In short
A residence card (karta pobytu) confirms a foreign national's identity while in Poland and, together with a passport, allows multiple border crossings without a visa. It is issued after a temporary, permanent or EU long-term resident permit is granted. Residents of the Pomorskie region apply to the Pomeranian Voivode. Since 27 April 2026, applications for these permits can be filed only electronically, through the MOS system.
Which permit fits your situation?
The first step is always to identify the correct legal basis. It determines the documents required, how long the permit lasts and what options you will have later, such as permanent residence.
- Temporary residence permit – where the purpose of stay justifies more than 3 months in Poland: work, business, studies, family reunification or other grounds set out in the Act of 12 December 2013 on Foreigners. It is granted for 3 months to 3 years, depending on the purpose.
- Permanent residence permit – granted for an indefinite period, among others to people of Polish origin, holders of the Pole's Card (Karta Polaka) who intend to settle in Poland permanently, and spouses of Polish citizens who meet the statutory conditions on the length of the marriage and of residence in Poland (Art. 195 of the Act on Foreigners).
- EU long-term resident permit – after at least 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence in Poland immediately before the application, with a stable and regular income, health insurance and confirmed knowledge of Polish (for example, a certificate at level B1 or higher). Not every period of stay counts in full towards the 5 years, and some residence grounds rule out an application altogether, so we calculate the periods from your documents before anything is filed.
Ukrainian citizens with UKR status have an additional route, the CUKR residence card – see UKR status and CUKR card. Students, see student residence; families, see family reunification.
How the case runs before the Pomeranian Voivode
The application is decided by the voivode competent for the place where the foreign national lives. For residents of Gdynia, Gdańsk, Sopot and the rest of the Pomorskie region, that is the Pomeranian Voivode, acting through the Pomeranian Voivodeship Office in Gdańsk (Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki w Gdańsku).
- Assessment. We establish the purpose of stay and the legal basis, and check your residence history and deadlines. A temporary residence application must be filed no later than the last day of your legal stay in Poland.
- Documents. We prepare a list of attachments for your case. Some attachments – for example from an employer or university – are completed and signed electronically in MOS by that employer or university.
- MOS application. The application is completed at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl and signed with a trusted profile (profil zaufany), a qualified electronic signature or a personal signature (e-ID). You log in to your own account and sign the application yourself. We help prepare its content and attachments, but we never ask for your login details.
- After filing. The office checks the application and summons you in person, among other things to show your passport and give fingerprints. After filing in MOS you receive a certificate of filing, which has replaced the former passport stamp. Whether your stay remains legal during the case depends on filing during legal stay and on the application having no formal defects (or their timely correction).
- Representation. As your attorney we respond to summonses, add evidence and keep track of deadlines. If the permit is refused, we prepare an appeal to the Head of the Office for Foreigners.
How long does it take?
The law sets deadlines for a decision – 60 days for temporary residence, counted only from the moment the application and documents are complete. At the same time, Art. 100d of the Act of 12 March 2022 on assistance to Ukrainian citizens provides that until 4 March 2027 the deadlines for voivodes to decide residence cases do not run. This applies to all foreign nationals, so waiting times can exceed 60 days. We will tell you whether a formal request to address delay (ponaglenie) or a court complaint makes sense in your case.
Frequently asked questions
Where does a Gdynia resident apply for a residence card?
To the voivode competent for the place of residence – for Gdynia, Gdańsk, Sopot and the whole Pomorskie region, the Pomeranian Voivode. The application is filed online in the MOS system; you go to the office when summoned, for example to give fingerprints, and to collect the card.
Can I still file a paper application?
No. Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary, permanent and EU long-term resident permits can be filed only through the MOS portal. From that date, paper applications are left unprocessed, regardless of the postmark date.
How long is a temporary residence permit granted for?
For 3 months to 3 years, depending on the purpose of stay and the documents, such as the length of an employment contract or a study programme. Permanent and EU long-term resident permits are granted for an indefinite period; the card itself is issued for a fixed period and must be replaced.
Is my stay legal while the application is pending?
In temporary residence cases, generally yes – if the application was filed during legal stay and has no formal defects, or the defects were corrected on time. Your stay is then considered legal until the decision becomes final. This does not cover any period in which the proceedings are suspended at your request.
Law and information as of October 2026.