Published: 27.04.2026
Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary and permanent residence permits and long-term EU resident status must be submitted exclusively through the MOS portal. Paper applications sent before that date but not received by a provincial office are not processed; paper filing remains available in certain cases involving applicants outside Poland.
According to sources, applications for three major residence statuses have become a digital procedure, so applicants must prepare the online filing in advance and should not assume that merely posting a paper application protects it from being left unprocessed. Paper submission remains available for certain family, intra-corporate transfer and out-of-country cases. The change is particularly important for third-country nationals planning a long-term move, work, study or family reunification, because choosing the wrong filing channel can affect the start of the legalization process. Anyone preparing an application should check the applicable route before entering Poland or before their current lawful stay expires.
- 🏛️ gov.pl
- 🏛️ powroty.gov.pl