Karta Pobytu Au Pair Poland 2026: No Such Permit

Thi is 23, from Hanoi. A family in Kraków has just written to her: 'Be our au pair. Room, meals, pocket money. Come now, we'll sort out the karta pobytu later.' It sounds friendly. It also sounds like the first page of a story that ends with a refusal and a lost fee. (Thi is a composite example, not a real client.) If you're searching for a karta pobytu au pair Poland route, meaning a Polish residence permit (karta pobytu) for au pairs, here is the short version: as far as we can verify, Poland has no permit with that name. There are other doors, and some of them really open.

So, is there a karta pobytu for an au pair in Poland?

No. The Polish residence permit (karta pobytu) is issued for defined purposes: work, study, family, business and a few others. As far as we can verify, neither the Act on Foreigners nor the category list on the MOS portal contains an 'au pair' permit. Au pair agencies say the same in their own words: Poland has no formal au pair programme, so these stays are arranged privately between you and the host family. Check the current list on gov.pl/web/cudzoziemcy before you rely on this, because rules change.

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Why does that matter? A private deal gives you no residence status. The family can be kind, the room can be lovely, the children can adore you, and you still have no legal basis to be in Poland beyond whatever entry rules you came in on. A karta pobytu is only ever attached to a legal purpose. No purpose, no card.

So the real question isn't 'how do I get an au pair karta pobytu?' It's 'which legal purpose can my situation honestly fit into?' That's the question the rest of this article answers.

What happens if you work as an au pair on a tourist stay?

Pocket money in exchange for childcare and housework is, in practice, work. Polish authorities expect paid work by a foreigner to have a legal basis: a work permit, an employer's declaration (oświadczenie) where your nationality allows it, or a residence permit that includes work. 'We call it cultural exchange' doesn't change how an office or an inspector reads it.

Here is what can go wrong when the basis is missing:

• Your stay can become undocumented, and a later karta pobytu application can be refused because of it.
• The stamp duty you pay is not refunded if the case ends in a refusal. That rule applies to applications filed after 5 March 2026.
• The host family can face penalties for entrusting work to a foreigner without a legal basis.
• With no contract, there are no pay slips and no social insurance contributions at ZUS, and no protection if the family ends the arrangement next week.

You're not going to be put on a plane tomorrow because you read a message from a host family. But the damage of working without a basis shows up later, usually at the exact moment you apply for something. If you're unsure how your current stay is classified, our post on whether your stay is legal while waiting for a karta pobytu explains what the stamp does and doesn't cover. For how social contributions work, see zus.pl.

Which legal route can an au pair in Poland actually use?

Three routes exist. None of them is called 'au pair', and each has its own rules, fees and limits. Pick the one that matches what you really are, not the one that sounds easiest.

1. The work route. You get a proper employment or civil-law contract and a legal basis to work: a work permit or an employer's declaration, depending on your citizenship, and later a residence permit based on that work. Not every employer can use every instrument, and whether a private household can act as your employer for a given permit is something to check with an office or with us before you start. Don't assume it.
2. The study route. If you enrol in a real course or degree at a Polish school, a study-based residence permit can follow. You can live with a host family while studying. But what you're allowed to do for money depends on your permit, and 'student who helps with the kids' isn't automatically legal paid work.
3. The family route. If you're married to a Polish citizen, or to a foreigner who already holds a Polish permit, a family-based permit may be open to you, with its own proof requirements and checks.

For the work route, start with the difference between the two documents in work permit vs oświadczenie in Poland, because picking the wrong one is the most common and costly mix-up. If an offer arrives from abroad, run it through the checks in how to get a job offer in Poland from Bangladesh (the logic applies beyond Bangladesh). And if the family route is yours, see family reunification in Poland.

How much does it cost in PLN, and what if the answer is no?

Fees depend on the permit type, so there is no single 'au pair price'. The MOS portal states that the stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) for a temporary, permanent or EU long-term residence permit runs from PLN 340 to PLN 640, depending on the permit. The fee table published on gov.pl for a combined temporary residence and work permit shows PLN 440. The card itself is a separate PLN 100 payment, made to a separate account. Confirm the numbers on the MOS fee page and the voivodeship fee table on the day you pay.

• Example for a work-based case: PLN 440 stamp duty + PLN 100 for the card = PLN 540, before translations and any help you hire.
• You pay by bank transfer, outside MOS, and attach the confirmation to the application.
• Applications go through the MOS online system, which became the filing channel from 27 April 2026.
• If the application is refused or discontinued, the stamp duty is not returned for applications filed after 5 March 2026.

That last point changes how you should think. A wrong category used to be an annoying mistake. Now it's a mistake that costs you the fee. Choose the legal purpose first, pay second.

Practical tip: Before you pay anyone, ask the family or agency in writing: 'Which exact permit category will I apply under, and who signs as the employer?' If the answer is 'we'll figure it out', you're being offered a risk, not a route.

How do you check an au pair offer before you pay or fly?

Most bad outcomes start with an offer that sounds warm and vague. Look for these red flags:

• They tell you to enter Poland as a visitor and 'sort out the papers here'.
• They ask for a fee before any written contract exists.
• Nobody can name the permit category or the legal basis for your work.
• There is no written agreement about hours, pay, days off and who covers insurance.
• You're pressured to decide fast, or told 'everyone does it this way'.

Good signs look boring: a named legal route, a written contract, a clear start date and a family that is happy for you to have the plan checked. If someone helping you goes silent after taking money, use the seven checks in what to do when your legalization firm stops answering.

Not sure which route fits your situation? Ask before you sign, not after. Legal Solutions — 98% approval rate. WhatsApp +48 735 248 525 (Kamil, English only): drop us a message, we read every one.