Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Data collection on the residence permits (RESPER) statistics contains statistical information based on the principles stated in the Union legislation on migration Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 and the Commission Regulation (EU) No 216/2010 implementing the categories of reasons for residence permits.
The main RESPER data collection based on Article 6 of the Migration Statistics Regulation
First residence permits,
Residence permits issued on the occasion of changing the immigration status or reason to stay,
Residence permits valid at the end of the year,
Long-term residence permits valid at the end of the year,
Long-term permits issued during the year.
Statistics collected on voluntary basis
Residence permits issued for family reunification with beneficiaries of protection status.
3.2. Classification system
See table 3.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Migration and asylum – Residence permits statistics.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.7. Reference area
Poland.
3.8. Coverage - Time
See table 3.8. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of persons.
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
On National level: Act of 29 June 1995 on public statistics – as amended. Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners – as amended
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
The data is provided by the Office for Foreigners, after receiving appropriate contributions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy - in accordance with their competences. The Central Statistical Office performs a supervisory function.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
General Data Protection Regulation – European regulations Personal Data Security Policy in the Office for the Protection of Personal Data – Act of 29 June 1995 on public statistics – as amended. This Act specifies the principles and creates the basis for reliable, objective, professional and independent statistical research, the results of which are official statistical data and establishes the organization and procedure for conducting such research and the scope of obligations related to them. Act of 12 December 2013 on foreigners – as amended. The Act specifies the principles and conditions for the entry of foreigners into the territory of the Republic of Poland, their transit through this territory, their stay there and departure from it, the procedure and the authorities competent in these matters.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Reports are prepared based on processed (statistical) data – without access to personal data All employees preparing statistical reports have current authorizations to process personal data, undergo annual training in this area and pass a knowledge test. All data is processed and generated from secure IT systems
8.1. Release calendar
No release calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
No release calendar access.
8.3. Release policy - user access
No release policy.
Data are published yearly by Eurostat and alo at the National level.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Basic statistical information in this area on your website Udsc website – in the form of a statement: Gov - udsc.
Statistics in online form are made available mainly through the interactive website of the Office for Foreigners at Migracje website.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Public numerical data about individual persons (not allowing for the identification of individual persons) are made available - especially for scientific purposes - to the extent possible (workload of individual employees)
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Public Statistics Statistical Research Program – coordinated by the Central Statistical Office Government Public Data Portal - dane.gov.pl
Quality management in public statistics: standards, methods, models and tools Ceeol website.
11.1. Quality assurance
The Office for Foreigners applies the guidelines of the Central Statistical Office "Quality in statistics" The descriptions of individual reports for external contractors are prepared based on EUROSTAT guidelines and analysis of adequate resources in IT systems.
In connection with the launch of a new analytical system (Migration Analysis Platform), it is planned to recreate reports from the discussed scope in the new system. This process will be preceded by a re-analysis of the scope of data meeting the EUROSTAT criteria.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The overall quality of the data is good, but requires continuous verification and implementation of corrections – mainly due to the ongoing implementation of legal changes in the field of migration and their consequences for statistics.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data from this area – in the case of public administration – are used in analyses of the migration situation and in creating migration policy. The academic community usually uses this information in combination with qualitative data in order to examine specific migration phenomena in a rather historical perspective. The media, on the other hand, present these statistics most often in support of specific theories in public discourse.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The Office for Foreigners does not conduct research on user satisfaction. All comments – both critical and positive – are sent to the Office spontaneously.
12.3. Completeness
We provide approximately 96% of the required data
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The closeness of the calculations is almost 100%. Some shortcomings may be due to errors of the recorders in the reference systems
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
No applicable
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
No applicable
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
These are mainly human errors caused by manual pasting and summing of generated data.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Data supply to Eurostat is in accordance with the Regulation and the Technical Guidelines, also concerning the timeframe of sending data to Eurostat (six months after the reference period).
Data is delivered on time with few exceptions. Delays are often caused by factors outside the Office, such as delays in transferring contributions from other institutions or a cyberattack on the Office's resources.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
See table 14.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
There are no significant issues in data comparability with other countries (the statistics produced follow same guidelines provided by Eurostat).
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
No applicable
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
No applicable
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data is consistent
Estimated total costs are around PLN 4 million.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Office reviews the compiled data, but due to time constraints this is usually a cursory process and does not create a specific policy dedicated to this process.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See table 17.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annually.
18.3. Data collection
Data is entered into the system by registrars from the relevant authorities – based on questionnaires filled in by foreigners. Then the data is transferred to the analytical system, where it is compiled, and after generating statistics (based on EUROSTAT guidelines) it goes through a revision process. The system verifies (to some extent) the correctness and completeness of the data.
18.4. Data validation
Data is selectively compared with results from previous years
18.5. Data compilation
The Office does not use data imputation. Data from different sources are added together
Data collection on the residence permits (RESPER) statistics contains statistical information based on the principles stated in the Union legislation on migration Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 and the Commission Regulation (EU) No 216/2010 implementing the categories of reasons for residence permits.
The main RESPER data collection based on Article 6 of the Migration Statistics Regulation
First residence permits,
Residence permits issued on the occasion of changing the immigration status or reason to stay,
Residence permits valid at the end of the year,
Long-term residence permits valid at the end of the year,
Long-term permits issued during the year.
Statistics collected on voluntary basis
Residence permits issued for family reunification with beneficiaries of protection status.
11 September 2025
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Number of persons.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Poland.
Calendar year.
The closeness of the calculations is almost 100%. Some shortcomings may be due to errors of the recorders in the reference systems
Number of persons.
The Office does not use data imputation. Data from different sources are added together
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Data are published yearly by Eurostat and alo at the National level.
Data supply to Eurostat is in accordance with the Regulation and the Technical Guidelines, also concerning the timeframe of sending data to Eurostat (six months after the reference period).
Data is delivered on time with few exceptions. Delays are often caused by factors outside the Office, such as delays in transferring contributions from other institutions or a cyberattack on the Office's resources.
There are no significant issues in data comparability with other countries (the statistics produced follow same guidelines provided by Eurostat).
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
