A temporary residence permit in Poland for work lets a non-EU developer live and work here for up to 3 years. For most tech jobs it’s either the single permit (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy i pracę) or the EU Blue Card. Both are shown on a residence card, the karta pobytu.
Since 27 April 2026, you apply only online, through the Office for Foreigners’ MOS portal. The application costs PLN 440 in stamp duty plus PLN 100 for the card (Office for Foreigners). By law the voivode should decide within 60 days of a complete application (Act on Foreigners, art. 112a), but in practice many people wait longer, and there’s no official average.
This guide covers who needs a permit, the requirements, the MOS process step by step, costs, waiting times and what happens if you change jobs. It’s general information, not legal advice. Polish migration law changed a lot in 2025 and 2026, so check the official links or ask an immigration adviser.
Do you need a residence permit?
- EU and EEA citizens don’t need a permit to work. They register their stay instead. See our relocation checklist.
- Non-EU citizens need the right to work and the right to stay. Many start with a work permit and a national D visa (see EU Blue Card and work permits), then switch to a temporary residence permit once they’re in Poland.
You apply for a temporary residence permit from inside Poland, while you’re here legally. You can’t start the single-permit procedure while you’re in Poland on a visa issued for tourism or visiting family, on a Schengen visa from another country issued for those purposes, or as a seasonal worker (Zielona Linia).
Which permit: single permit or EU Blue Card?
| Single permit (pobyt czasowy i praca) | EU Blue Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Any job, any level | Highly qualified work |
| Minimum pay | At least the minimum wage, and no less than Polish workers in comparable jobs | At least PLN 13,355.34 gross a month for 2026 applications |
| Degree needed | No | Degree or comparable professional experience |
| Stamp duty | PLN 440 | PLN 440 |
| Residence card | PLN 100 | PLN 100 |
| Can you open a JDG (B2B)? | No | Yes, since June 2025 |
Sources: Zielona Linia: single permit, Zielona Linia: Blue Card, Stamp Duty Act, annex part III, Act on foreign entrepreneurs, art. 4.
If your salary clears the Blue Card threshold and you have a degree or comparable experience, the Blue Card is usually the better choice: it makes moving within the EU easier, and it lets you run a sole-trader business for B2B work. See setting up a JDG as a foreigner.
Requirements for the single permit
The voivode grants a temporary residence and work permit when (Zielona Linia):
- you have health insurance: Polish public insurance (which you get through an employment contract) or private cover for medical costs in Poland;
- your pay is no lower than what Polish workers get for comparable work in the same sector;
- your monthly pay is at least the minimum wage (PLN 4,806 in 2026), whatever your working hours or contract type.
The permit is granted for the time needed for your job, up to 3 years (Act on Foreigners, art. 98). You can then apply for a new one.
How to apply in MOS, step by step
Since 27 April 2026, temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term residence applications can only be filed online in MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl. Paper applications that hadn’t reached the office by then aren’t examined (Office for Foreigners).
- Get a PESEL number and a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany). You need a Trusted Profile to create a MOS account (MOS Q&A). Our relocation checklist explains how.
- Create a new MOS account through login.gov.pl. Accounts from the old version of MOS weren’t carried over.
- Fill in the form. Upload a recent digital photo, scans of every page of your passport, and proof that you paid the stamp duty and the PLN 100 card fee.
- Enter your employer’s email address. MOS sends your employer a link to fill in and sign its annex. You can’t submit until it’s done, so ask HR early.
- Sign and submit with your Trusted Profile, a personal e-ID signature or a qualified e-signature (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1794). Download the official confirmation of receipt (UPO).
- Download your certificate of submission. Once the office approves the application, you can print a certificate that replaces the old passport stamp (Office for Foreigners).
- Go to the voivode’s office when invited to give fingerprints and a signature sample and show your original passport.
- Receive the decision at your delivery address, then collect your karta pobytu.
Apply before your current legal stay ends. If you file in time and your application is complete (or you fix any gaps on time), your stay is legal until the decision is final (Act on Foreigners, art. 108). The Office for Foreigners warns not to leave it to the last day, because you may need time to collect documents and your employer’s annex (MOS Q&A).
