The Act on Foreigners is Poland’s core statute on residence, covering visas, temporary residence permits, permanent residence, all of it. It has been amended heavily over the last two years, and since April 2026 even the way you file an application has changed. Here is where things stand.
- The current consolidated text of the Act
- Temporary residence permits: categories and maximum duration
- The single permit for residence and work
- Permanent residence and the EU long-term resident status
- Digitalization: the MOS system from April 27, 2026
- The 2026 Labour Inspectorate risk: when your residence card is tied to a job
- FAQ
The current consolidated text of the Act
The foundation is the Act of December 12, 2013 on Foreigners (originally Journal of Laws: Dz.U. 2013 item 1650, in force since May 1, 2014). It has been amended so many times since that the Speaker of the Sejm announced a new consolidated text: Dz.U. 2025 item 1079 (notice of July 25, 2025). That is the version in force in 2026.
On top of it sits a major amendment: the Act of November 21, 2025 amending the Act on Foreigners (Dz.U. 2025 item 1794), which introduced mandatory electronic handling of applications. In parallel, since June 1, 2025, a separate statute has been in force: the Act of March 20, 2025 on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners (Dz.U. 2025 item 621), which sets employer obligations. We cover that in detail in our article on employing foreigners in Poland.
Temporary residence permits: categories and maximum duration
A temporary residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy) is issued to a foreigner planning to stay in Poland longer than three months for a specific, documented purpose. Regardless of the purpose, the statutory cap is three years per permit (renewable if conditions are still met). The most common grounds are:
- work (employment contract or civil-law contract),
- running a business,
- studies, research, internships, volunteering,
- family reunification (e.g., spouse of a Polish citizen).
The application must be filed no later than the last day of your legal stay (e.g., under a valid visa); filing on time lets you stay legally in Poland until a decision is issued.
The single permit for residence and work
The single permit for temporary residence and work (jednolite zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy i pracę) combines, in one administrative decision, authorization to stay and authorization to work for a specific employer; the employer no longer needs to separately apply for a work permit. This mechanism has existed since the 2013 Act took effect, implementing EU Directive 2011/98/EU.
Key 2026 parameters:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum validity | up to 3 years |
| Stamp duty | PLN 440 |
| Processing time | 60 days from a complete application |
| Labour market test (opinia starosty) | no longer required since June 1, 2025 |
Since April 27, 2026, the application must be filed exclusively electronically (see the MOS section below); a paper application will simply not be processed.
Permanent residence and the EU long-term resident status
A permanent residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) is issued for an unlimited period. Its holder can work in Poland without any separate work authorization; the employer is fully exempt from that requirement. The physical residence card is valid for 5 or 10 years depending on the grounds, but the underlying right of residence itself doesn’t expire. The stamp duty is PLN 640.
Grounds for permanent residence vary: children of Polish citizens, people of Polish origin, spouses of Polish citizens, or people who have accumulated years of lawful residence on temporary permits; the exact required period depends on which ground applies.
A separate category is the EU long-term resident status, requiring at least 5 years of continuous lawful residence in Poland, a stable and regular income, and health insurance (NFZ or a policy covering at least €30,000). The fee is the same as for permanent residence: PLN 640.
Digitalization: the MOS system from April 27, 2026
The November 2025 amendment introduced mandatory electronic handling of most applications through MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw), accessible after logging in via login.gov.pl. Since April 27, 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident status must be filed exclusively online, paper applications are no longer accepted (with a narrow exception for some family-reunification cases where the foreigner is abroad).
In practice, the foreigner creates an account, fills in the application, uploads a biometric photo and scans of every passport page, and, for the single permit, provides the employer’s email address; the system then sends the employer a link to sign Annex 1 (employment terms) electronically. Despite the electronic filing, you still have to show up in person at the voivodeship office to give fingerprints and present the original travel document.
The 2026 Labour Inspectorate risk: when your residence card is tied to a job
If your temporary residence permit, or your single permit for residence and work, is based on a specific employment contract or a specific B2B contract, keep one thing in mind: the legality of your stay is directly tied to the legality of the underlying employment arrangement.
Starting July 8, 2026, the State Labour Inspectorate (PIP) can, through its own administrative decision, reclassify a B2B contract as a de facto employment relationship if in practice it shows the hallmarks of employee subordination. For a foreigner whose residence basis is work for a specific employer, whether under an employment contract or a single permit tied to that employer, such a reclassification can mean having to reconcile the actual arrangement with what was declared to the voivodeship office. We cover the reclassification mechanism, and how to prepare for it, in a dedicated series: here.
FAQ
Does changing employer mean losing your residence permit? Under a single permit, changing employer usually requires notification or a new application; the permit is tied to the specific employment terms listed in the decision.
Is the labour market test still required? No, since June 1, 2025, the informacja starosty (labour market test) is no longer required for the single permit for residence and work.
How long does a permanent residence application take? The statutory deadline is 6 months, but real waiting times run much longer in practice: until March 4, 2027, these deadlines are suspended under the special legislation on assistance to Ukrainian citizens, so voivodeship offices face no penalty for delay. A 2026 report by the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) found average processing times of several hundred days in some voivodeships, with the heaviest-loaded offices taking well over a year.
Bibliography
- Act of December 12, 2013 on Foreigners: Dz.U. 2013 item 1650 (original act).
- Consolidated text notice: Dz.U. 2025 item 1079.
- Act of November 21, 2025 amending the Act on Foreigners: Dz.U. 2025 item 1794.
- Act of March 20, 2025 on the conditions for entrusting work to foreigners: Dz.U. 2025 item 621.
- Act of March 12, 2022 on assistance to Ukrainian citizens in connection with the armed conflict on the territory of that state, Art. 100d (suspension of statutory deadlines for residence proceedings until March 4, 2027).
- Supreme Audit Office (NIK) findings on average processing times for residence permits, cited via Konfederacja Lewiatan, 2026.
Not sure your residence basis is solid? Book a free consultation with our team.
Author: MojaFirma team.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every situation depends on the specific contract and individual circumstances.
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