The outcome of a family reunification case, temporary residence for wife and children, is usually decided by the conditions on the side of the host, who already lives in Poland: their income, insurance and housing. The family's own documents matter, but without proving these three conditions the voivode (voivodeship office, urząd wojewódzki) refuses the permit.

Who can join the family in Poland

The circle of eligible people is narrow: the spouse and minor children, the host's own or the spouse's, who are dependent on the host. Parents and siblings generally do not qualify for this procedure. The exception mainly concerns people with refugee status or subsidiary protection; the law allows them to also bring in parents or siblings with serious health problems (Article 159 of the Act on Foreigners).

Temporary residence for family reunification: conditions for the host

The host must prove three things at the same time:

  • stable and regular income covering the cost of living for themselves and the family without support from social assistance: in practice, offices refer to the income criterion from the Social Assistance Act, in 2026 over PLN 823 per month per household member, counted after tax and contributions; the income may also be provided by a family member already living in Poland,
  • health insurance covering everyone being brought in: from the National Health Fund (NFZ) or confirmation from an insurer that it will cover treatment costs in Poland,
  • documented place of residence of an adequate standard: a lease agreement, title of ownership, or a statement from a person entitled to make the accommodation available.

If you rent the accommodation, the lease should be in writing. What it must contain is described in the article on renting an apartment. Income is documented by the contract under which you work and payment confirmations, not a mere declaration.

Who can invite family: what residence status the host must have

What matters above all is the type and validity period of the held residence permit, and for temporary residence also the foreigner's legal stay in Poland so far, which the voivodeship office assesses in the specific case. The host must hold one of the residence titles specified in the act: among others, a permanent residence permit, EU long-term resident status, refugee status or subsidiary protection, or a temporary residence permit valid for at least 2 years. The full list, and whether a given title qualifies, is confirmed by the voivodeship office for a specific case; the topic is covered in more detail in the article on the temporary residence card and work.

How long the application takes to process

The act sets the voivode a deadline for a decision, counted only from the moment the application is complete and submitted in person, and the voivodeship office confirms the current rules for counting the deadline. In practice the case often takes longer than this deadline, mainly when documents need to be completed.

Family documents and children's start in Poland

Marriage certificates and children's birth certificates must be submitted with sworn translations, and often also with an apostille or legalization, depending on the issuing country. This is usually the longest-lasting part of the preparations.

Plan the case backwards from the start of the school year. Children arriving mid-semester complicates their start more than the change of country itself. The enrollment rules are described in the article on school and kindergarten for a child.

The spouse's access to the labor market depends on the basis of the issued permit: the scope of the entitlement is confirmed by the voivode's decision. Stable employment makes the whole case easier, and current job offers are listed in the section for workers.

Most common causes of problems

  • income shown exactly at the required threshold, with no margin,
  • rented accommodation without a written lease agreement,
  • outdated correspondence address during the proceedings.

All three can be eliminated before the application is even submitted.

Frequently asked questions

How much do you need to earn to bring your family to Poland?

Offices refer to the income criterion from the Social Assistance Act, in 2026 over PLN 823 per month per household member (after tax and contributions), documented by the contract under which you work and payment confirmations, not a mere declaration.

Is a lease agreement enough, or do you need to own an apartment?

A documented place of residence of an adequate standard is enough: a written lease agreement, title of ownership, or a statement from a person entitled to make the accommodation available. Owning an apartment is not required.

Can the income be provided by a relative already living in Poland?

Yes, the income covering the family's living costs may also be provided by a family member already living in Poland, not only by the host themselves (Article 159 of the Act on Foreigners).

Can the spouse start working in Poland right away?

It depends on the basis of the issued permit: the scope of access to the labor market is confirmed by the voivode's decision, so it is worth checking this when collecting the residence card.

Can parents or siblings join the family in Poland?

As a rule, no: the circle covers the spouse and minor children. The exception mainly concerns people with refugee status or subsidiary protection, in the case of a relative's serious health problems.

The rules on residence and employment of foreign nationals change often, and much depends on citizenship, the basis of stay and the situation of the particular person. This text describes the general course of the procedure. Before filing documents, confirm the current state of affairs at the voivodeship office.
This text describes the general rules. What you are entitled to depends on your type of contract: an employment contract (umowa o pracę) or a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie). Your own contract and payslip are what count.