Residence card in Warsaw 2026 — temporary residence permit step by step
A residence card is a document issued to a foreigner after a positive decision on a residence permit. Together with a valid travel document it confirms the right to stay legally in Poland and to cross the border without a visa.
Residence card vs residence permit — the difference
A temporary residence permit (or permanent one) is an administrative decision of the voivode that grants the right to stay. The residence card is the physical document issued on the basis of that decision. First you file the permit application, then you collect the card after a positive outcome.
Who can apply for a temporary residence permit
- employees and people running a business,
- students and pupils,
- family members of a Polish citizen or of a foreigner legally living in Poland,
- holders of the EU Blue Card (highly qualified workers).
Where to apply in Warsaw
For people living in Warsaw and the Mazovia region the competent authority is the Mazovian Voivodeship Office. Current rules, deadlines and forms are available on the Voivodeship Office — Foreigners page and at the Office for Foreigners.
Online application — the cudzoziemcy.gov.pl module
More and more residence cases are handled electronically — through the government Case Handling Module (MOS) at cudzoziemcy.gov.pl. Important: the office treats every attached file as an ordinary scan (copy). For a copy to have the force of a document, it should be certified as a true copy by a lawyer (radca prawny) or a notary — otherwise the office may ask you to present the originals. Attach a full set of annexes, because formal gaps make the procedure longer.
The most common mistake: “I’ll complete my documents at the fingerprinting”
This is not true. Many foreigners wrongly assume that missing documents can be handed in and completed during the fingerprinting appointment. In fact, the voivode himself announces that no documents other than the passport will be accepted at that appointment.
You must submit all annexes earlier, electronically via MOS. For the fingerprinting you bring only a valid passport. Source: announcement of the Mazovian Voivodeship Office.
Which documents to prepare
- completed temporary residence permit application,
- valid passport (travel document),
- current biometric photos,
- documents proving the purpose of stay (employment contract, university certificate, marriage certificate, etc.),
- proof of health insurance and source of income.
What happens after filing
If you file during a legal stay and without formal gaps, your stay during the procedure is considered legal. The voivode issues the decision; a refusal can be appealed to the Head of the Office for Foreigners.
Every case is different. To be sure your application is complete and filed correctly, book a consultation with a Warsaw law firm.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a residence card?
Can I work while waiting for the decision?
Do I have to apply in person?
What if I get a refusal?
Related articles
Our lawyer on television about e-Delivery (e-Doręczenia) — full appearance
The full TV appearance of our law firm's attorney on e-Delivery (e-Doręczenia): what the registered electronic letter with legal effect is, who it applies to and how not to miss an important official letter. Watch the full recording.
Read more →
Legal stay in Poland 2026 — from visa to permanent residence
Visa, visa-free travel, temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident — the path to a legal stay for foreigners in Poland and how not to lose continuity.
Read more →
Foreigner’s work in Poland 2026 — work permit, employer’s declaration and EU Blue Card
Work permit (types A–E), declaration on entrusting work, single residence-and-work permit and the EU Blue Card — how to legally employ a foreigner and how to work legally in Poland.
Read more →