Temporary Residence Card in Poland 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Here is the short version: from December 2025, applications for a karta czasowego pobytu must be submitted online through MOS v2.0, all correspondence with the voivode is handled via eDoręczenia, the passport stamp has been abolished, and the minimum salary requirement for the "employment" basis is 4,806 PLN gross. The state fee is 340 PLN, with an additional 100 PLN for the physical card. The average processing time at the Mazowieckie Voivodeship Office in 2026 is approximately 8–14 months. At LegalWin, our standard timeline is 42 days from the initial consultation to złożenia wniosku (filing the application).

Below — no filler, just steps.

What Changed in 2026

Three major changes define how applications work this year.

1. MOS v2.0 — the only electronic filing route. The old inPOL system has been shut down. A new application form has been in effect since December 2025. Submitting the old form will result in a return marked "formalnie niekompletny" — and you will lose your place in the queue. Login to MOS requires a Profil Zaufany, login.gov.pl, e-dowód, or mDowód. Without one of these digital identifiers, access to the system is not possible.

2. End of the passport stamp. The red stamp across an entire passport page — which previously confirmed lawful stay while a case was under review — has been abolished. In its place: an Urzędowe Poświadczenie Odbioru (UPO) and an electronic certificate in the MOS user account. When crossing a border or presenting proof of status to an employer, it is advisable to carry a printed UPO along with a screenshot of the MOS status.

3. eDoręczenia — mandatory correspondence channel. The voivode will no longer send paper letters requesting supplementary documents. Notifications arrive in your eDoręczenia account. If you do not respond within the specified deadline (typically 7 days), the case may be left without consideration — requiring a completely new application.

The minimum wage from 1 January 2026 is 4,806 PLN gross (approximately 3,606 PLN net). This is the threshold for the "employment with a Polish employer" basis under an umowa o pracę or zlecenie contract. Contracts signed in 2025 at 4,666 PLN or below must be updated with an Aneks from the employer — otherwise the application will be refused due to failure to meet the conditions.

Which Card Is Right for You

There are four main types of residence permits in Poland for nationals of CIS countries. They are not interchangeable — each has its own qualifying basis and duration.

The majority of CIS clients begin with karty czasowego pobytu. If you are Ukrainian with an active UKR status, it is almost always more advantageous to apply directly for CUKR — it is granted for 3 years automatically and does not involve salary comparisons with the minimum wage threshold.

Eight Grounds for Application

The grounds on which a karta czasowego pobytu may be requested are set out in the Ustawa o cudzoziemcach. The eight primary ones:

1. Employment with a Polish employer — umowa o pracę or zlecenie, salary at or above the minimum. A zezwolenie na pracę must be filed simultaneously if one is not already in place.
2. EU Blue Card — for highly qualified professionals. Contract of at least one year, salary from 1.5× the national average (approximately 11,200 PLN gross in 2026).
3. Self-employment — JDG or sp. z o.o. with annual income from 12× the national average, or with at least 2 resident employees.
4. Study at an accredited university — officially enrolled full-time students. Minimum income of 721 PLN per month for accommodation and living expenses.
5. Family reunification — for spouses, children, and parents of a person already holding a karty czasowego, stałego, or CUKR.
6. Polish descent — documented lineage up to 4 generations back.
7. Humanitarian grounds — a rare basis requiring individual legal assessment.
8. Other grounds — for non-standard cases, including seafarers, artists, athletes, and scientific trainees.

Step 1. Preparing the Documents

The core package can be assembled in 5–14 days, provided everything is in order. If anything needs to be resolved first — an Aneks to the contract, a sworn translation of third-party documents, an apostille on a birth certificate — allow an additional 2–3 weeks.

Always required:

• Passport (photo page + page with the current basis of stay)
• Completed application form in the version effective from 1 December 2025 (older forms are not accepted)
• 4 biometric photographs 35 × 45 mm
• Proof of accommodation (tenancy agreement + meldunek, or a loan-of-use agreement from a family member, or confirmation from the employer)
• Medical insurance policy with coverage of at least 30,000 € (for those not covered by ZUS/NFZ through employment)
• Paid opłata skarbowa of 340 PLN

For the "employment" basis, additionally required:

• Umowa o pracę or zlecenie with a salary of at least 4,806 PLN gross
• Załącznik nr 1 — a separate questionnaire completed by the employer
• PIT-11 for the previous year, or ZUS RCA report for the past 3 months
• Zezwolenie na pracę (unless your country is covered by the oświadczenie procedure)

Step 2. Filing Through MOS v2.0

1. Create an account at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl. Verify it through Profil Zaufany.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Upload document scans (PDF files, up to 10 MB each).
4. Send the employer a request to electronically sign Załącznik nr 1.
5. Sign the application with your Profil Zaufany. You will receive a UPO with your case number.

From the moment the UPO is issued, your stay in Poland is lawful — even if your visa or stamp expires the next day.

The most common mistake: the employer fails to sign Załącznik nr 1 in time. The solution is to ask the employer in advance to activate a Profil Zaufany.

Step 3. Biometrics

After the application is accepted (5–14 days after receiving the UPO), you will be summoned to submit fingerprints at the Wydział Spraw Cudzoziemców (al. Solidarności 81 or ul. Kruczej 5/11). The appointment date will arrive via eDoręczenia. The biometrics appointment takes 15 minutes.

Step 4. Waiting

By law — 60 days. In practice at Mazowieckie in 2026 — 8–14 months. In Śląskie — up to 3 years. In Dolnośląskie — 4–6 months.

Check eDoręczenia once a week. Missing a request for supplementary documents will stall your case.

Step 5. Collecting the Card

After the decision — 7 days to pay 100 PLN for the physical card. The card arrives within 7–14 days and must be collected in person at ul. Marszałkowska 3/5.

What to Do if Your Application Is Refused

You have 14 days to file an odwołanie (appeal) with the Szef UDSC, followed by 30 days to file a skarga (complaint) with the WSA. Do not handle this alone — 70% of successful appeals require a fact-by-fact analysis of the case.

Costs

When to Seek Legal Assistance

It is advisable to consult a lawyer if: you are applying on family or business grounds, you have previously received a refusal, your employer has no prior experience employing foreigners, or there are complicating factors (expired visa, change of employer).

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