Appeal from a negative decision

If you do not agree with the decision received, you can appeal to the Head of the Office for Foreigners (Szef urzędu ds. Cudzoziemców) via the voivode who has issued the decision. A written appeal letter should be submitted within 14 calendar days from the date of receipt of the decision. 

The decision becomes final if an appeal is not submitted within that period.

How should I write the appeal letter?

Fortunately, the appeal does not have to be written in advanced legal language, but it must be prepared in Polish anyway, so we advise you to use online translators and send the document to Welcome Point to correct any errors. You can also use the assistance of one of the NGOs described in this section.

Do I have to attach any other documents?

Together with the appeal letter, you have to attach all the documents that will show the authorities that you still fulfil all requirements for obtaining the residence card. That means that the missing documents are crucial, but you also have to make sure they still have your valid insurance, valid lease agreement, valid bank statement and so on. As the procedures take such a long time, those that were attached at the beginning of the procedure may be simply no longer valid.

How should I submit all the appeal documents?

The appeal letter should be submitted in person at the Department’s Registry Office at ul. Marszałkowska 3/5 in Warsaw (ground floor, stand 8, after collecting a ticket with the letter “A”), via the Customer Service Point of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship Office in Warsaw, pl. Bankowy 3/5, (entrance F from Al. Solidarności) or sent by post.

If you decide to send the documents by post, please remember to collect the letter registration receipt from the post office.

Address the envelope to the below address:

Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki w Warszawie

Wydział Spraw Cudzoziemców

Marszałkowska 3/5

00-624 Warszaw

(Szef Urzędu ds. Cudzoziemców)

How long does it take to get an answer regarding the appeal?

The appeal procedure usually lasts 7 months or more.

Here you will find an instructional video prepared by the Department for Foreigners, which clearly explains the entire appeal procedure.