I am a spouse of a Polish citizen

The procedure description includes legal changes effective from April 27, 2026.

When should I apply?

You should apply for a temporary residence permit if you wish to stay in Poland for a period exceeding 3 months and you remain in a marriage recognized by Polish law with a citizen of the Republic of Poland.

You must submit your application for a temporary residence permit only in electronic form via MOS, no later than on the last day of your legal stay in Poland.
Applications submitted in any other way than through MOS will not be examined. This means that if a foreign national, or someone acting on their behalf, tries to submit the application without following these procedures, the application will not have any legal effect. This also applies if the official application form is submitted in paper form to the voivode, or electronically to the voivode’s electronic delivery address or electronic inbox.

If you submit your application on time and it does not contain any formal deficiencies — or if you correct any deficiencies within the deadline indicated by us — your stay in Poland will remain legal from the date of effective submission via MOS until the decision in your case becomes final.

If you came to Poland in connection with the armed conflict in Ukraine check whether you can apply for a 3-year CUKR card

Before you apply, read our tips on how to fill in an application form.

How should I apply?

From 27 April 2026, applications may only be submitted through the Case Handling Module (MOS) portal.
  1. Go to mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl via login.gov.pl and create an account.
  2. Read the requirements for the specific type of permit and purpose of stay, and gather all documents needed to complete the application in MOS.
Don’t have a Trusted Profile yet? First obtain a PESEL ID number and then create a Trusted Profile. You will also need a Trusted Profile to set up an electronic e-Delivery mailbox, which is necessary for receiving correspondence from the Office and submitting additional documents in your case.
  1. Complete the application for a temporary residence permit by following the instructions displayed on the screen.
  2. In the application, provide an email address where you will receive an access code to check the status of your case once your application has been registered by the Office.
  3. You must attach a digital biometric photograph, scans/photos of all pages of your travel document, and confirmation of payment of the stamp duty fee.
  4. Sign the application using a Trusted Profile and submit it in the MOS system.
  5. After submitting the application, download the Official Acknowledgement of Receipt (UPO), which confirms that your application has been submitted. Keep this document safe.
Important: if you do not receive the UPO, it means that your application has not been successfully submitted.

The next step will be an in-person appointment to submit your fingerprints. During the visit, you will also complete other documents required to obtain a stamp in your passport.

Learn how to submit fingerprints.
Learn how to track the status of your case.

What documents do I need?

  • Online application completed in the Case Handling Module,

  • Scans/photos of all pages of a valid travel document (original available for inspection). In particularly justified cases, if you do not possess a valid travel document and are unable to obtain one, you may scan another document confirming your identity,

  • 1 digital photograph,

  • confirmation of the payment of stamp duty. 

What should I know?

Read our guide

During the procedure we must check whether the marriage has not been entered into in order to circumvent the provisions related to granting the residence permit for a fixed period. You may be invited to an interview. In case if we need to clarify the evidence we have in the case, you may be asked to provide other documents or to testify confirming the circumstances that you indicated in the application and the circumstances regarding the purpose of marriage.

This permit entitles the spouse of a Polish citizen to perform work without any need of any additional work permit. Information on the possibility of taking up employment without a separate work permit can be found in the instructions on the decision to grant a temporary residence permit. The annotation "access to the labour market" is placed in the residence card issued in relation to this kind of residence permit.

I have received my decison - how to get my residence card now?

The residence card is issued after you have received your decision with your permit.

Read more:  How to receive a residence card?

Did you find it useful?

Application check-list

Updated: 14-05-2026

Report an error on this page / Leave feedback

CAPTCHA
This task is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Leave feedback

FAQ

I have a residence card/I applied for a residence card and I would like my family to come to Poland. How to legalise the stay of my husband/wife and children in Poland?

Check the conditions for granting temporary residence permit for family members: spouse, minor child.

 

I have been a holder of a residence card for over a year. My wife came to Poland and she is going to apply for a residence permit on the basis of „a stay with family”. Will the annotation “access to the labour market” be placed in her residence card?

If this is your first temporary residence card, your wife will not have the annotation “access to the labour market” placed in her card. Such annotation can only be placed in her card, if you have been staying in Poland for at least 2 years, on the basis of consecutive temporary residence...

read the whole answer...

When should an application for a residence permit for a family member (of foreigner) who stays outside the territory of Poland be filed, and who can do it?

You can apply for a temporary residence permit on behalf of each family member who would like to reunite with you, but stays outside the territory of Poland, if you hold one of the entry and stay titles below:

  • a permanent residence permit,
  • a residence permit for long-term...
read the whole answer...

Is it required to submit a certificate of enrolment/continuation of education (from school/ kindergarten) for a foreigner’s child?

  • No. It is not necessary. However, under certain circumstances, if some documents  need further clarification, you might be asked to submit such a certificate.
  • Remember that the period of compulsory education, imposed by law,  refers to any child under the age of 18 who stays in...
read the whole answer...

What kind of documents confirming stable and regular source of income should be enclosed to the application for a foreigner’s child, if the application was filed by the child’s mother who remains unemployed and is dependent on her husband....

Documents confirming stable and regular source of income to be enclosed to the application for a foreigner’s child, if the application was filed by the child’s mother who remains unemployed and is dependent on her husband, who is not the child’s legal guardian:

  • If the child’s mother...
read the whole answer...