The short answer: most residence applications are now online only
Since 27 April 2026, applications for a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit and EU long-term resident status are filed only electronically, through the MOS portal (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl. The Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców, UdSC) states that paper versions of these three applications are no longer the accepted form.
Paper applications that were posted but had not reached a voivodeship office before 27 April 2026 are left unexamined, and the posting date does not count. For you this means the date that matters is the moment your signed application is submitted in MOS, so plan your file around the portal rather than around a queue or a post office.
Which applications still go on paper
UdSC lists a small group of temporary residence applications that must still be filed on paper, on the previous rules. They are mainly cases in which the applicant is outside Poland, or cases tied to intra-company transfers. If your case is not on this list, assume that MOS is the only route and check the official page if you are unsure.
The exceptions published by UdSC are shown below. Note the condition in the family cases: they stay on paper only when the foreigner the application concerns is outside Poland. A family member already living in Poland applies in MOS like everyone else, so read the condition carefully before choosing a route.
- Temporary residence for work within an intra-company transfer (ICT).
- Long-term mobility of a manager, specialist or trainee within an intra-company transfer.
- Family reunification, when the foreigner concerned is outside Poland.
- A family member of a Polish, EU or UK (Withdrawal Agreement) citizen, when the foreigner concerned is outside Poland.
- A foreigner in family life with such a citizen within the meaning of the European Convention on Human Rights, when outside Poland.
What you need before you open the form
You need a new MOS account. Accounts from the previous version of MOS were not transferred, and UdSC says the old user data will be deleted, so an old login will not work. You log in personally through login.gov.pl, and UdSC warns never to give anyone your login details, because doing so puts your data at risk.
You also need a way to sign electronically: a trusted profile (profil zaufany), a qualified electronic signature or a personal signature (podpis osobisty, on a Polish electronic ID). Without one of these you cannot submit. Our guide to Profil Zaufany for foreigners explains who can get one and how. Prepare these attachments in digital form:
- A current photograph in digital format.
- A scan or photo of every page of your valid travel document.
- Proof of payment of the PLN 100 residence card fee and of the stamp duty for the permit.
- Where your permit type needs it, the attachment signed electronically by your employer, university or traineeship or volunteering organiser.
What it costs and why you do not need a paid intermediary
UdSC states that access to MOS is free and that you can file without using paid intermediaries. The only costs it lists are the stamp duty for the permit, which depends on the permit type and ranges from PLN 340 to PLN 640, and PLN 100 for issuing the residence card. Check the exact stamp duty for your permit type before you pay.
Help with preparing documents can still be useful, especially in employer and business cases, but no one can sell you access to MOS or a faster place in a queue, because the portal has no booking step. Be wary of anyone who asks for your login.gov.pl credentials or offers to file under their own account in your name.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Access to MOS | Free | No paid intermediary is needed to file |
| Stamp duty for the permit | PLN 340 to PLN 640 | Depends on the type of permit |
| Issuing the residence card | PLN 100 | Proof of payment is attached to the application |
Applications that need a second signature
Some permits need an attachment completed and signed electronically by another party. UdSC names the employer for temporary residence and work, for some business-related permits such as serving on the board of a company you set up or bought into, and for highly qualified work under the EU Blue Card. It names the university for studies, and the organiser for traineeships or volunteering.
In the form you enter that party's email address, and MOS sends them a link to the attachment they must complete and sign. Your application cannot be submitted until they do. UdSC warns that getting this signature can take a long time, so contact your employer or university early and confirm that they have a working way to sign electronically.
After you submit: UPO, the filing certificate and the visit
Once the application is correctly signed and sent, you can save it as PDF and XML files and download the official confirmation of receipt (Urzędowe Poświadczenie Odbioru, UPO). Keep all three. After an officer of the voivodeship office verifies and approves the application, you can download and print a certificate that the application was filed.
UdSC says this certificate replaces the stamp previously placed in passports, and that services checking the legality of stay can see that you applied. The voivode handling your case then summons you in person to give fingerprints and a signature specimen and to show your original passport, and may ask for more information or documents. The decision is sent to the delivery address you give.
Mistakes that cost time
The most expensive mistake is waiting until the last day of your legal stay. UdSC explicitly warns that you may not manage to attach every required document in one day, and it encourages earlier filing when the application needs another party's signature. Start as soon as you know you will apply, and collect your scans and payment confirmations first.
Other common problems are trying to log in with an old MOS account, sharing login.gov.pl credentials with a helper, paying fees without keeping a confirmation you can upload, and assuming that a family case belongs on paper when the applicant is already in Poland. Compare the names, passport numbers and addresses in every attachment so they match exactly.
Next steps
Check whether your case is one of the paper exceptions. If it is not, set up your signing tool, create a new MOS account through login.gov.pl, and gather the photo, passport scans and payment confirmations. If your permit needs an employer or university attachment, tell that party now and agree who will sign it and when.
Auranik is not a law firm, and the voivode decides every case. If you want an organised document list and a second check of your file before you sign, see our TRC support or contact us with your permit type and deadline. For general background, start with the Immigration & Residence Toolkit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still submit a temporary residence application on paper?
Only in the exceptions UdSC lists, mainly intra-company transfer cases and some family cases where the applicant is outside Poland. Other temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident applications are filed only through MOS since 27 April 2026.
Does my old MOS account still work?
No. UdSC states that accounts from the previous version of MOS were not moved to the new portal and that the old user data will be deleted. You need to create a new account and log in through login.gov.pl.
UdSC information on MOS →How much does a residence application in MOS cost?
Using MOS is free. UdSC lists the stamp duty for the permit, from PLN 340 to PLN 640 depending on the permit type, plus PLN 100 for issuing the residence card. You attach proof that both were paid.
What replaces the stamp in my passport after I apply?
After the voivodeship office verifies and approves your application, you can download and print a certificate confirming that you filed it. UdSC says it replaces the previous passport stamp, and the services checking legality of stay can see your application.
Do I still have to visit the office?
Yes. The voivode handling your case summons you in person to give fingerprints and a signature specimen and to show your original passport. You may also be asked to complete information or add documents at that stage.
Which electronic signature can I use in MOS?
UdSC accepts a trusted profile (profil zaufany), a qualified electronic signature or a personal signature on a Polish electronic ID card. Make sure the tool is active before you start, because you cannot submit an unsigned application.
Community content reflects individual experiences and should not be treated as legal, immigration, financial or government advice.
Know someone who may find this guide useful?