How much does a karta pobytu cost?
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Stamp duty: single permit or EU Blue Card | PLN 440 |
| Stamp duty: most other temporary residence permits | PLN 340 |
| Residence card (karta pobytu) | PLN 100 |
| Changing a single permit | PLN 220 |
Sources: Stamp Duty Act, Office for Foreigners. MOS itself is free, and the Office for Foreigners points out that you don’t need a paid intermediary to apply.
Ask your employer whether they’ll pay the fees.
Karta pobytu waiting time
The law says the voivode must decide on a temporary residence permit within 60 days. The clock starts only when your application is complete and you’ve provided any documents the office asked for (Act on Foreigners, art. 112a). An appeal must be decided within 90 days.
In practice, waits are often longer than 60 days, and they vary a lot by region. We couldn’t find an official average processing time for 2026. To keep your wait short:
- submit a complete application with every document scanned;
- get your employer’s annex signed quickly;
- answer any request from the office by its deadline;
- go to your fingerprint appointment as soon as you’re invited.
Ask your employer’s HR or immigration adviser what they’ve seen recently at your voivode’s office.
While you wait: can you work?
Your stay stays legal while your application is pending if you filed it on time. Whether you can work during that time depends on your basis for working before you applied, for example a work permit for the same employer. Check with HR before you start or change jobs while your application is pending.
Changing jobs or contract
A single permit is tied to your employer and job. You must apply to change it if your working conditions change, with some exceptions. You don’t need a change if (Zielona Linia):
- your employer changes its name, address or legal form, or your workplace is transferred to a new employer;
- your hours go up with a proportional pay rise;
- your job title changes but your duties don’t;
- a civil-law contract is replaced by an employment contract.
Your employer must tell the voivode about these changes within 15 working days. If you lose your job, you must tell the voivode within 15 working days.
Since 8 July 2026, a labour inspector can also rule that a civil-law contract is really employment. The same law says that if you hold a type A work permit, it doesn’t need to be changed when your employer switches you to an employment contract or such a ruling is made (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 473). See PIP and B2B reclassification.
From temporary to long-term residence
After 5 years of legal, continuous residence, you can apply for an EU long-term resident permit, which has no end date. You need a stable income, health insurance and confirmed knowledge of Polish (Act on Foreigners, art. 211). With it, you can also run your own business on the same terms as Poles.
Find an employer who sponsors
Most permits start with an employer willing to do the paperwork. Browse visa sponsorship jobs, companies that sponsor visas and jobs open to applicants abroad, and read our list of tech companies that sponsor visas in Poland.
Frequently asked questions
What is a karta pobytu?
A karta pobytu is a Polish residence card. It confirms your identity and your right to stay in Poland while you hold a residence permit, such as a temporary residence and work permit, an EU Blue Card or a long-term resident permit. The card costs PLN 100, on top of the permit’s stamp duty.
What are the requirements for a temporary residence permit in Poland for work?
For the single permit: health insurance, pay at least equal to the minimum wage (PLN 4,806 a month in 2026) and no lower than Polish workers in comparable jobs, and an employer who fills in and signs its annex in MOS. You must be in Poland legally and not on a tourist or family-visit visa.
How long does a karta pobytu take?
By law, the voivode should decide within 60 days of a complete application, and an appeal within 90 days. In practice, many applicants wait longer, and the wait depends on the region. There’s no official average. Submit a complete application early and respond quickly to any requests.
How much is the temporary residence permit fee in Poland?
PLN 440 in stamp duty for a temporary residence and work permit or an EU Blue Card, and PLN 340 for most other temporary residence permits. The residence card costs PLN 100. Changing a single permit costs PLN 220. Using MOS is free.
Can I apply for a temporary residence permit from outside Poland?
Generally no: you apply from inside Poland while staying here legally, usually on a national D work visa. A few types, such as family reunification when the family member is abroad, are still filed on paper. If you’re abroad, start with a work permit and a D visa.
Can I change jobs on a temporary residence and work permit?
Yes, but you usually need to apply to change the permit, or get a new one, before you start the new job. Some changes don’t need a new permit, such as a new job title with the same duties, or replacing a civil-law contract with an employment contract.