Short version: applying for a karta czasowego pobytu for a minor foreigner in 2026 is a separate procedure that runs in parallel with the parent's application but has its own documents. The headline 2026 requirements: school enrolment in Poland for ages 7–15 (obowiązek szkolny), demonstrated income of at least 701 PLN per family member per month after rent, and health insurance with at least €30,000 coverage if the child is not on a parent's ZUS.
Which Card the Child Needs
Three main routes for minors in 2026:
| Route | When to use |
|---|---|
| Karta czasowego pobytu — połączenie z rodziną | Parent holds karta czasowego, stałego, CUKR, or Blue Card |
| Karta stałego pobytu | One parent is a Polish citizen, or the child is a minor with a parent on karta stałego |
| Karta CUKR | Ukrainian child with PESEL UKR (own or parent's) |
For most CIS-origin children — Article 159 (połączenie z rodziną). The card tracks the parent's expiry and renews automatically while the child is a minor.
Documents — Standard Pack
Filing through MOS v2.0 in the child's name (signed by the parent as opiekun prawny):
1. Identity documents:
- Child's passport (photo page).
- Birth certificate with apostille + sworn translation.
- Internal ID for those over 14 in RU/BY (where issued).
2. Link to the parent-sponsor:
- Copy of the parent's karta pobytu.
- Income evidence: PIT-11, ZUS RCA for 3 months, bank statements.
- If the child is not from both spouses — consent of the other parent or a custody decision (apostille + sworn translation).
3. Housing:
- Lease or proof of ownership with the child's meldunek.
- Written confirmation from the landlord (often requested in Mazowieckie).
4. Health insurance:
- If the parent is on umowa o pracę — ZUS/NFZ covers the child as "członek rodziny". Confirmation: ZUS ZCNA extract.
- If umowa zlecenie or JDG — private policy with at least €30,000 coverage.
5. School (obowiązek szkolny — ages 7–15):
- Mandatory from 2026 — school enrolment certificate. Without it, Mazowieckie does not issue the card.
- Alternatives: enrolment confirmation for homeschooling (edukacja domowa) or accredited foreign curriculum (IB, British school).
6. Technical:
- 4 biometric photos 35×45 mm.
- 340 PLN state fee.
- Application form effective 1 December 2025.
Family Income Calculation
Baseline: after rent and obligatory payments, the family must retain at least 701 PLN per person per month (the 2026 social-assistance threshold).
Family of 3 in Warsaw with rent at 2,200 PLN:
- Required after-rent: 701 × 3 = 2,103 PLN.
- Total household net: 2,200 + 2,103 = 4,303 PLN/month net.
- Equivalent to ~5,700 PLN gross from one parent or ~3,500 PLN gross each for two working parents.
Family of 4 — needs 5,004 PLN/month after rent (701 × 4 + rent), i.e., ~6,700 PLN gross.
Accepted income sources: umowa o pracę, umowa zlecenie (with regularity), JDG with PIT-36, sp. z o.o. (dividends + salary), 800+ benefits, alimony fund payments.
Not accepted: one-off transfers from abroad, irregular income without a work basis, "grey" salary.
800+ for Foreign Children
Since 2024, the 800+ programme covers foreign children if:
- Child resides in Poland;
- Parent holds a valid karta pobytu of any type, karta CUKR, EU resident status, or karta stałego.
800 PLN/month per child under 18, paid by ZUS. Filing — via Empatia portal or PUE ZUS, after the parent's karta is issued.
Since 2025, third-country foreigners must show their child is enrolled in school — a payment-stop trigger. This was the catalyst for the 2026 mandatory school requirement on karta pobytu.
Polish School Enrolment
Ages 7–15 are subject to obowiązek szkolny — compulsory schooling. Foreign children may enrol in:
- Polish public school (free, by rejon based on meldunek).
- Polish private school (paid, from 1,500 PLN/month in Warsaw).
- International school (English-medium, IB, French Lyceum) — from 4,500 PLN/month.
- Edukacja domowa with director's permission.
Public-school enrolment:
- Find the rejon school via the m.st. Warszawy portal or local equivalent.
- File via Vulcan Nabór (Warsaw) or offline.
- Provide birth certificate with apostille + sworn translation.
- If previously schooled — translated grade reports.
- Obtain potwierdzenie zapisu — the document for karta pobytu.
Recruitment for the new year runs February–March. Mid-year arrivals only if a slot is available.
Where Applications Fail
1. Birth certificate without apostille. Required for RU, BY, UA, GE birth certificates. Without — uzupełnienie braków, 4–6 weeks lost.
2. Income shortfall. A 2-child family with one parent on minimum wage often fails the threshold in Warsaw. Solution — second income (zlecenie, JDG) or sponsor income.
3. No school. A 9-year-old not enrolled in any Polish school — refusal. Solution — enrol before filing.
4. Other parent's consent. Father or mother abroad without notarised consent + apostille — potential refusal.
5. Parent's karta expiring. The child's karta is issued only up to the parent's expiry. Renewed jointly later.
When You Need a Lawyer
Self-handling works if: both parents in Poland, stable high income, school secured, documents apostilled.
Engage a lawyer if:
- child from a previous marriage, other parent abroad;
- divorce or separated parents;
- adoption or guardianship;
- unstable family income;
- prior refusal;
- child over 18 still studying.
LegalWin's fee for a child's karta pobytu — 1,200 PLN if filed in parallel with the parent. Includes school-enrolment support.
This article is informational. Specific requirements depend on the child's age, parents' status, and country of citizenship. For individual matters, please obtain legal advice.
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