In short
- Since 27 April 2026, residence applications go only through MOS.
- You sign the application yourself; a formally defective one may not count as filed.
- The passport stamp is replaced by a certificate of legal stay.
Since 27 April 2026, applications for a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit and EU long-term resident status are filed online, in the government's MOS system (Moduł Obsługi Spraw, the case-handling module). Paper applications are no longer accepted.
What changed
You prepare the application in MOS and submit it online, together with scans of your documents. You still go to the office in person once, to give your fingerprints.
Is this your situation? Two minutes will tell.
No more stamp in the passport
Until April 2026, the office stamped your passport when you applied. Now you receive a certificate instead. It confirms that you applied and that your stay in Poland is legal while the case is pending.
Keep it safe. It proves your legal stay, but on its own it does not let you cross the border or travel within the Schengen area. The change applies to residence applications handled by the voivode, not to national (D) visas.
What this means for you
Online applications are easy to get slightly wrong: a missing or unreadable attachment can bring a formal notice with a short deadline to fix it. If you prefer, we prepare and file the application for you and check every document before it goes in.
Related serviceTemporary Residence Permit →Written by Legacy Advisory team
General information, not advice on your case. Rules change; check the date above.