There are 2 main types of residence cards in Poland: Karta Pobytu Czasowego and Karta Pobytu Stałego. (Temporary residence card and permanent)
Temporary Residence Card (Karta Pobytu Czasowego)
A Temporary Residence Card is issued to foreigners who plan to stay in Poland for a specific purpose, such as:
- Employment
- Business
- Full-time study lasting more than 3 months at a university, school, high school, language course, szkoła policealna, and so on.
- Family reunification
- Other legal grounds for temporary stay
⚠️ It is usually issued for up to 3 years and can be renewed if you continue to meet the legal requirements. The main factor affecting the duration of resident permit is the duration of your studies. You won’t get resident permit for 3 years if your studies end in 1 year.
Permanent Residence Card (Karta Stałego Pobytu)
A Permanent Residence Card is issued to foreigners who qualify for permanent residence under Polish law.
Common grounds include:
- Polish origin
- Karta Polaka
- Marriage to a Polish citizen after meeting the required conditions
- Long-term legal residence in Poland (5+ years in Poland with Karta Czasowego Pobytu)
- Other cases specified by law
Unlike a temporary residence permit, permanent residence does not have to be renewed. Only the plastic residence card itself is replaced every 10 years or if personal data changes.
❓ Which One Should You Apply For
If you have recently moved to Poland for studies, you will usually apply for a Temporary Residence (Karta Pobytu Czasowego).
A Permanent Residence Card is available only after meeting specific legal requirements and living in Poland for 5+ years with Karta Czasowego Pobytu and is not issued simply because you have been studying in Poland.
⭐ Benefits of a Study Karta Pobytu Czasowego
- Live in Poland legally without visa
- Travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Cross the Polish border without applying for a new visa
- Open bank accounts and getting a loan
- Apply for permanent residence in the future
- Working without a work permit (students at policealna szkoła, liceum, and other institutions are generally not permitted to work without authorization, except for high school students)
✅ You can apply if you:
- Stay in Poland legally (Have VALID VISA or Asylum)
- Planning to study for more than 3 months
- Have money to live in Poland (a job, money in bank account, a sponsor, etc.)
- Have health insurance (NFZ or private)
- Have a rental agreement (dorm room, a private room, a hostel room, an apartment)
⚠️ You must apply for a residence card before your visa expires. If you apply for a residence card after your visa has expired, your application will not be processed, and you will be staying in the country illegally.
If your visa has expired but you have applied for a residence card, you may LEGALLY live and work in Poland while your application for a residence card is being processed. The only rule is that you cannot leave Poland; otherwise, you will have to obtain a new visa to re-enter the country.
🤔 Where to Apply for Karta Pobytu
Applications must be submitted exclusively online via the MOS 2.0 (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) portal. Paper applications submitted in person or by mail no longer accepted.
Before submitting your application you need to:
- Set up a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany) or obtain a qualified electronic signature — you’ll need this to sign the application. (Read our article about How to Get Profil Zaufany)
- Set up e-Doręczenia in your Profil Zaufany — all official correspondence with the local government will be sent through this system online.
📑 Required Documents
- Valid passport scan and copies of all relevant pages
- Biometric photo
- Document from an educational institution confirming enrollment or continued enrollment (Żaświadczenie)
- Proof of payment for tuition, if the program is tuition-based
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses, tuition, and return travel (701 pln/month + 2500 PLN for return ticket (for non-EU/neighbouring countries).
- Residential or Dormitory Lease Agreement
- Proof of health insurance (Scan of your’s NFZ/Private insurance contract)
💻 Step 1 – Create A MOS Account
Create an account on the MOS portal using your PESEL and Profil Zaufany.
📝 Step 2 – Complete The Online Application
- Fill in the electronic application form.
- Choose the purpose of stay – Studies (Nauka)
- Upload requried documents.
❗Personal photos must be uploaded in JPEG format. Other documents should be uploaded as PDF files.
