a temporary residence permit, e.g., another temporary residence permit for a volunteer, or an indefinite permit (i.e., a permanent residence permit or a long-term EU resident permit), if it meets the requirements necessary to grant it.

Remember!

If you have a Blue Card permit in Poland or you have a permit to perform work as part of an intra-corporate transfer granted to you as an intern employee, then the authority will refuse to initiate proceedings for this purpose. In such a situation, if you also have another purpose of stay in Poland, choose this purpose of stay as the main one.