Official statistics: how many Karta Polaka cards are issued each year

Poland's Document Personalization Center (Centrum Personalizacji Dokumentów, Ministry of Interior) publishes official quarterly data on dane.gov.pl about the number of Karta Polaka cards issued — broken down by each of the 16 voivodeships and combined for all consulates abroad. Over the last three complete years, the picture is unambiguous: issuance is falling.

Year Consulates (abroad) Voivodeships (in Poland) Total Change vs previous year
2023 13,797 12,279 26,076 —
2024 11,789 10,243 22,032 −15.5%
2025 12,290 7,181 19,471 −11.6%

"Total" is the sum of the quarterly figures from the official dane.gov.pl tables (the "KARTA POLAKA 2023", "KARTA POLAKA 2024", and "KARTA POLAKA 2025" datasets), calculated by us — the portal doesn't publish a single annual figure. Over two consecutive years, the number of cards issued dropped by nearly a quarter, from 26,076 to 19,471.

Why Białystok and Biała Podlaska are the undisputed leaders

In 2025, the Podlaskie voivodeship (centered on Białystok) issued 2,414 Karta Polaka cards, and Lubelskie (with a dedicated branch office specifically in Biała Podlaska) issued 1,855. Together, that's more than all other 14 voivodeships combined. This isn't a coincidence or a "hidden gem" — it's a direct result of how the system was built.

Before 2017, a Karta Polaka application could only be filed through a consul abroad. A Council of Ministers regulation dated October 5, 2017 (Dz.U. 2017 item 1900) designated exactly one voivodeship — Podlaskie — as competent to accept applications inside Poland, and only for Belarusian citizens. Only in July 2022 was the regulation expanded (Dz.U. 2022 item 1498): the right to apply inside Poland was extended to citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia (or stateless persons from those countries), and all 16 voivodeships became competent at once.

Five years of exclusivity did their work: the Podlaskie and Lubelskie offices had time to build up experience, staff, and a reputation as "the place to go." The other 14 voivodeships only gained the same authority recently — and for now they process far fewer applications.

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Who can legally apply through a voivodeship office?

The right to approach any of the 16 voivodeships doesn't apply to everyone. Under regulation Dz.U. 2022 item 1498, it's available only to citizens of Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, and the Russian Federation, as well as stateless persons with status in those countries.

If you're applying based on Polish ancestry while living in, say, the US or Canada, and you're not a citizen of any of the three countries named above, this provision doesn't apply to you: the only competent authority for you is the consul responsible for your place of residence (Art. 12(2) of the Karta Polaka Act).

Don't confuse this with stały pobyt: For the permanent residence permit, jurisdiction is tied to your actual place of residence in Poland — there's no choice involved. More details in our article "How to Apply for the Karta Polaka Faster". The free choice of voivodeship applies only to the Karta Polaka itself.

Why Warsaw, Kraków, and Wrocław issue so few

The 2025 figures for major cities stand in stark contrast to Podlaskie and Lubelskie: the Mazowieckie voivodeship (Warsaw) issued 366 cards for the entire year, Małopolskie (Kraków) only 50, Dolnośląskie (Wrocław) 98, and Wielkopolskie (Poznań) 67.

The reason isn't legal, it's organizational: demand concentrates where the application option has been known longest and the process is best established. In big cities, far more people compete for the same appointment slots, while less "well-known" voivodeships — such as Opolskie (561 cards in 2025) or Świętokrzyskie (440) — process proportionally more applications with shorter queues.

What this means for your application

If you're a citizen of Ukraine, Belarus, or Russia (or a stateless person from those countries) and you're physically present in Poland, the law lets you approach any of the 16 voivodeships, not just the two most popular ones.

  • Check the current status of appointments in a specific voivodeship right before applying — the load changes every quarter, and information that was accurate six months ago may no longer hold.
  • Don't rely solely on the "common wisdom" of heading to Białystok or Biała Podlaska — that's exactly where competition is highest and inspectors are most experienced, with the highest expectations of candidates.
  • Applying to several voivodeships at once simultaneously is a tactic some consultants recommend, but it isn't explicitly regulated by law anywhere; we found no official confirmation that it's proper or that it doesn't cause problems if the applications are processed in parallel.
Operational advice changes faster than the law: voivodeships periodically open and close registration. Always check the current status on the official page of the specific voivodeship before deciding.

The declining trend: what to expect next

Over the last two complete years, Karta Polaka issuance dropped by nearly a quarter. At the same time, according to observations from consultants who prepare applicants (not confirmed by separate official statistics on interview length), interviews themselves are getting longer and more demanding — which matches what we already covered in our article on the 2-3 hour interview length.

There are no formal signs yet that the trend will reverse. If you meet the criteria, it's not worth delaying your preparation while waiting for things to get easier.

Frequently asked questions

How many Karta Polaka cards are issued each year?

According to official dane.gov.pl data (Poland's Document Personalization Center), about 19,471 cards were issued in 2025 — 11.6% fewer than in 2024 (22,032) and almost a quarter fewer than in 2023 (26,076).

Why do Białystok and Biała Podlaska issue the most Karta Polaka cards?

A historical reason: from 2017 to 2022, only the Podlaskie voivodeship (Białystok) had the right to accept applications inside Poland, and only from Belarusian citizens. Although all 16 voivodeships gained the right in July 2022, Podlaskie and Lubelskie (with a branch in Biała Podlaska) still process the most applications thanks to their head start in experience and reputation.

Can I apply for the Karta Polaka in any voivodeship?

Yes, if you're a citizen of Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus, or the Russian Federation (or a stateless person from those countries) and you're present in Poland — under regulation Dz.U. 2022 item 1498, all 16 voivodeships are competent. Citizens of other countries must apply through the consul for their place of residence.

Is Karta Polaka issuance really declining?

Yes, according to official data the decline has continued for two years running: −15.5% in 2024 versus 2023, and another −11.6% in 2025 versus 2024.

Can I apply to several voivodeships at the same time?

The law doesn't explicitly forbid it, but it doesn't confirm it either. This is advice from consultants' practical experience, not a legally established right — use it with the understanding that there's no official clarification on parallel processing.

Does the free choice of voivodeship also apply to stały pobyt?

No. For stały pobyt, jurisdiction is strictly tied to your actual place of residence in Poland — there's no choice. Free choice among the 16 voivodeships applies only to the Karta Polaka.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Voivodeship practice changes faster than the law — before applying, verify the current status on official sources:
PLTest Editorial Team

We build our materials on official sources — the Ustawa o Karcie Polaka, MSZ clarifications, and gov.pl — and verify every legal fact before publishing. The questions in PLTest's database are tested against the experience of hundreds of users who have already gone through the consul interview.