Short-term stay

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

When should I apply?

You should apply for a temporary residence permit due to circumstances requiring a short stay in Poland when you are in Poland, and:

  • you are obliged to appear in person in the Polish public authority, or
  • a unique personal situation requires your presence in Poland, or
  • the country’s interest requires your presence in Poland.
This permit may also be granted if you are in Poland illegally/you are an undocumented migrant.
You must submit your application for a temporary residence permit only in electronic form via MOS.
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 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,

  • 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 of the payment of stamp duty. 

    • if you are obliged to appear in person in the Polish public authority or the country’s interest requires your presence in Poland - your stamp duty is 85 PLN 

      PAY ONLINE

    • if an unique personal situation requires your presence in Poland - your stamp duty is 340 PLN 

      PAY ONLINE

  • Documents confirming the circumstances requiring your stay in Poland (e.g. request to appear in Polish public authorities, medical certificates, etc.)
     

What should I know?

If you are staying on the basis of this permit, you cannot apply for further legalization of your stay on the usual basis, i.e. it is not possible for you to apply for a temporary residence permit due to a different purpose of stay/ permanent residence permit/ long-term resident's EU residence permit. 

Temporary residence permit due to circumstances requiring a short stay, can be granted for up to 6 months.

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

The residence card is issued after obtaining a positive decision on granting the permit. Read how to get a residence card

Did you find it useful?

Application check-list

Updated: 15-05-2026

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