💵 Step 3 – Pay The Fees
The application is paid directly through MOS using bank transfer or BLIK.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | 340 PLN |
| Plastic Card | 100 PLN |
➡️ Step 4 – Submit The Application
- Review the application
- Sign It Electronically Using Profil Zaufany
- Submit the application
⚠️ Download the UPO (Official Submission Confirmation).
If the UPO is not generated, the application is not considered submitted.
The date of application submission is recorded at the time it is sent via MOS. This is a key date — from this day forward, the period of your legal stay in Poland is counted while you are waiting for your residence card.
⚠️ When Urząd starting reviewing the case, a “zaświadczenie” — a special certificate from MOS 2.0 confirming legal residence and employment — will automatically appear in your MOS account.
The MOS certification confirms the right to stay and study in Poland while the case is being processed. If you do not yet have the certification (for example, immediately after submitting your application), your stay and work are still legal — you simply need to present your UPO during an inspection.
❗Travel to other Schengen countries based on this certificate is not permitted. With this certificate, you are legally permitted to stay only in Poland.
A submission sent via MOS cannot be edited or withdrawn. Any changes after submission can only be made by contacting the department directly by calling them.
🚶 Step 5 – Visit The Voivodeship Office
After submitting the application, the office will invite you once they begin reviewing your application to present your original documents and provide fingerprints. The office may also request additional documents during the procedure.
🕔 Step 6 – Wait For The Decision
If additional documents are required, you will receive an official request. Always submit the requested documents before the deadline. The official processing time is up to 60 days after submitting a complete application.
In practice, processing may take up to 6+ months or even years.
❗If your visa has expired but you have applied for a residence card, you may LEGALLY live and work in Poland while your application for a residence card is being processed. The only rule is that you cannot leave Poland; otherwise, you will have to obtain a new visa to re-enter the country.
✅️ Step 7 – Collect Your Karta Pobytu
After a positive decision collect the card personally at the Voivodeship Office
🔁 Changing School
In theory, you can change school after applying for a residence card; however, after changing school, you must sent new documents to the Urząd within 30 days indicating where you will be studying.
🚫 How to Appeal Refusal
Receiving a refusal for a Karta Pobytu does not necessarily mean you must leave Poland immediately. In most cases, you have the right to appeal the decision and have your case reviewed again by a higher authority.
You have 14 calendar days from the date you receive the decision.
If you miss this deadline, the decision becomes final.
Step 1 – Read The Decision
The refusal always contains:
- The Legal Basis
- The Reasons For Refusal
- Instructions About The Appeal Deadline
Before writing an appeal, identify exactly why your application was refused.
Step 2 – Prepare Your Appeal
Your appeal should include:
- Your Personal Details
- Case Number
- Date Of The Decision
- Statement That You Disagree With The Decision
- Explanation Why The Decision Is Incorrect
- New Evidence Or Missing Documents If Available
Attach any documents that correct the problems identified in the refusal.
Step 3 – Wait For The Second Decision
The Head of the Office for Foreigners reviews the cas and may:
- Approve your appeal
- Send the case back to the Voivode for reconsideration
- Uphold the refusal
🔎 Where to Submit The Appeal
The appeal is addressed to the Head of the Office for Foreigners (Szef Urzędu do Spraw Cudzoziemców).
However, it must be submitted through the Voivodeship Office that issued the refusal.
You can submit it:
- In Person
- By Registered Mail
- Electronically If Accepted By Your Office
✅ Can You Stay In Poland During The Appeal
If your original application was submitted during your legal stay and your appeal is filed on time (14 days from decision), your stay in Poland generally remains legal until the second-instance decision is issued.
⚖️ What If The Appeal Is Rejected
If the Head of the Office for Foreigners also issues a negative decision, you may file a complaint with the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw.
The complaint must usually be submitted within 30 days after receiving the second decision.