Prepare your temporary residence application

There is no single processing time for a TRC application. As of 12 October 2026, decision time limits for covered residence cases at voivodeship offices are suspended until 4 March 2027, although applications continue to be processed. Your waiting time depends on your case and completed formalities, and issuing the physical card is a separate step after approval. We can review your application at a consultation.

Possibly, but applying for a residence permit does not itself give you permission to work. You need lawful stay and a valid right to work, such as a work authorisation, a qualifying continuation rule or an exemption. Active PESEL UKR status has separate work rules that require employer notification. We can check your documents and work rights at a consultation.

You may be able to change employers while your application is pending, but the pending application alone does not authorise work for a new employer. For an employment-based application, update the office with your new employer details and documents, outside MOS by paper correspondence or through the voivode’s electronic-delivery address. Before starting the new job, check whether your right to work covers it or whether a new authorisation or notification is needed. We can review the change at a consultation.

Start by checking the case status, any requests from the office and whether all required documents and formalities are complete. As of 12 October 2026, decision time limits for covered residence cases at voivodeship offices are suspended until 4 March 2027, and ordinary remedies for delay are restricted. The available next step depends on your case and the procedure involved. We can review the file and possible steps at a consultation.

Yes, you can appeal a voivode’s refusal of a temporary residence permit. Submit the appeal to the Head of the Office for Foreigners through the voivode who issued the decision, within 14 days of the decision being delivered to you. As of 12 October 2026, appeals are submitted outside the MOS application portal, so check the decision’s instructions and the accepted submission channel. We can review the refusal and appeal options at a consultation.

You may travel if you have the documents and rights needed for the journey and for re-entry to Poland. A passport stamp or application certificate confirming a pending residence application is not, by itself, permission to re-enter Poland or travel within Schengen. If you have PESEL UKR status, an absence can also affect that status and needs a separate check. We can review your documents and travel plans at a consultation.

You may be able to bring your spouse or minor children through family reunification if your residence status and family relationship meet the requirements. The application normally needs evidence of the family relationship and your qualifying residence status, plus income, health insurance and accommodation; exceptions can apply. The route also depends on whether your family is already in Poland or applying from abroad. We can check the appropriate route and documents at a consultation.

Losing a job or changing employers can affect an employment-based residence permit and may lead to its withdrawal if the conditions are no longer met. If your permit names an employer, notify the voivode of job loss and check whether a permit change or a new application is needed, as well as your right to start the new job. Permits with unrestricted work access, including CUKR, follow different rules. We can review your decision and the applicable deadlines at a consultation.