{"id":13236,"date":"2026-10-12T16:24:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T13:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migrantexpert.pl\/?p=13236"},"modified":"2026-10-12T16:38:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T13:38:12","slug":"katowice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migrantexpert.pl\/en\/blog\/katowice\/","title":{"rendered":"Legalization in Katowice"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Katowice and the Silesian Voivodeship<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Legalization in Katowice: residence card (TRC), permanent residence and citizenship<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Updated October 2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you live in Katowice or anywhere else in Silesia, your residence card (Karta Pobytu, often called a TRC) is handled by the \u015al\u0105ski Urz\u0105d Wojew\u00f3dzki w Katowicach. Applications for temporary residence (pobyt czasowy), permanent residence (pobyt sta\u0142y) and EU long-term resident status go to the foreigners\u2019 department at ul. Damrota 16, while citizenship cases are handled by a separate department at ul. Jagiello\u0144ska 25.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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MigrantExpert checks which legal basis fits your situation, prepares your documents and follows your case at the Urz\u0105d (the voivodeship office). Below you will find the current addresses, how appointments work and how to check your case status. The general procedure is explained on our residence card in Poland<\/a> page.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In short:<\/strong> applications for temporary residence, permanent residence or EU long-term resident status are filed online through MOS. For your in-person appointment and to collect your card, you go to the Wydzia\u0142 Spraw Cudzoziemc\u00f3w at ul. Damrota 16. Citizenship is handled at ul. Jagiello\u0144ska 25, and the information point at ul. Jordana 18 helps with application forms free of charge.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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EU, EEA or Swiss citizen?<\/strong> You do not need a Karta Pobytu. If you stay in Poland for more than 3 months, you register your stay with the voivode instead. See the section on rules by nationality below.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFree case assessment<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Addresses and service rules checked against the official Urz\u0105d website, katowice.uw.gov.pl, in October 2026.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Urz\u0105d in Katowice for foreigners: addresses and opening hours<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since 9 May 2024, the foreigners\u2019 department has been serving clients at ul. Damrota 16<\/a>. For residence matters, the address at ul. Jagiello\u0144ska 25 is now used for post only. If an older article or a forum tells you to go to Jagiello\u0144ska with your Karta Pobytu case, that information is out of date.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Office<\/th>Address<\/th>What it handles<\/th>Contact and hours<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Wydzia\u0142 Spraw Cudzoziemc\u00f3w<\/a> – foreigners\u2019 department<\/td>ul. Damrota 16, 40-022 Katowice<\/td>Temporary and permanent residence, EU long-term resident status, work permits, invitations (zaproszenie); in-person appointments and card collection<\/td>In-person appointment: when the Urz\u0105d summons you. Collecting documents and invitations: by booking at uw.bezkolejki.eu\/suw4 or 32 605 85 55. Helpline: 780 100 935, working days 7:30-15:30<\/td><\/tr>
Information point for foreigners, Centrum Integracji Cudzoziemc\u00f3w<\/td>ul. Jordana 18, 4th floor, room 403\/5, 40-043 Katowice<\/td>Free advice on legalization, help filling in applications, accepts some applications and additional documents for ongoing cases, certifies copies<\/td>Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00, Tuesday until 19:00<\/td><\/tr>
Wydzia\u0142 Spraw Obywatelskich<\/a> – citizenship department, main Urz\u0105d building<\/td>ul. Jagiello\u0144ska 25, 40-032 Katowice<\/td>Recognition as a Polish citizen, granting and confirming citizenship, Karta Polaka. This is also the Urz\u0105d\u2019s postal address, including for residence cases: letters and documents are sent here by post<\/td>wsoim@katowice.uw.gov.pl, 32 20 77 326 \/ 327<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Foreigners\u2019 department - ul. Damrota 16<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Wydzia\u0142 Spraw Cudzoziemc\u00f3w is the immigration office for Katowice. It handles temporary and permanent residence, EU long-term resident status, work permits and invitations. This is also where you go for your in-person appointment: to give fingerprints, show your passport and original documents, and collect your card. You come either when the Urz\u0105d summons you or with a booking, as explained below.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Free information point - ul. Jordana 18<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since 2 January 2026, the Urz\u0105d\u2019s information point has been located in the Centrum Integracji Cudzoziemc\u00f3w at ul. Jordana 18, 4th floor, room 403\/5. It is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00, and until 19:00 on Tuesdays.