University graduates

You should apply for a temporary residence permit for graduate looking for work or planning to establish an economic activity if you wish to stay in Poland for a period exceeding 3 months and you are a graduate of a Polish university. For this particular temporary residence permit you can apply only once and only immediately after graduating from university. The temporary residence permit is granted for the period of 9 months.

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 you apply read our tips on how to fill out in application form.

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.

3. Complete the application for a temporary residence permit by following the instructions displayed on the screen.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Sign the application using a Trusted Profile and submit it in the MOS system.
7. After submitting the application, download the Official Acknowledgement of Receipt (UPO), which confirms that your application has been submitted. Keep this document safe.

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.

• 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. 

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  Documents required to be granted the residence permit:

  • Polish university graduation diploma,
  • Confirmation of active job search e.g. proof of your CVs sent to prospective employers, confirmation of set job interviews, etc.
  • Health insurance,
  • Confirmation of having sufficient funds to cover the costs of your stay in Poland and return ticket to the country of origin for the period of 9 months,
  • A current document confirming your accommodation in Poland,

Read our guide

Temporary residence permit is granted once, directly after graduation, for a period of 9 months.

This permit does not entitle you to work in Poland. If you are a graduate of full-time studies at a Polish university, you can work without a work permit.

Please do remember that, within 15 business days, you are obliged to inform the appropriate province governor that granted you your temporary residence permit, that the reasons for granting your permit no longer apply. If your residence permit was granted by the Head of the Office for Foreigners, so the second instance authority examining the temporary residence permit for graduate looking for work or planning to establish an economic activity, the information should be sent to the province governor – the first instance authority examining the temporary residence permit. If you do not fulfill this obligation, you might be refused obtaining another residence permit.

• Application for a graduate looking for work or planning to establish an economic activity will not be considered if you apply for such a permit during validity of the temporary residence permit granted for work as intra-corporate transfer and you are a trainee employee or during validity of the temporary residence permit for work in the profession requiring high qualifications.

• A full-time studies graduation diploma of Polish university entitles you to work without a work permit. You have a full free labour market access.

The residence card is issued after you have received your decision with your permit. Read How to receive residence card?