Writing about residence permits in Poland, temporary protection for Ukrainians, delays at voivodeship offices or e-Delivery? Attorney-at-law Bartosz Krajewski explains the rules and how the offices apply them, in plain language and with the legal basis. If your deadline is short, call us.
Who is Bartosz Krajewski
Bartosz Krajewski is an attorney-at-law (radca prawny) admitted to the Warsaw Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law (Okręgowa Izba Radców Prawnych w Warszawie). He leads Kancelaria Radców Prawnych Bartosz Krajewski, a law firm at ul. Marszałkowska 20/22 lok. 72 in Warsaw.
The firm has operated since 2016 (entered in the National Court Register on 12 October 2016) and has handled over 4,000 cases, most of them immigration matters: residence permits, permanent residence and EU long-term resident status, Polish citizenship, appeals against refusals, urging motions (ponaglenie) and complaints about administrative inaction. Cases are handled remotely across Poland, in eight languages: Polish, English, Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Arabic, Spanish and Azerbaijani.
He also comments on legal changes in public. On Polish television he explained what e-Delivery is, who must use it and what happens when official mail is not collected.
Full profile of the attorneyRecording of the TV appearance (in Polish)
Topics we can help your newsroom with
For each of these topics we have the statutes, the deadlines and a picture of how cases actually run at offices across the country.
MOS and the move to online applications
Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident permits are filed online only. What changed for foreigners and employers, where mistakes happen, and what replaced the passport stamp.
Office deadlines and administrative delay
The statutory 60 days for a decision versus real waiting times, the urging motion (ponaglenie) under Article 37 of the Code of Administrative Procedure, and the complaint about inaction to the administrative court.
Temporary protection for Ukrainians and the CUKR residence card
UKR and NUE status, the phase-out of the special act on 5 March 2026, temporary protection until 4 March 2028, and the switch to a regular residence permit.
Polish citizenship and new fees
The PLN 1,000 fee for recognition as a Polish citizen since 1 August 2025, pending bills, and the difference between recognition and the grant of citizenship by the President.
Return decisions and entry bans
What a return decision (commonly called an order to leave Poland) means, how long there is to appeal, and how an SIS alert works.
e-Delivery (e-Doręczenia)
The rollout schedule, the legal effect of uncollected mail, and practice after 1 October 2026, when sole traders registered in CEIDG joined the system.
Driving licences of foreigners
After the amendment of 17 December 2025, only licences that follow the Vienna Convention are exchanged without an exam. Who is affected and what happens with expired documents.
Facts you can quote
The figures and deadlines newsrooms ask about most often. Each point has its legal basis and links to the article where we discuss it in full.
Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident permits in Poland are filed online only, through the MOS case module.
Legal basis: Article 106c(1) and Article 203c(1) of the Act on ForeignersRead more
The voivode has 60 days to decide on a temporary residence permit, counted from the day the application is complete. The Head of the Office for Foreigners has 90 days to decide an appeal.
Legal basis: Article 112a(1) and (4) of the Act on ForeignersRead more
When the office misses the deadline, the party may file an urging motion (ponaglenie) and then a complaint about inaction to the voivodeship administrative court.
Legal basis: Article 37 of the Code of Administrative ProcedureRead more
An appeal against a refusal of a residence permit must be filed within 14 days of service, to the Head of the Office for Foreigners through the voivode.
Legal basis: Articles 127 § 2 and 129 § 2 of the Code of Administrative ProcedureRead more
An appeal against a return decision must be filed within 7 days.
Legal basis: Article 321(2) of the Act on ForeignersRead more
Temporary protection for people fleeing the war in Ukraine applies until 4 March 2028.
Legal basis: Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912 of 30 July 2026Read more
The stamp duty for a decision recognising a person as a Polish citizen is PLN 1,000 (previously PLN 219); for accepting an application for the grant of citizenship PLN 1,669; for confirming possession or loss of citizenship PLN 277. The rates apply from 1 August 2025.
Legal basis: Act of 25 June 2025 amending the Repatriation Act and certain other actsRead more
Since 17 December 2025, a foreign driving licence is exchanged without an exam only if it follows the model of the 1968 Vienna Convention. A licence from a country that is party only to the Geneva Convention is no longer enough.
Legal basis: Article 14(1) of the Act on Vehicle DriversRead more
Since 1 October 2026, sole traders entered in CEIDG by 31 December 2024 must have an e-Delivery address. Courts, prosecutors and bailiffs join on 1 October 2029.
Legal basis: Act on Electronic DeliveryRead more
Law and data as of 13 November 2026.
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Attribution: Bartosz Krajewski, attorney-at-law (radca prawny), Kancelaria Radców Prawnych Bartosz Krajewski, Warsaw (prawoiadministracja.pl).
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Company details
- Brand
- Kancelaria Radców Prawnych Bartosz Krajewski
- Registered entity
- Kancelaria Radców Prawnych Przemysław Cempel S.K.A.
- KRS (court register)
- 0000641675
- NIP (tax ID)
- 7010622238
- REGON
- 365626863
- Address
- ul. Marszałkowska 20/22 lok. 72, 00-590 Warszawa
- Registered
- 12 October 2016