I have a permit for tolerated stay in Poland

When should I apply?

You should apply if you stay in Poland for a continuous period of not less than 10 years, based on a permit for tolerated stay.

Permanent residence permit cannot be granted to foreigners who have been granted a permit for tolerated stay on the territory of Poland due to the impracticability of the foreigner's obligation to return for reasons beyond the control of the authority competent to enforce the decision obliging the foreigner to return and from the foreigner, i.e. the permit for tolerated stay was issued on the basis of art. 351 paragraph 1 item 2 of the Act on foreigners.

You should apply after 10 years from receiving your permit for tolerated stay in person, before your current legal status expires (i.e. before your visa or residence card expires).

You must submit your application for a permanent 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.

Before submitting your application, please read our guidelines on how to complete the application forms.

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 permanent 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 Signature or a qualified electronic signature. If you are acting as a legal representative (for example, as a parent, guardian, or custodian), you may sign the application using a Trusted Signature, a qualified electronic signature, or a personal signature.
  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?

  • an application completed online in the Case Handling Module,

  • 1 digital photograph,

  • 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,

  • confirmation that you have paid the stamp duty fee. 

PAY ONLINE

Documents needed to grant the permit:

  • Decision on granting a permit for tolerated stay,

  • Documents confirming that your stay on Polish territory was uninterrupted or documents stating the reasons for the occurrence of breaks in your stay.

All documents are submitted in original / certified copy.

During the proceedings, you may be asked to come to the office for an interview to provide additional clarifications.

What should I know?

The permit is issued for an indefinite period. This permit entitles you to work without a work permit.

Read our guide

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 How to receive residence card

Did you find it useful?

Application check-list

Updated: 18-05-2026

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FAQ

I have been married to a Polish citizen for 3 years, but so far we have lived outside of Poland. Can I apply for permanent residence in Poland?

Unfortunately no. You will be able to apply for permanent residence only after 2 years of uninterrupted residence in Poland on the basis of a temporary residence permit granted in connection with being married to a Polish citizen. If you have never applied for a temporary residence in Poland...

read the whole answer...

During the validity of the residence card in Poland obtained 2 years ago due to a marriage concluded more than 3 years ago with a Polish citizen, I lived in Germany for 1 year - can I apply for permanent residence?

It depends on the reasons for staying in Germany - as a rule, the total period of stay outside of Poland during the period required to apply for permanent residence may not exceed more than 6 months at a time, and all stays outside of Poland in total may not exceed 10 months.

I have a permanent residence in Poland, will my family receive permanent residence as soon as they come to Poland for the first time?

You can apply for a permanent residence only for a child remaining under your parental authority - this applies to a child born after granting you permanent residence permit and to a child born before granting it, but only if it was born during the period when you had a temporary residence...

read the whole answer...

My child was born in Poland, now there is no document legalizing its stay in Poland - if I have a permanent residence permit, can the child also receive it?

If the child was born after granting you a permanent residence permit or before it is granted, but on the condition that it was born during a period when you had a temporary residence permit or stayed in Poland on the basis of a permit for tolerated stay, permission to stay for humanitarian...

read the whole answer...

The Polish origin of my family in Belarus is proved by a document confirming my grandfather's participation in the Polish elections to Parliament - is this enough for me to obtain a permanent residence in Poland?

Unfortunately no, the only way to confirm Polish origin is to submit documents indicating Polish nationality (and not citizenship) of at least one of your parents or grandparents or two great grandparents.