MOS Poland: how the residence permit system works
MOS is the online portal where foreigners in Poland apply for residence permits. Since 27 April 2026 it is the only way to submit most applications. This page explains each step and links to a detailed guide for each one.
What MOS is
Official information
MOS stands for Moduł Obsługi Spraw (Case Handling Module). It is an online portal run by the Office for Foreigners at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl.
From 27 April 2026, applications for a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit and an EU long-term resident permit can only be submitted electronically through MOS. Paper applications that reached a voivodeship office after 26 April 2026 are not examined.
Using the portal is free. The application fees are separate.
PolandEase explanation
MOS is where you fill in and send the application. It does not decide your case. The decision is still made by the voivodeship office handling your case, and that office, not MOS, contacts you about next steps.
Who uses MOS
Official information
An account can be created by:
- an adult foreigner applying for themselves;
- a parent applying for a foreign child;
- a guardian of a foreign minor;
- a custodian of an unaccompanied foreign child.
You have to log in and submit the application yourself. A representative cannot create an account for you or send the application from their own account. They can help you fill in the form while you are logged in.
What you can apply for through MOS
Official information
- Temporary residence permit
- Permanent residence permit
- EU long-term resident permit
Some applications are still submitted on paper:
- temporary residence for an intra-corporate transfer, and long-term mobility within one;
- family reunification, when the family member is outside Poland;
- certain permits for family members of Polish, EU or UK citizens, when the applicant is outside Poland.
The Office for Foreigners also says that an application for a new residence card, changes such as a new employer or address, and appeals are not handled through MOS.
Creating an account
Official information
- Go to the MOS portal and read the terms.
- Choose “Log in”. You are redirected to login.gov.pl.
- Confirm your identity, for example with a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany).
- Back in MOS, fill in the registration form.
- Activate the account with the link sent to your email.
Accounts from the earlier version of MOS were deleted, so everyone creates a new one. The Office for Foreigners warns against sharing your login.gov.pl details with anyone.
Submitting an application
Official information
The form is filled in online, in Polish. You attach:
- a current digital photo (35 × 45 mm format, taken within the last 6 months, JPG, at least 684 × 883 pixels, up to 2.5 MB);
- scans or photos of all pages of your valid travel document;
- proof of payment: stamp duty of PLN 340–640 depending on the permit, plus PLN 100 for the residence card;
- other documents required for your type of permit.
If your permit needs an attachment from an employer, university or other organisation, you enter their email address. They receive a link to fill in and sign their part electronically. The link is valid for 30 days, and you cannot submit until they have signed.
You sign the application with a Trusted Profile, a qualified electronic signature or a personal signature (the one in a Polish e-ID).
A saved draft can be resumed within 45 days of the last change. Once the application is sent, it cannot be edited or withdrawn in MOS.
PolandEase explanation
The step that depends on someone else is the employer or university attachment. The Office for Foreigners advises against leaving submission to the last day of your legal stay for exactly this reason: collecting that signature can take several days.
The exact list of documents depends on the permit. MOS shows it in the form and in its “Get information” section, so we do not reproduce it here.
What happens after submission
Official information
When the application is sent, you can download the Official Confirmation of Receipt (UPO). After a voivodeship officer verifies and approves the application, you can download a certificate confirming that you applied. It replaces the stamp that used to be placed in the passport.
Full walkthrough: What happens after submitting your MOS application?
Case number
Submitting in MOS and having a case registered at the voivodeship office are two different moments. The case number comes from the office, not from MOS.
More: MOS case number explained
Fingerprints and in-person appointment
Official information
Submitting online does not remove the visit to the office. You will be asked by the voivode handling your case to appear in person to give fingerprints and a specimen signature, show your original passport and documents and, if needed, supply anything that is missing.
More: Fingerprints for a residence permit and, for Mazowieckie, MOS fingerprints in Warsaw.
Checking application status
Official information
MOS shows whether your application was sent. It does not show the progress of your case, send requests for missing documents or communicate with the voivodeship office for you. Updates come from the voivodeship office.
More: MOS application status explained
Waiting times
The law sets a 60-day decision period for temporary residence permits, but that is not the real waiting time. Official 2026 statistics put average temporary residence proceedings at 242 to 658 days depending on the voivodeship. See MOS residence permit waiting times and, for Mazowieckie, waiting times in Warsaw.
What happens after a decision
Official information
The voivode sends the decision to the delivery address you gave in the application (yours or your representative’s). An appeal is not filed through MOS. It is sent on paper or through e-Doręczenia (the state electronic delivery service) to the voivode.
PolandEase explanation
The decision itself explains whether and how you can appeal. If the permit is granted, the office tells you when and where to collect the residence card.
FAQ
Do I need to book an appointment to submit the application?
No. According to the Office for Foreigners, you can submit through MOS at any time without booking a date.
Do I also have to send the application by post?
No. An application submitted through MOS does not need to be sent on paper as well.
Will I get a stamp in my passport?
No. The stamp is replaced by a certificate that you download and print after the office has verified your application.
I applied on paper before 27 April 2026. Do I need to apply again?
No. The Office for Foreigners says cases submitted before that date continue to be processed as they were.
What if MOS is down on the last day of my legal stay?
The Office for Foreigners says you should submit within 3 working days after the outage ends, and the first day of the outage counts as the submission date. Check the official Q&A for the exact wording before relying on this.
All MOS guides
- What happens after submitting your MOS application?The steps after you send a residence permit application in MOS: the UPO, verification, case registration, the in-person appointment and the decision.
- Fingerprints for a residence permit in PolandWhy fingerprints are taken for a Polish residence permit, when the appointment happens after a MOS application, what to bring and useful Polish phrases.
- MOS fingerprints in WarsawHow the fingerprint appointment works at the Mazowieckie Voivodeship Office in Warsaw after a MOS application: the invitation, the visit and waiting.
- MOS case number explainedWhat a case number is, how it differs from submitting your MOS application, where to look for it and what to do if you still do not have one.
- MOS application status explainedWhat the statuses in MOS mean, why MOS does not show case progress, and where to check the status of a residence permit case instead.
- MOS residence permit waiting timesThe 60-day decision period is not the real waiting time. Official 2026 data puts average temporary residence proceedings at 242 to 658 days by voivodeship.
- Residence permit waiting times in WarsawOfficial 2026 Mazowieckie data shows how long residence permit proceedings actually take, and why the formal 60-day period is not the same as real waiting time.