Moduł Obsługi Spraw (MOS): Poland's Online Residence Applications

The Office for Foreigners' portal for temporary and permanent residence

Residence permit applications in Poland are now filed online through MOS rather than on paper. This explanation shows what the system is for, how signing and employer attachments fit in, and why the voivodeship office, not MOS, still handles fingerprints, the decision and your residence card.

Browse the glossary Browse guides

As written locally

Moduł Obsługi Spraw (MOS)

Search official websites or match forms using this exact wording.

The filing channel for residence applications

What MOS is for

Where Poland's online residence application system fits between you, your employer and the voivodeship office.

Moduł Obsługi Spraw (MOS) is the online application system run by the Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców). Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident status can be filed only electronically through MOS, and the voivode then handles and decides the case.

MOS, short for Moduł Obsługi Spraw ("case-handling module"), is the portal at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl where foreigners in Poland prepare and submit residence permit applications. Since 27 April 2026 it is the only accepted way to file applications for a temporary residence permit, a permanent residence permit and EU long-term resident status. Paper applications that had not reached the voivodeship office by 26 April 2026 are not processed, and a postmark date no longer counts.

You complete the form in MOS, upload your documents and sign the application with a trusted profile (Profil Zaufany), a qualified electronic signature or the personal signature on a Polish ID card. If the application is based on work, your employer must sign an electronic attachment, which MOS sends to them as an email link; the application cannot be submitted without it.

Filing online does not finish the procedure. The voivode (urząd wojewódzki) who handles your case invites you to appear in person to give fingerprints, provide a signature sample, show your original passport and add any missing documents. MOS does not book this visit for you. The voivode makes the decision, and an appeal is filed outside MOS, on paper or through e-Doręczenia.

A few procedures still use paper forms, including intra-company transfers, family reunification while the applicant is outside Poland, and the exchange of an existing residence card. Work permits are a separate system: since 1 June 2025 they are applied for online at praca.gov.pl, not in MOS.

Key takeaways

Since 27 April 2026, temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident applications are filed only through MOS.
Sign with Profil Zaufany, a qualified electronic signature or a personal ID-card signature.
Work-based applications need the employer's electronic attachment before they can be submitted.
You still visit the voivodeship office in person for fingerprints and document checks.
Work permits are requested at praca.gov.pl, not in MOS.

Applying, renewing, or waiting on your employer's attachment

When you will use MOS in Poland

You meet MOS when you apply for or renew a temporary residence permit, apply for permanent residence or EU long-term resident status, or need your employer to sign the work attachment. The examples show what students, workers and applicants do in the system and what follows afterwards.

You meet MOS when you apply for or renew a temporary residence permit (for work, study, family or another purpose), apply for permanent residence or EU long-term resident status, or when an employer has to sign the work attachment to your residence application. Check the submission date and confirmation in MOS, because filing on time is what protects your legal stay while the case is pending.

Example situations

A student whose permit expires next month creates a MOS account, uploads proof of enrolment and funds, signs with Profil Zaufany and saves the submission confirmation before the current stay ends.
A worker's application cannot be sent because the employer has not yet signed the electronic attachment, so they ask HR to open the MOS email link the same day.
After submitting in MOS, an applicant receives a summons from the voivodeship office to give fingerprints and show the original passport.

The voivode decides, and work permits go elsewhere

MOS files, it does not decide

Why submitting in MOS is separate from the decision, fingerprints and card, and why work permits are not requested there.

MOS is only the filing channel. It does not decide your case, book your fingerprint appointment or issue the residence card; the voivodeship office does that. It is also not where work permits are requested, which happens at praca.gov.pl. Older guidance may describe paper filing or an earlier version of MOS that was optional.

Permit and office vocabulary to browse after MOS

More Polish residence and immigration terms

After MOS, these cards explain other Polish terms from immigration and residence, including the offices, permits, statuses and cards you may see in letters or during your case. They share this broad area of life, so each card explains its own term rather than a further step in MOS.

Government