The short answer: yes, but not as family reunification
Poland's family reunification routes are built around marriage: Article 158 of the Act on Foreigners covers spouses of Polish citizens and Article 159 covers spouses and minor children of resident foreigners. An unmarried partner is not a family member under either article, and not under the EU free-movement definition either.
Voivodeship offices nevertheless grant a temporary residence permit on other grounds to a foreigner who intends to stay in Poland for more than three months and is in an informal relationship with a Polish citizen or with a foreigner who holds a residence title in Poland. The Lublin voivodeship office publishes a dedicated page for this route.
Who can use the route
Your partner must be either a Polish citizen or a foreigner with a residence title in Poland, such as a temporary or permanent residence permit. You must be in Poland legally when you apply, because the application is filed with the voivode for your place of stay no later than the last day of your legal stay.
The office looks at whether the relationship is real and stable, so it helps to show shared life: a joint tenancy, shared bills, photos over time, travel together or children in common. The official page does not list fixed evidence of the relationship, which means the office assesses each case individually.
Conditions and documents
The office lists documents that reduce correspondence and speed up the decision: a copy of your partner's ID card or passport, your partner's residence permit if they are a foreigner, health insurance through ZUS and NFZ or a policy covering treatment costs in Poland, and proof of secured accommodation such as a registration certificate or rental agreement.
You also need a stable and regular income. The office uses 823 PLN net a month per person in a family as the reference. Because a partner is not legally a family member, support from them can be shown with a notarised annuity agreement (umowa renty) signed with the partner, together with documents showing the partner's own income.
Filing in MOS and fees
Since 27 April 2026 temporary residence applications are filed electronically in MOS. You create an account through login.gov.pl, fill in the form, attach a digital photo and scans of every passport page, sign with a trusted profile or qualified signature, and download the UPO receipt as proof of filing.
The stamp duty is 340 PLN, paid when you apply, and the residence card costs 100 PLN, or 50 PLN for a child under 16. Once the application is formally correct, the voivode issues a certificate in MOS confirming that your stay is legal while you wait, and later calls you in to give fingerprints.
Working on this permit
The Lublin office states plainly that a permit granted on these other grounds does not by itself entitle you to work. That differs from the spouse-of-a-Polish-citizen permit, so plan for it if you need an income of your own.
To work, your employer needs to obtain a work permit for you, unless you fall under an exemption such as holding a Polish university diploma. Alternatively, if you have a job offer that meets the conditions, a temporary residence and work permit may fit better than the partner route.
If you marry later
Marriage changes the legal picture. A foreigner who marries a Polish citizen can apply under Article 158, and a foreigner who marries a resident foreigner with a qualifying status can use family reunification under Article 159, both of which have their own document checklists.
If the reason your permit was granted ceases to exist, for example the relationship ends, temporary residence holders must notify the voivode. Keep your contact details up to date in every pending case, because letters sent to an old address still count as delivered.
Next steps
Gather your partner's ID and status documents, your health insurance, accommodation and income evidence, and anything showing your shared life. Then open the Auranik family-route finder to confirm that the partner route is the best fit for your situation.
If your income comes from your partner, arrange the notarised annuity agreement before filing. Auranik can review the full set of documents before you sign in MOS, though the decision always rests with the voivode and Auranik cannot guarantee it. Start here: Check your family route.
Frequently asked questions
Can an unmarried partner of a Polish citizen get residence in Poland?
Yes. Voivodeship offices grant temporary residence on other grounds for an informal relationship with a Polish citizen or with a foreigner who holds a Polish residence title.
Can I work on an unmarried-partner residence permit?
Not automatically. The Lublin office states the permit does not by itself allow work, so you need a work permit or an exemption.
How much does the partner permit cost?
340 PLN stamp duty plus 100 PLN for the residence card (50 PLN for a child under 16).
Community content reflects individual experiences and should not be treated as legal, immigration, financial or government advice.
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