Someone in our office got a message last week: "I paid PLN 1,800 for my karta pobytu and my colleague paid PLN 560 — why?" Both of them were right. The real cost of a Polish residence permit isn't a single number. It's a stack of separate charges that nobody lists in one place — and if you don't know what's coming, each one feels like a surprise. This guide breaks down every fee involved in a karta pobytu (Polish residence permit) application in 2026 — official government fees, the card itself, translation costs, and the charges people don't expect until they're already deep in the process.
The Two Official Government Fees You Pay First
There are two separate charges from the Polish government, and they go to two different bank accounts. Mixing them up — or paying only one — is one of the most common early mistakes.
Fee 1 — Stamp duty (opłata skarbowa): This is the fee for the decision itself — the government's work of reviewing and issuing your permit. The amount depends on what you're applying for:
- Temporary residence permit (stay only, e.g. family reunification, study) — PLN 340
- Temporary residence and work permit (jednolite zezwolenie — the most common type for foreign workers) — PLN 440
- Permanent residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) — PLN 640
- EU long-term resident permit (zezwolenie na pobyt rezydenta długoterminowego UE) — PLN 640
According to the Office for Foreigners (gov.pl), this fee is paid when you submit your application. Since March 5, 2026, it is non-refundable — even if your application is refused or withdrawn. Pay it only after your documents are complete.
Fee 2 — Card issuance fee (opłata za wydanie karty pobytu): This is the fee for the physical plastic card — paid separately after your permit is granted. Standard amount: PLN 100. For minors under 16: PLN 50. This goes to a separate account from the stamp duty — always check the payment details in your MOS portal confirmation.
So for the most common application — temporary residence and work — the minimum you pay to the government is PLN 440 + PLN 100 = PLN 540. That's the floor. Here's what adds up on top.
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Document Translation Costs: Where the Bill Really Grows
This is the part most people underestimate. Every foreign-language document submitted with your application must be translated into Polish by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły). Not Google Translate. Not a bilingual friend. A certified professional whose translations carry legal weight.
Typical sworn translation costs in Poland in 2026:
- 1 page (up to 1,125 characters) — approximately PLN 75–125
- Criminal record certificate from your home country (usually 2 pages) — PLN 150–250
- Birth certificate / marriage certificate — PLN 100–200
- Employment contract or salary slips (if in English) — PLN 100–200 per document
- Educational diplomas or degree certificates — PLN 100–200
If you're applying from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal or the Philippines, your documents are typically in English — so some may not need sworn translation. But your criminal record certificate and civil status documents almost always do. Budget PLN 300–600 for translations as a realistic baseline.
Document Authentication: Apostille, Legalization, and What Each Costs
Before a foreign document can be translated and submitted, it often needs to be authenticated — verified as genuine by the issuing country's authority. The method depends on where you're from:
- Apostille: Used for countries that signed the Hague Convention (India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal). Your local authority stamps the document. Cost varies by country — in India, around INR 100–300 per document at the sub-divisional magistrate's office.
- Full legalization: Required for countries not in the Hague Convention (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Zimbabwe). Documents go through the foreign ministry and Polish consulate. More expensive and slower — can add PLN 200–500+ in fees.
- Some documents (like school diplomas) may also need nostrification — recognized by a Polish university or ministry. This is a separate process and can cost PLN 200–400.
Check the full documents checklist at our Karta Pobytu Documents Guide to see exactly which of your documents will need authentication and which won't.
Other Costs People Forget: Photos, Postage, and Office Trips
These sound small. But when you're managing a whole application, they add up.
- Biometric photos: PLN 30–50 for a set (must meet Polish passport photo standards — specific size, white background, no glasses, recent)
- Document copies and notarization: PLN 20–60 depending on number of pages
- Travel to the voivodeship office (urząd wojewódzki): For people in smaller cities, this means a day trip to Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, or Gdańsk. Factor in transport and potentially a hotel.
- Registered mail / courier (if sending any documents): PLN 15–40
- Trusted Profile setup (Profil Zaufany) for MOS 2.0 — free, but requires a trip to confirm identity at a bank or post office if you don't already have one
Since April 27, 2026, all karta pobytu applications must be submitted electronically through the MOS 2.0 portal — paper applications are no longer accepted. This removes the need to appear in person for submission, but you'll still need to appear in person for biometric data collection (fingerprints and photo) after you file.
