Can you leave Poland while you are waiting for a residence permit?

Jana Podoroha
Aug 21
2 min read

Applying for a residence permit is a lengthy process. The process can take months, and sometimes more than a year. So many people have a question: is it possible to leave Poland while the documents are being processed? Let's figure it out.

If there are no parallel documents

If you have applied for a residence card, but do not have a valid visa, residence card or UKR status , you cannot travel outside Poland .

Why? It's simple:

upon your return, you will have no legal grounds to enter Poland or the EU;
You will only be able to return when your visa-free status is renewed (if you have one and it is still valid).

👉 Example: you flew to Egypt or Turkey, but you were not allowed back because you do not have a visa or residence permit.

If there are valid documents

It's a different situation if you have:

valid visa;
the old map of beatings has not yet ended;
or your UKR status is still active.

In this case, departure is possible, but with nuances:

under a visa or residence card - without restrictions, until the end of their term;
for UKR status - it is better to leave only in the first months after filing, because later the system may revoke the status, and returning will become difficult.

Special option: opening a new visa

If the visa has expired and there is no UKR status, and the residence card is still being considered, the only way out is to go to your country and open a new Polish visa . This can be:

work visa;
student;
business visa;
child visa.

This will give you the opportunity to legally leave and return to Poland while you wait for a decision.

Result

✅ You can travel outside Poland while waiting for a residence card, but only if you have valid documents (visa, residence card or UKR status) at the same time. ❌ If you don't have documents, it's better to wait for the plastic, otherwise you risk staying outside Poland without the possibility of returning.

✍️ If you need full support on issues of residence, residency or citizenship in Warsaw and Krakow, contact us. Our specialists will help you choose the best solution for your situation.