Questions
Questions from the Auranik Community
Practical questions about immigration, studying abroad, visas, business, tax, employment and international life.
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Do scholarships cover tuition only or living expenses too?
Varies by scholarship -- some cover tuition only, others include a living stipend. Explains why this matters for visa financial-means evidence.
What documents are normally needed for scholarship applications?
The general document categories common across scholarship applications, while noting exact requirements are programme-specific.
How important is a motivation letter?
Generally treated as a significant, sometimes decisive, part of the application -- explains why it matters and general guidance for writing one.
Can I apply to a university and scholarship simultaneously?
Often possible in parallel, but the exact sequencing depends on the specific scholarship and university -- some scholarships require admission first.
What documents are needed for temporary residence in Poland?
An overview of the document categories a temporary residence application in Poland typically involves, and why the exact list depends on your specific basis for residence.
How do I apply for a temporary residence permit through MOS?
What the MOS electronic portal is, when it became mandatory, and the statutory exceptions that still allow paper applications.
What is the difference between a visa and a residence permit in Poland?
Visas and residence permits are issued by different authorities, cover different stay lengths, and follow different rules -- this explains the practical distinction.
Can I stay in Poland while my residence application is pending?
Explains the legal-stay guarantee that applies while a timely, complete temporary residence application is pending, and the certificate that confirms it.
When do I need to replace my residence card?
The statutory grounds for residence-card exchange and the national 14-day deadline that applies once one of them arises.
What happens if I change my address during my residence case?
The general duty to notify a change of address during a pending administrative proceeding, and why it does not carry a fixed day-count.
What happens if I move to another voivodeship while my case is pending?
How territorial jurisdiction transfers between voivodeship offices, and the KPA guarantee that a move does not cause a missed deadline.
How long do I have to notify the voivode after employment ends?
A quick, direct answer on the 15-working-day notification deadline, and the separate 15-calendar-day duty that applies to the employer instead.
What should I do if my passport changes during my residence case?
Distinguishes a routine passport renewal (usually no action needed) from a passport change that alters data printed on your residence card (which does trigger a duty).
What is permanent residence in Poland?
A general overview of Polish permanent residence, including the marriage-to-a-Polish-citizen pathway as one common route.
What is EU long-term resident status?
How EU long-term resident status works in Poland, the 5-year continuous residence requirement, and the special rule for student/training time.
What should I do if my employment ends while I have a residence and work permit?
The statutory 15-working-day notification duty when employment ends for a foreigner holding a temporary residence-and-work permit, and the alternative of filing an amendment instead.
Can I change employer after receiving a temporary residence and work permit?
Explains why changing employer, position, salary, working time, or contract type on an existing permit generally requires an amendment, and the fee involved.
Do I always need to amend my residence permit when I change employer?
No -- explains the "dostęp do rynku pracy" (labour market access) annotation that lets some cardholders change employers freely.
Who submits Annex No. 1?
Clarifies that Annex No. 1 is completed and signed by the employer, not the applicant, and where it is used.
What documents do I need to join my spouse in Poland?
The document requirements differ materially depending on whether your spouse is a Polish citizen or a foreigner with their own Polish residence status -- explains both routes.
Do I need to register my foreign marriage in Poland?
Explains that transcription of a foreign marriage certificate into the Polish civil registry is a separate process, generally not a prerequisite for a residence application.
What documents are needed if my spouse is a Polish citizen?
The document checklist for a temporary residence application as the spouse of a Polish citizen, including the genuine-marriage assessment.
What documents are needed if my spouse is a foreigner with a Polish residence permit?
Explains the sponsor-eligibility test that applies when the sponsor is a foreigner, and why this checklist differs from the Polish-citizen-spouse route.
How recent must my marriage certificate be?
The commonly-observed 3-month freshness window for a marriage certificate in the spouse-of-Polish-citizen route.
Does my marriage certificate need an apostille?
Not always -- explains why the answer depends on the issuing country and points to Auranik's decision engine rather than giving a blanket answer.
Do EU marriage certificates need apostille in Poland?
Generally no -- EU Regulation 2016/1191 removes the apostille requirement for civil-status documents moving between EU member states.
Can I apply for permanent residence after marriage to a Polish citizen?
The general marriage-and-residence-duration pattern reported for permanent residence via marriage to a Polish citizen.
What is an apostille?
