A residence card is the document confirming a residence permit. First identify the permit you need: temporary residence, permanent residence or EU long-term resident status. This guide covers preparation for electronic filing, mainly temporary residence applications by non-EU nationals.
What changed on April 27, 2026?
The main applications are now filed through the new MOS system. An old account is not transferred automatically: create a new one and prepare to sign in through login.gov.pl. UDSC states that a Profil Zaufany is needed for registration. The process and exceptions appear in the UDSC questions and answers on MOS.
Completing a form is not the same as submitting it. A saved draft does not confirm that the authority received your application.
Prepare the documents for your particular permit
For a standard electronic application, prepare a digital photograph, images of every page of a valid travel document and proof of the required payments. Check MOS file requirements. The remaining evidence depends on the purpose of your stay.
- Work: employment terms and an employer-signed annex where required.
- Business: evidence of actual activity and the relevant economic conditions.
- Family: relationship documents and evidence of the family member’s status in Poland.
- Studies: documents from the institution and evidence that the permit conditions are met.
Check names against the passport, dates, addresses and consistency between attachments. Foreign-language documents may need Polish translations. Apostille or legalization requirements depend on the country and applicable international agreements.
From the online form to an acknowledgment
Choose the correct application and competent voivode. Complete the form in Polish and attach the files. Arrange an employer’s or university’s annex in advance if required. Waiting for another person’s signature can prevent completion of the filing.
The applicant uses their own access and signs with an accepted electronic signature. An ordinary adviser cannot sign in to their own account and submit instead of an adult applicant acting independently. Parents and other legal representatives follow separate rules.
After correctly signing and sending, obtain the UPO, the official acknowledgment of receipt. Keep it with the application and attachments. The electronic process and personal-appearance requirements are set out in the amendments to the Foreigners Act.
Will you still need to visit the office?
Electronic filing does not remove the remaining requirements. The voivode calls applicants to present the document, provide fingerprints and a signature specimen, subject to statutory exceptions. Follow your own appointment notice and bring the originals it specifies.
Pay particular attention to requests for additional evidence. Record the date a letter is received and the response deadline. Do not assume every later step takes place automatically through MOS.
Does the UPO let you work or travel?
The UPO confirms filing. Continued lawful stay depends on meeting the conditions for a timely and valid application. Permission to work needs a separate check. The UPO does not replace a visa or card for returning across the border; travel eligibility depends on your documents and status.
Separate government charges from service costs
Official fees and a company’s assistance fees are separate costs. Check the permit type, current charges and the relevant authority’s bank details before paying. The Pobyto package comparison describes commercial services.
If you need help organizing the application, discuss residence card support. An initial inquiry only needs a description of your situation; documents for the official application are prepared separately.
Checked on October 19, 2026. The required documents depend on the permit and the applicant’s circumstances.
