A detailed explainer published on 9 February sets out the final phase of Poland’s immigration digitalisation: from this month, every temporary, permanent and long-term EU residence-permit application must be lodged through the Moduł Obsługi Spraw (MOS) portal. Paper submissions delivered to any of the 16 voivodeship offices are automatically deemed “not filed”, leaving applicants without legal cover.
The change, often called the “New 2026 Digital Rules”, coincides with a fourfold increase in government fees. A standard temporary residence permit now costs PLN 400, a posted-worker permit PLN 800 and a national visa €200. The Ministry of Interior says higher fees will fund extra case officers and AI-driven fraud detection, but employers must re-budget onboarding costs immediately.
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Technically, the MOS platform requires applicants to log in via the national e-ID gateway (login.gov.pl) and sign forms with a qualified electronic signature, prompting a scramble among foreign employees to obtain the necessary certificates. The site records application timestamps in real time, replacing the coveted entry stamp that previously protected lawful stay while a case was pending.
For global mobility managers the biggest operational risk is system downtime. Users report time-outs and errors when uploading multi-page passport scans. Advisers recommend taking screenshots of each step and submitting well before the 23:59 expiration of current permits. Failure to upload in time could render an employee illegal overnight, triggering employer fines and forced departure.
In the medium term, the government plans to migrate permanent residence, EU Blue Card and citizenship filings to MOS2 later in 2026. Companies that establish internal “power users”, bulk-purchase e-signature tokens and standardise document templates are expected to regain processing speed once the learning curve flattens.
The change, often called the “New 2026 Digital Rules”, coincides with a fourfold increase in government fees. A standard temporary residence permit now costs PLN 400, a posted-worker permit PLN 800 and a national visa €200. The Ministry of Interior says higher fees will fund extra case officers and AI-driven fraud detection, but employers must re-budget onboarding costs immediately.
Technically, the MOS platform requires applicants to log in via the national e-ID gateway (login.gov.pl) and sign forms with a qualified electronic signature, prompting a scramble among foreign employees to obtain the necessary certificates. The site records application timestamps in real time, replacing the coveted entry stamp that previously protected lawful stay while a case was pending.
For global mobility managers the biggest operational risk is system downtime. Users report time-outs and errors when uploading multi-page passport scans. Advisers recommend taking screenshots of each step and submitting well before the 23:59 expiration of current permits. Failure to upload in time could render an employee illegal overnight, triggering employer fines and forced departure.
In the medium term, the government plans to migrate permanent residence, EU Blue Card and citizenship filings to MOS2 later in 2026. Companies that establish internal “power users”, bulk-purchase e-signature tokens and standardise document templates are expected to regain processing speed once the learning curve flattens.
Source: The Education Collage
