KW Konstantyn WrocławLegalization · Migration · Finance
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Karta pobytu czasowego

Temporary Residence in Poland: Work, Study, Business, Family

Temporary residence (karta pobytu czasowego) is the most common way to legalize your stay in Poland, issued for up to 3 years. The grounds depend on your purpose: work, study, running a business, or reuniting with family. We file the application via the MOS portal, prepare the documents, and support you through to receiving the card.

Grounds for temporary residence

Four purposes — one residence card

Zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy is issued for a specific purpose of stay. The grounds determine the set of documents required and the amount of the stamp duty (opłata skarbowa).

Pobyt czasowy i praca

Work

If you plan to stay in Poland longer than 3 months for employment purposes. Issued for the term of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 3 years.

Learn more →
Studia

Study

For full-time students at a Polish university. Requires proof of enrollment and sufficient funds to cover living expenses.

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Działalność gospodarcza

Business

For those running a business (JDG or Sp. z o.o.) in Poland for longer than 3 months.

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Połączenie z rodziną

Family reunification

If you have a close family member living in Poland — a spouse, minor child, or a dependent parent.

Learn more →
Documents and fees

What you need for each type of grounds

All documents in a foreign language must be submitted with a sworn translation into Polish. Civil status records (marriage, birth) from abroad require an apostille or certification by a Polish consul. Data is current as of the official portal przybysz.duw.pl (Dolnośląski Urząd Wojewódzki we Wrocławiu).

01

Work (pobyt czasowy i praca)

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  • International passport and a copy of the pages with your photo and visa/stamps
  • Completed application — submitted only electronically via the MOS portal (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl)
  • Annex No. 1 to the application — completed and signed by the employer with an electronic signature (profil zaufany) before filing
  • Biometric photo of the required standard
  • Proof of accommodation and health insurance
  • Stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) — determined individually depending on the type of permit
  • Residence card fee — 100 zł
02

Study (studia)

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  • Certificate of enrollment in full-time studies at a Polish university
  • Proof of tuition payment (if the program is paid)
  • Health insurance or a ZUS certificate
  • Proof of funds for living expenses and a return ticket (or funds for travel)
  • International passport, photo, application via the MOS portal
  • Stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) — 340 zł
  • Residence card fee — 100 zł
03

Business (działalność gospodarcza)

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  • Company documents (CEIDG or KRS extract)
  • Proof of the company's income and financial stability of the business
  • Proof of accommodation and health insurance
  • International passport, photo, application via the MOS portal, filed in person no later than the last day of legal stay
  • Stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) — 340 zł
  • Residence card fee — 100 zł
04

Family reunification (połączenie z rodziną)

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  • Document proving the family relationship (marriage/birth certificate) — with an apostille and a sworn translation
  • If the applicant is abroad — written consent from the family member in Poland to file the application on their behalf
  • Proof of income and accommodation of the sponsoring family member
  • Health insurance
  • Stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) — 340 zł
  • Residence card fee — 100 zł
05

After filing: fingerprints and collecting the card

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  • An in-person visit to the Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich i Cudzoziemców (pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, Wrocław) to submit fingerprints
  • If filed on time without formal deficiencies, your stay is considered legal until a decision is issued
  • The finished residence card can only be collected in person, after an SMS/notification that it's ready
  • Appointments for filing and collection — via rezerwacje.duw.pl and kartypobytu.duw.pl

Since April 27, 2026, applications are filed only electronically via the new MOS portal (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl) — old accounts were not migrated, so a new registration is required. We verify the current requirements before every consultation, since procedures change periodically.

Timeline calculator

How long the review will roughly take

The timeline depends on the voivodeship, the type of status, and the office's workload. This is only an estimate — we'll confirm the exact timeline after reviewing your documents.

Status type
Voivodeship
Document set
Estimated timeline
120 days

This estimate reflects average Urząd Wojewódzki timelines and is not a guarantee of the exact review period.

If your case is delayed

Acceleration and appeals

We also take on cases already filed — including those filed without us.

Process acceleration (Ponaglenie)

If the office exceeds the statutory review period, we file a complaint about inaction (ponaglenie) and push for a substantive response.

How it works →

Appealing a rejection

We analyze the reason for rejection and prepare an appeal to a higher authority or administrative court, respecting filing deadlines.

File an appeal →
Start the process

Free consultation about your situation

Describe your purpose of stay — we'll select the right status, list the required documents, and quote a final turnkey price.

Name
Phone
+48
Purpose of stay