Katowice Resident Card and Help Points for Foreigners
Short answer: The Katowice card is free. You qualify with permanent or temporary registration plus a student or under-26 status, or by settling income tax in Katowice, and you show a photo ID when using it.
Katowice has two things worth knowing about if you have just moved there: the Katowice Resident Card (Katowicka Karta Mieszkańca, KKM) and the city's support points for foreigners. The card is free and gives discounts at city venues and partners. You do not need permanent registration to get it, but you do need to settle your income tax in Katowice or be registered as a temporary resident in one of a few groups. This guide uses the city's official card pages on katowice.eu, the card FAQ, the city's information desk page for foreigners and a city press item on the Foreigners Integration Centre. Rules and opening hours change, so check the city pages before you go.
What the card is
According to the city, the card is a personal, named card. It is valid only together with a photo ID of its holder, so you may be asked to show a passport or residence card at a pool or museum. The card can take three forms, and the FAQ says you can use them together or choose one:
- an electronic m-card in the Katowicka Karta Mieszkańca mobile app,
- a plastic card,
- a virtual card tied to a payment card.
At a city unit, the staff read the code from whichever form you use. At commercial partners, how the discount is applied depends on each partner.
Who can get it
The programme lists the people who qualify. They need to meet at least one condition. The ones that matter most to a foreigner are:
- You are registered in Katowice for permanent stay (any age).
- You are registered for temporary stay and you settle your personal income tax in Katowice.
- You settle your personal income tax in Katowice, even without registration.
- You are a university student registered in Katowice for temporary stay.
- You are registered for temporary stay in Katowice and are under 26, which the programme links to the "relief for the young" tax rule. The details are in the programme rules.
- Children under 18 get the card if at least one parent or guardian settles tax in Katowice.
If you are new and your tax is not settled in Katowice yet, a temporary registration plus student status or the under-26 rule may be your way in. If you work, read how to file the Polish annual tax return to see how your tax office is chosen, and the 183-day tax residence rule for the wider picture.
How to get it
The way you apply depends on your registration.
If you have permanent registration, you can create the m-card yourself in the app at any time. The system checks the address register, and if you are in it, you receive the card at once.
If you do not have permanent registration but pay tax in Katowice, the FAQ says you must go in person to the Residents' Service Office (Biuro Obsługi Mieszkańców) at Rynek 1, whether you want the mobile, plastic or payment-card version. You fill in an application and show:
- the first page of last year's PIT return stamped by the tax office in Katowice, or
- a certificate from the tax office that tax was paid in Katowice, or
- if you filed online, the first page of the PIT with the official receipt (UPO) printout.
The office is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 17:00, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7:30 to 15:30 and on Fridays from 7:30 to 14:00. The card line is (32) 259 3001, 3002 and 3003. You can book a visit online through the city's reservation system. You can also fill in the application form in advance, which is available from the card website.
What it costs and how long it lasts
The card is issued free. A replacement for a damaged, lost or destroyed card costs 10 zł.
The card has no end date, but your right to discounts does. Discounts are granted for two years from the date of issue and can be renewed. For people with permanent registration the renewal is automatic. For everyone else you must go to the Residents' Service Office and apply again, and the city says it will tell you by your preferred contact channel.
Children and family accounts
A child's card is made the same way as an adult's. A child without a photo ID can prove identity with a parent's or guardian's document. In the app you can create a family account to see how the cards of your children, and with their consent your spouse or partner, are used. You can link up to two other card numbers, and the other person must accept the link.
Support for foreigners in Katowice
Katowice also runs help points for newcomers.
The city's information desk for foreigners is at ul. Młyńska 5. According to the city, it gives information on Polish language courses, work contracts and taxes, health services, legal counselling, social assistance, the city's housing policy and renting flats, and the current procedures for official matters. It also runs support groups moderated by a psychologist. The phone is 539 696 888 and the email is punktidc@fundacjaincorpore.pl. The page lists opening hours for several days of the week, but the times on the English page are printed inconsistently, so call or write before you visit.
The Foreigners Integration Centre opened in 2025. A city investment office news item dated 3 July 2025 says it offers:
- advice on administrative matters, family issues, residence registration and education,
- Polish language courses for children and adults at A1 and A2 level,
- psychological care for children,
- information on residence legalisation procedures,
- legal support on employment and labour rights,
- an orientation course in 12 modules with practical guidelines for living in Poland.
It was set up with the Regional Labour Office in Katowice, the Silesian Voivode, Caritas and the Institute for Social Development, and it is co-financed by the EU's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. It is in the Faculty of Theology building on Jordana Street. The same item says similar centres work in Bielsko-Biała and Częstochowa.
The city's expat pages also tell you what to search for if you need an English-speaking lawyer, for example "kancelaria język angielski Katowice". That page is general information, not legal advice.
A practical order of steps
1. Register your address if you are staying, and keep the document. If you are applying for a PESEL, see how to get a PESEL number.
2. Decide which route fits: app only (permanent registration), or an office visit (tax or temporary registration).
3. Bring a photo ID and your tax paper, and book a slot if you can.
4. Keep the photo ID with you whenever you use the card.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Katowice Resident Card free?
Yes. The city issues it free of charge. A replacement for a lost, damaged or destroyed card costs 10 zł.
Can I get the card without permanent registration?
Yes, if you meet another condition. The city lists settling income tax in Katowice, being a student with temporary registration, or being under 26 with temporary registration. In those cases you apply in person at Rynek 1.
Do I need to carry ID with the card?
Yes. The card is valid only with a photo ID of the holder. Using someone else's card is not allowed. A child without a photo ID can use a parent's or guardian's document.
How long do the discounts last?
Two years from the issue date, with renewal. Renewal is automatic for people with permanent registration and needs a new application at the office for others.
Where can a foreigner get help in Katowice?
The city's information desk for foreigners at ul. Młyńska 5 and the Foreigners Integration Centre on Jordana Street both offer advice, language courses and legal help. Contact them first to confirm opening hours.