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Staff there explain free of charge which application fits your situation and help you fill it in and gather documents. You can also submit some residence applications and additional documents for an ongoing case, and have copies certified against the originals. The decision on your case is still made by the department at Damrota 16.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Citizenship - ul. Jagiello\u0144ska 25<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Applications for recognition as a Polish citizen and for the grant of citizenship are accepted by the Wydzia\u0142 Spraw Obywatelskich in the main Urz\u0105d building at ul. Jagiello\u0144ska 25. The same department handles the Karta Polaka. Residence cases are not dealt with here: you do not take citizenship documents to Damrota, and you do not take a Karta Pobytu case to Jagiello\u0144ska.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If you live outside Katowice: Bielsko-Bia\u0142a and Cz\u0119stochowa<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Katowice is the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship (wojew\u00f3dztwo \u015bl\u0105skie), so its Urz\u0105d serves foreigners from the whole region. Which office handles your application for temporary residence, permanent residence or EU long-term resident status depends on the district (powiat) or city where you live. Names in the table are written as the Urz\u0105d writes them.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Office<\/th>Address<\/th>For residents of<\/th>Email<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Katowice, Wydzia\u0142 Spraw Cudzoziemc\u00f3w<\/td>ul. Damrota 16, 40-022 Katowice<\/td>Powiaty: b\u0119dzi\u0144ski, bieru\u0144sko-l\u0119dzi\u0144ski, gliwicki, miko\u0142owski, raciborski, rybnicki, tarnog\u00f3rski, wodzis\u0142awski. Miasta: Bytom, Chorz\u00f3w, D\u0105browa G\u00f3rnicza, Gliwice, Jastrz\u0119bie-Zdr\u00f3j, Jaworzno, Katowice, Mys\u0142owice, Piekary \u015al\u0105skie, Ruda \u015al\u0105ska, Rybnik, Siemianowice \u015al\u0105skie, Sosnowiec, \u015awi\u0119toch\u0142owice, Tychy, Zabrze, \u017bory<\/td>cudzoziemcy@katowice.uw.gov.pl<\/td><\/tr>
Bielsko-Bia\u0142a branch<\/td>ul. Piastowska 40, 43-300 Bielsko-Bia\u0142a, pok\u00f3j nr 19<\/td>Powiaty: bielski, cieszy\u0144ski, pszczy\u0144ski, \u017cywiecki. Miasto: Bielsko-Bia\u0142a<\/td>cudzoziemcy.bielsko@katowice.uw.gov.pl<\/td><\/tr>
Cz\u0119stochowa branch<\/td>ul. Jana III Sobieskiego 7, Cz\u0119stochowa, pok\u00f3j nr 46 (wej\u015bcie od ul. Korczaka)<\/td>Powiaty: cz\u0119stochowski, k\u0142obucki, lubliniecki, myszkowski, zawiercia\u0144ski. Miasto: Cz\u0119stochowa<\/td>cudzoziemcy.czestochowa@katowice.uw.gov.pl<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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How to book an appointment at the Urz\u0105d in Katowice: online queue and phone<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence or EU long-term resident status can only be filed online, through the MOS portal<\/a>. You log in via login.gov.pl and can sign the application with Profil Zaufany, a qualified electronic signature or podpis osobisty. There are few exceptions: for example, a family reunification application for a relative who is still outside Poland is still filed on paper. We walk through the form step by step in our guide on applying via the MOS portal<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  1. Filing in MOS. Your application counts as filed the moment you send it through the system. You do not need to print it or post it to the Urz\u0105d. If your card has already expired or is about to, first check what exactly is ending – the card or the decision (decyzja). Your next step depends on that.<\/li>
  2. Summons for your in-person appointment. The Urz\u0105d sets the date itself: the letter tells you when to come to give fingerprints and a signature sample, show your passport and originals, or fix gaps in your application. You do not book this visit separately. The summons is not sent through MOS but to your postal address, so keep an eye on your mail.<\/li>
  3. Bookings are only for collecting documents and invitations. You do not book a slot in the online queue to file an application. Bookings are for collecting finished documents, including picking up your Karta Pobytu, and for invitations (zaproszenie). Online booking is at uw.bezkolejki.eu\/suw4, phone booking at 32 605 85 55. Only the person named on the booking, or their pe\u0142nomocnik (authorised representative), is admitted.<\/li>
  4. If there are no slots. The Urz\u0105d releases dates in batches, so an empty calendar usually means the current batch is already taken. Check the calendar regularly or ask the helpline at 780 100 935.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Cannot get a booking or not sure which service to choose in the calendar? Tell us about your situation and we will tell you what to do next.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDiscuss your case<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Residence card in Katowice: legal bases and where to read more<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    In Katowice, a Karta Pobytu is issued on the same legal bases as anywhere else in Poland. Requirements, documents and procedure depend on the basis, so the first step is to work out which one fits you. Most non-EU citizens start with a temporary residence card<\/a>; our TRC guide<\/a> covers the types and requirements, and the TRC document checklist<\/a> lists what to prepare.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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