A national visa gets you into Poland, but it has an end date. If you plan to stay longer — to keep working, run a business, study or live with your family — you will usually need a temporary residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy). It is granted for up to three years and comes with a residence card (karta pobytu) which, together with your passport, also lets you travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Common grounds for a temporary residence permit
- Work — the combined temporary residence and work permit, Poland's version of the EU "single permit".
- Highly qualified work — the EU Blue Card (see our Blue Card comparison).
- Running a business in Poland.
- Studies at a Polish university.
- Family reunification with a family member who lives in Poland legally.
Each ground has its own conditions and documents, so the first step is choosing the right one for your situation.
When to apply
You must apply while you are still in Poland legally — before your visa or visa-free stay ends. If your application is filed on time and has no formal defects, your stay remains legal while the case is being decided. Note, however, that this does not by itself allow you to travel to other Schengen countries.
Our advice: start preparing at least two to three months before your visa expires.
How the process works now
Since 27 April 2025, residence applications are submitted online only, through the Office for Foreigners' MOS system (Moduł Obsługi Spraw). In practice:
- Create an account in MOS and complete the application form.
- Upload scans of your passport, a recent photograph and the documents that support your application.
- For work-based permits, your employer completes and signs its part of the application (Annex 1) electronically.
- Sign the application electronically — with a trusted profile (Profil Zaufany), a qualified electronic signature or a personal signature.
- Pay the fees and keep the official confirmation of submission.
- Attend your appointment at the voivodeship office to give fingerprints and show your original passport.
- Wait for the decision and reply quickly to any letter asking for more documents — deadlines can be as short as 7 days.
Once the decision is positive, your card is produced and you will be told when and where to collect it.
Documents you will typically need
- a valid passport,
- a recent biometric photograph,
- health insurance — usually through your employer's ZUS registration,
- proof of stable and regular income,
- proof of accommodation, such as a rental agreement,
- documents specific to your purpose — for example an employment contract and the employer's annex,
- proof of payment of the fees.
Documents issued abroad generally need an apostille or legalization and a sworn Polish translation. Our guide to preparing documents for Poland explains how.
Mistakes that delay most cases
- Applying too late. An application filed after your legal stay has ended will not keep you legal.
- Incomplete employer documents. A missing or unsigned Annex 1 is one of the most common reasons for delays.
- Contracts that don't match. Your salary, working hours and position must match what your employer declared.
- Ignoring letters from the office. Missed deadlines can mean your application is left unprocessed.
- Changing jobs without checking. A work-based permit is linked to your employer and position. Changing employer usually means applying for a new or amended permit — check before you switch.
After you receive your card
Keep your details up to date, and remember that the permit is not renewed automatically: to stay longer, you need to submit a new application before your current permit expires.
After five years of continuous legal residence, you may qualify for an EU long-term resident permit, which also requires stable income, health insurance and Polish language skills at B1 level. Some types of stay — such as studies — count only partially towards the five years.
Let us guide you
EU Prime Serwis guides you through the whole residence application — from choosing the right ground and checking your documents to coordinating your employer's part and keeping track of deadlines. Book a consultation and we will review your situation.