Karta Pobytu Denied? Here's Exactly What to Do Next

Getting a rejection letter for your residence permit is stressful. But in most cases, it's not the end — you have the right to appeal, and many rejections are successfully overturned.

Here's exactly what to do if your Karta Pobytu was denied.

Don't Panic — You Have Options

A rejection (decyzja odmowna) is not final. Polish immigration law gives you 14 days to appeal to a higher authority.

Legal Solution has a 98% approval rate — and when rejections happen, we appeal for free.

Step 1: Read the Rejection Letter Carefully

The decision (decyzja) will state:

• The legal basis for rejection
• The specific reason(s) you didn't qualify
• The deadline to appeal (usually 14 days from receipt)
• Which authority handles your appeal

Common reasons for rejection:

• Missing or expired documents
• Salary below the required minimum
• Incorrect address registration
• Wrong permit type applied for
• Errors in the application form

Step 2: Appeal or Reapply?

Key point: Filing an appeal suspends enforcement of the rejection. You can legally stay in Poland while it's being processed.

Step 3: Prepare Your Appeal

Your appeal must be:

1. Written in Polish
2. Addressed to Szef Urzędu do Spraw Cudzoziemców
3. Submitted through the office that issued the rejection (Wojewoda)
4. Include evidence addressing the stated reason

What to include:

• Reference to the decision number and date
• Legal arguments explaining why the decision was incorrect
• New or corrected documents (if rejection was due to missing paperwork)
• Your contact information

Step 4: Submit and Track

After submitting:

• You receive acknowledgement of the appeal
• The second-tier authority has 30–60 days to decide
• During this time you can legally stay in Poland
• If appeal is successful → permit is issued
• If rejected again → you can appeal to administrative court (WSA) within 30 days

Most Common Appealable Situations

Missing documents — if you had all documents but forgot one, submit the complete package with your appeal. Highly appealable.

Salary issue — if your salary was briefly below minimum but has since been corrected, include new contract and payslips.

Address mismatch — if the registered address didn't match the application, fix the registration and appeal.

Officer error — if the officer misinterpreted your situation, a legal argument can overturn this.

What NOT to Do

❌ Don't leave Poland before the appeal is resolved

❌ Don't miss the 14-day appeal deadline

❌ Don't submit an appeal without addressing the stated reason

❌ Don't ignore the decision letter — the clock starts from receipt

We Handle Appeals for Free

If Legal Solution prepared your original application and it was rejected, we appeal at no extra cost. Our team specializes in Polish immigration law and knows exactly how to construct a successful appeal.

📱 Contact us on WhatsApp immediately if you received a rejection.