Before you begin, make sure you have both a PESEL number (personal identification number in Poland) and a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany). A Trusted Profile is required to log in to the MOS portal and to electronically sign your application before submission (to be clear you might sign application also with qualified electronic signature, but you can’t log into MOS system with that type of signature).

How to obtain a PESEL Number:

The easiest way to receive a PESEL number is by registering your address (zameldowanie) in Poland for a stay of more than 30 days. In that case, the PESEL number is assigned automatically.

If you are unable to register your address, but a public authority requires you to have a PESEL number (for example, to use the MOS system and submit a residence permit application), you may apply for PESEL at any municipality (gmina) or city office (urząd miasta) in Poland – (more info here).

The application is free of charge and must be accompanied by a valid identity document.

You are required to submit the application in person, since January 2026 you can’t apply for a PESEL through attorney.

You need to provide a legal grounds for assigning a PESEL number in the application form – in your situation, it might be a will to create Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany).

PESEL is usually processed immediately (on the same day), and you will receive confirmation of the assigned number from the office (a certificate).

A Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany) is a free electronic identification tool that allows you to access Polish public administration services online, including the MOS portal. It is also used to electronically sign your residence permit application before submission.

To create a Trusted Profile:

1. Visit the official Profil Zaufany  registration website here.
2. Sign up by providing your personal details and creating an account.
3. Verify your identity using one of the available methods.

Unfortunately, website is not available in English, you may use Polish or Ukrainian version.

You need to provide email which you will use and a phone number. In theory it might be a foreign telephone number but I recommend using a Polish one.

If you need to use a foreign one, you need to contact their info line to authorize the number number (+ 48 (42) 253 54 50).

There are several ways to confirm your Trusted Profile:

• Online through your bank – if your bank participates in the Trusted Profile programme, you can verify your identity entirely online through your electronic banking account. This is the quickest and most convenient option.

• Using an electronic ID (e-dowód) – only for Polish citizens.

• In person at a confirmation point (full list here – you may also do this abroad!)– if you cannot verify your identity online, you can visit one of the authorised confirmation points, such as selected municipal offices, voivodeship offices, tax offices, or other designated public institutions. Remember to bring your valid identity document.

Once your identity has been successfully verified, your Trusted Profile becomes active immediately, allowing you to log in to the MOS portal via login.gov.pl and electronically sign your residence permit application.

Before starting your residence permit application, make sure that your Trusted Profile is active and that you still have access to the phone number or banking credentials associated with it, as they may be required during the login and signing process.

The application for residence card shall be submitted not later than on the last day of legal residence on the territory of the Republic of Poland.

Since 27 April 2026, foreign nationals in Poland have been required to submit applications for temporary residence permits exclusively in electronic form through the MOS online portal.

To create an account in the MOS system, as we mentioned before, applicants must have a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany), and before that – PESEL number.

As a result, completing the formalities required before submitting a residence permit application may take additional time, as several preliminary steps must be completed in advance. In practice, however, it is often possible to arrange all of these formalities within a single day.

If you don’t have much time to deal with the TRP application, contact us.  We may help you!

Requirements and process for temporary residence permit Poland 2026 

Basic documents you need to provide:

1. Filled application form  for a temporary residence permit completed by the instructions (as application form is digital, system requires filling out all boxes automatically),

2. current “biometric” photograph –in color; in JPG format; with a resolution of at least 684 × 883 pixels (width × height) and a file size of up to 2.5 MB, maintaining the aspect ratio of a 35 × 45 mm (width × height) photograph; recent, i.e., taken no earlier than 6 months prior to the application submission date; with good sharpness and showing clearly the eyes and face from the top of the head to the upper part of the shoulders, so that the face occupies 70-80 % of the photographs. The photographs are intended to depict a person without a headgear and dark-lensed glasses, looking directly ahead with eyes open, hair removed from face, a natural expression on a face and a closed mouth,

3. photocopy of a valid passport, all filled pages (passport available for inspection at the office) in PDF,

4. confirmation of payment (for the administrative fee – duty stamp), in PDF

5. Official attachments No. 1 and/or 2/3/4/5 (where applicable, depending on the legal purpose of your stay, e.g. employment, EU Blue Card, studies, research etc.). You may see forms here.

6. documents confirming additional requirements (depending on the legal basis!) such as legal title to the occupied premises, health insurance, etc.,

IMPORTANT NOTE!

When submitting your application through the online system, you must first complete the residence application form and forward it electronically to your employer, university, or other relevant institution via the system. This will enable them to complete and sign the required attachment.

Please note that you will only be able to successfully submit (send) your residence application once the relevant attachment has been completed and signed by the authorized party.

Documents listed in points 1-5 are necessary to initiate (officially start) the proceeding. 

Remember, all documents that you provide need to be in Polish (or translated into Polish by a sworn translator).

Note that the set of documents necessary to obtain a temporary residence permit  may differ due to the given foreigner’s situation (and type of permit).

Check our article in which we describe all most popular types of temporary residence permits and required documents.

If you have any questions or doubts – contact us, we might help you to go through that process.

When submitting the application, the foreigner is obliged to submit fingerprints.

To do so the foreigner will be summoned to appear in person under pain of leaving the application unprocessed.

You will be summoned by email.

Once your fingerprints have been collected and all formal requirements have been met (meaning there are no outstanding formal deficiencies), the authority will initiate the residence permit proceedings and issue a Certificate of Initiation of the Proceedings.

Under the new MOS system, applicants will no longer receive the traditional stamp in their passport confirming that the application has been submitted without formal deficiencies.

Instead, a digital certificate will be automatically generated in the MOS portal.

If you submit your application on time and there are no formal defects, or formal deficiencies were supplemented by you in the period indicated by Immigration Office (Voivode), your stay will be legal from the day of submitting the application until decision in this matter will be issued and becomes final.

FINGERPRINTS – WAITING TIME:

In Kraków – foreigners who submitted application through MOS wait around 2,5 month to be called for fingerprints (it means that currently waiting time is shorter than before – usually around 4-5 months after sending application).

However, it is still too early to say whether the new system will actually shorten the overall processing time, as it remains to be seen whether the stages following fingerprint collection will be completed any faster.

Currently all forms you should fill out in the MOS system (online). However you may find applications’ forms on government websites to see what information you need to provide or to use them if you’re changing your legal basis of stay during the proceedings:

Here you can find and download the application form for a temporary residence permit 2026

Here you may find attachment no 1 – which should be fill out by you employer (if you apply on the basis of work).

Here you may find attachment no 2 – which you should fill out if you are applying for Blue Card.

Here you can find our comprehensive guide covering the most common types of temporary residence permits, the required documents, application fees, and other key aspects of the residence permit procedure.