A plain explanation of what an apostille is, what it does and does not prove, and how it differs from legalisation.
What is the difference between apostille and sworn translation?
They solve two completely different problems -- authentication versus language -- and one does not replace the other.
Which documents need a sworn translation in Poland?
The general Polish administrative principle behind the sworn-translation requirement for foreign-language documents.
What is KRS?
KRS is the National Court Register -- the official register a capital company must be entered into to legally exist.
Can a foreigner open a company in Poland?
Yes, in most cases -- but the exact form of business you can run depends on your citizenship and residence status. Explains the distinction between sole proprietorship and capital companies.
What is a sp. z o.o.?
A plain explanation of the Polish limited liability company structure, its capital requirements, and who can form one.
What is the minimum share capital for a Polish limited company?
The statutory minimum share capital and minimum per-share value for a Polish limited liability company.
Do I need a Polish address?
Yes -- a company needs a registered office address in Poland, though this does not have to be your personal residence.
Do I need PESEL to open a company?
Not strictly for a capital company, but PESEL (plus a Trusted Profile) is needed for the electronic registration route most people actually use.
What is NIP?
NIP is the Tax Identification Number, automatically assigned alongside REGON when a company registers in KRS.
What is REGON?
REGON is a statistical identification number, distinct from the tax-identifying NIP, and both are issued automatically at KRS registration.
What is PKD?
PKD codes classify what kind of business activity your company performs -- explains how to pick them and why it matters.
Does owning a Polish company automatically give residence rights?
No -- owning shares or being registered in KRS does not by itself grant residence rights, though running a genuine business can be a separate basis to apply for one.
What is CIT in Poland?
CIT is corporate income tax -- explains the standard and reduced rates and who qualifies for each.
What is VAT in Poland?
VAT basics: the standard rate, reduced rates, and when registration becomes mandatory.
When may VAT registration be required?
The general annual turnover threshold above which VAT registration becomes mandatory, plus activities that require registration regardless of turnover.
What is PIT?
PIT is personal income tax, paid by individuals rather than companies -- a quick explanation of how it relates to CIT.
What is ZUS?
ZUS is Poland's social insurance institution -- explains what it covers and the general concept of preferential rates for new businesses.
What is the difference between gross and net salary?
Gross salary is before deductions; net (take-home) salary is what an employee actually receives after tax and social-insurance contributions.
Where can I check official Polish tax information?
The primary official Polish government portals for tax and business information.
What employer costs exist beyond gross salary?
No -- the employer also pays additional social-insurance contributions on top of gross salary, adding roughly a fifth more to the real cost of employment.
What is JPK?
JPK is the standardized electronic file format Polish businesses use to report VAT and accounting data to the tax authorities.
What accounting records must a sp. z o.o. maintain?
A sp. z o.o. must maintain full accounting records under the Polish Accounting Act -- explains what this generally involves.
When is an annual financial statement required?
Yes -- capital companies like a sp. z o.o. must prepare and file an annual financial statement each fiscal year.
Does every company need an accountant?
Not strictly mandatory by law for every business, but a sp. z o.o.'s full-accounting obligations make professional support the practical norm.
What happens if company filings are late?
Late filings can trigger penalties, interest, and in serious/repeated cases scrutiny of the company's registration -- explains the general categories of consequence.
How do I apply to a university in Poland from Bangladesh?
A general overview of the university-application-then-visa sequence for applicants from outside Poland, and why requirements vary by university.
What documents are usually needed for university admission?
The document categories most Polish university applications share, while noting individual requirements vary.
Do I need IELTS to study in Poland?
Not universally mandated by the government -- English-language proficiency requirements are set by individual universities/programs, not a single national rule.
Can a university accept another English-language certificate?
Often yes -- many universities accept alternatives to IELTS, but this is entirely program-specific.
What academic documents are usually required?
The core academic documents most applications require, and why their exact form (original, certified copy, translated) depends on your specific program.
Does receiving a scholarship guarantee a visa?
No -- a scholarship helps demonstrate financial means and genuine study intent, but the visa decision remains entirely with the consulate.
Do certificates need legalization or apostille?
It depends on your issuing country -- the same apostille/legalisation logic that applies to civil-status documents generally applies to academic documents too.
Do documents need certified translations?
Generally yes for non-English/non-Polish documents -- explains the sworn-translator requirement in a study-abroad context.
