Relevant residence permit applications will need to be submitted via the new system and if planning to submit via post, clients should plan to have the application arrive no later than 26 April 2026.
Poland is implementing a significant and immediate change to its immigration infrastructure. From April 27, 2026, the new MOS (Modul Obslugi Spraw, or Case Handling Module) 2.0 portal becomes the sole channel for submitting the majority of residence permit applications. Paper applications received by voivodeship offices on or after this date will be left without examination, and critically, the date of posting will carry no legal weight — only the date of physical receipt by the office will count.
This change, confirmed by the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration, marks the culmination of a multi-year digital-by-default programme and represents the most significant structural change to Poland’s immigration process in years. A separate window for CUKR residence card applications (for Ukrainian nationals previously under temporary protection) will open via the same portal from May 4, 2026. For further information on CUKR, please refer to this previous Alert.
Permit Types Covered
From April 27, 20267, the following must be submitted exclusively via MOS 2.0:
- Temporary residence permits (all standard grounds, including employment, business, and family reunification where the applicant resides in Poland)
- Permanent residence permits
- EU long-term resident permits
- CUKR residence cards for Ukrainian nationals (from 4 May 2026)
Important Exceptions — Paper Submission Still Required
Certain permit categories are not yet supported by MOS 2.0 and must continue to be submitted on paper under existing rules:
- Temporary residence for work as an intra-corporate transferee (ICT)
- Long-term mobility of a manager, specialist, or graduate trainee under ICT provisions
- Family reunification where the foreign national resides outside Poland
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