Practical tip: Before you pay anything, make a full list of every document you'll need — then check which ones need apostille, which need sworn translation, and which are fine as-is. A 15-minute audit at the start saves you PLN 300–500 in surprise costs later.
Total Cost Summary: What You're Actually Spending in 2026
Here's a realistic cost table for the most common scenario — a foreign worker applying for a temporary residence and work permit (karta pobytu) for the first time:
- Stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) — PLN 440 (non-refundable as of March 2026)
- Card issuance fee — PLN 100
- Sworn translations (estimate for 2-4 documents) — PLN 300–600
- Document authentication (apostille/legalization) — PLN 100–500
- Biometric photos — PLN 30–50
- Miscellaneous (copies, postage, transport) — PLN 50–150
- Total realistic range: PLN 1,020–1,840
For permanent residence (stały pobyt) or EU long-term resident status, the stamp duty jumps to PLN 640 — but the document requirements are often heavier too, meaning translation costs go up as well. Expect PLN 1,200–2,200 total for those applications.
For a family applying together — spouse and children on their own applications — every person pays the full stamp duty and card fee separately. Two adults applying for work permits means PLN 880 in stamp duties alone, before a single document is translated.
Arjun, an engineer from Chennai, came to us having already paid PLN 440 in stamp duty — but his application came back with a deficiency notice because two documents weren't apostilled. He had to start the document collection again, and couldn't get the stamp duty back. We took over, got the corrected package submitted, and he received his 3-year card. The lesson wasn't about the money — it was about the order of operations.
What Happens If Your Application Is Refused — Do You Get a Refund?
Short answer: no. Since March 5, 2026, the stamp duty is not returned if the voivode refuses your application, if you withdraw it, or if proceedings are discontinued. This is a significant change from previous years.
The card issuance fee (PLN 100) is only paid after you receive a positive decision — so that one you don't lose if refused. But the PLN 340–640 stamp duty is gone regardless of outcome. This is exactly why getting the application right on the first submission matters so much. See why karta pobytu applications get rejected for the most common deficiency reasons — fixing those before you submit protects your stamp duty.
The official position from the Office for Foreigners (gov.pl) is clear: opłata skarbowa covers the administrative work of reviewing the case, not the outcome. Pay it only when your file is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my employer pays for my karta pobytu, do they pay the full PLN 540?
The stamp duty (PLN 440 for work permits) can be paid by the employer or the employee — there's no rule on who must pay. In practice, many employers cover the stamp duty and card fee but leave translations and authentication to the employee. Always get written confirmation of what your employer will cover before submitting.
Do children need their own karta pobytu, and what does it cost?
Yes, minor children need their own residence permit. The stamp duty applies per application — PLN 340 for a child applying on family grounds. The card issuance fee for minors under 16 is PLN 50 (half the adult rate). Children's documents (birth certificates, passport) also need sworn translation if issued in a non-Polish language.
Can I pay the stamp duty in cash at the urząd wojewódzki?
No — since applications moved to MOS 2.0 (from April 27, 2026), payments are made by bank transfer to specific accounts shown in the portal. Some voivodeship offices had cash payment options previously, but the electronic-only system standardizes this. You upload proof of payment (potwierdzenie przelewu) as part of the application.
What if I overpay the stamp duty — can I get money back?
If you overpay (e.g., pay PLN 640 when the correct amount was PLN 440), you can apply for a refund of the overpaid amount through the relevant tax office (urząd skarbowy). But if you pay the correct amount and get refused, no refund is available as of March 2026.
Does renewing a karta pobytu cost the same as a first application?
Yes — the stamp duty rates are the same for renewals as for first applications. PLN 440 for a temporary residence and work permit renewal, PLN 100 for the new card. Your previously prepared translations may still be valid if the documents haven't expired or changed — which can reduce your total renewal cost compared to the first application.
Knowing every charge before you start makes the whole process feel less like a series of surprises and more like a budget you control. Legal Solutions — 98% approval rate. Drop us a WhatsApp — we read every message.