What is NAWA recognition?
NAWA is Poland's National Agency for Academic Exchange, responsible for assessing whether a foreign qualification is equivalent to a Polish one.
When is a NAWA document or recognition required?
Explains nostrification versus the "Informacja Dyrektora NAWA" letter, and points to NAWA's own online checking tool.
How do I pay university application fees from Bangladesh?
General payment-method considerations for international application fees -- specific accepted methods vary by university.
How can I pay tuition fees in foreign currency?
General payment considerations for ongoing tuition, and why proof of tuition payment can matter for a student visa.
When should I start a university application?
General timing guidance -- start early enough to allow for document preparation, university deadlines, and visa processing time.
Can I apply before receiving my final results?
Often yes, via conditional admission -- but this depends entirely on the specific university's policy.
What is a conditional admission letter?
A conditional admission letter is a provisional acceptance, contingent on meeting specific conditions such as final results or a language certificate.
What is a university acceptance letter?
The core information a university acceptance letter typically includes, and why it's central to your visa application.
Is tuition-payment confirmation required for a student visa?
Sometimes -- this varies by consulate and specific case, not a universal fixed requirement.
Can Auranik help prepare scholarship documents?
Yes -- Auranik can help organize and review scholarship application documents, though the award decision itself rests with the scholarship provider.
How much money should a student show for visa purposes?
The exact figure is consulate/case-specific and not something a general answer should assert -- confirm the current amount directly.
Can a relative sponsor a student?
Generally yes, with a sponsorship letter and supporting evidence -- explains what such a letter typically needs to show.
What should a sponsorship letter contain?
The common elements of a sponsorship letter, while noting exact expectations vary by consulate.
Can a student's parent or relative living in Poland sponsor them?
Generally yes, and this may also connect to a separate family-reunification consideration depending on the relationship and circumstances.
What documents are generally required for a Polish student visa?
The document categories commonly required for a Polish D-type student visa, sourced from consular application guidance.
What documents are generally required for a work visa?
The general document categories for a work-purpose national visa, distinct from a residence-and-work permit application.
What is proof of accommodation?
The general forms of accommodation evidence accepted for a national visa application.
How much travel insurance may be required?
The commonly-cited minimum coverage amount and key features expected of travel medical insurance for a D visa application.
What does proof of financial means mean?
General forms of financial-means evidence, and why the specific required amount is consulate-specific rather than universal.
What is a visa checklist?
Explains a visa checklist as a structured way to track document readiness before a consular appointment, and why it should match your specific visa type and consulate.
Can Auranik guarantee a visa?
No -- Auranik cannot guarantee any visa, residence, or immigration outcome. Decisions rest entirely with the competent government authority.
Can Auranik help prepare visa documents?
What Auranik can and cannot do for a visa application, framed honestly against the guarantee question above.
What happens if a document is missing from a visa application?
A missing document commonly leads to a request to complete the file or a refusal -- explains the general categories of outcome.
Can I apply for a visa using a temporary flight reservation?
Many consulates accept a temporary/dummy flight reservation rather than a paid ticket -- but this varies, so confirm before assuming.
What is the Schengen 90/180 rule?
The core Schengen short-stay rule: a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period, and how it's counted.
Does time on a Polish D visa count toward 90/180?
No -- time authorized under a national long-stay (D) visa is explicitly excluded from the Schengen short-stay calculation, under EU law.
Does residence-permit time count toward normal short-stay days?
No -- the same EU-law exclusion that applies to D visas applies to residence-permit-authorized stays too.
How do I find scholarships for Poland?
The main starting points for finding Poland-related scholarships: NAWA's own programmes, individual university scholarships, and general scholarship databases.
What is the NAWA scholarship system?
NAWA runs several distinct scholarship programmes, not one universal scheme -- explains the concept and why eligibility varies by programme.
Who can apply for NAWA scholarships?
Eligibility depends entirely on which specific NAWA programme you're looking at -- explains why a general answer can't safely name eligible countries without checking the current list.
Can Auranik help prepare documents for a Europe trip from Bangladesh?
A practical question about itinerary documents, accommodation information and visa-document readiness for European travel.
Can I start a company in Poland as a foreign entrepreneur?
A question about business establishment, operational setup and administrative preparation in Poland.
What is the difference between a work permit and a visa?
A common question from applicants preparing work-related documentation for international employment.