How to apply for a residence card online through MOS 2?

Legal basis

The requirement to submit residence applications exclusively through MOS 2 derives from art. 108 ustawy o cudzoziemcach as amended by the Act of 21 November 2025 (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1794). According to the MSWiA announcement, the portal launches on 27 April 2026. From that date, paper applications sent by post will be left unprocessed.

What you need to submit an application

• An account and login on the MOS 2 portal at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl.
• A profil zaufany or a qualified electronic signature — without one of these you cannot sign or submit the application.
• Scans of the documents required for the relevant type of permit (passport, documents confirming the purpose of stay).

Step-by-step procedure

1. Log in to the MOS 2 portal using your profil zaufany or qualified electronic signature.
2. Select the type of permit: temporary residence, permanent residence, or EU long-term resident.
3. Complete the form and attach the required documents.
4. Sign the application electronically and submit it.
5. Download the zaświadczenie issued by the wojewoda — this document confirms submission of the application and lawful stay during the proceedings. The stempel is no longer affixed in the passport.

Deadlines and consequences of submission

The date on which proceedings are initiated is the date of receipt of the application (art. 61 § 3 KPA), and a deadline is considered met upon electronic dispatch (art. 57 § 5 pkt 2 KPA). The authority handles the case within the time limits set out in art. 35 KPA, and notifies of any extension under the procedure in art. 36–37 KPA.

Exceptions — applications still on paper

Notwithstanding the electronic requirement, the following applications may still be submitted on paper (where the foreigner resides outside Poland):

• ICT and long-term ICT mobility,
• family reunification,
• family member of a Polish/EU/UK citizen.

Next steps

If the application has formal deficiencies, the authority will call for them to be remedied (art. 64 § 2 KPA), and failure to remedy them results in the application being left unprocessed. An appeal against a refusal decision may be lodged with the Szef Urzędu ds. Cudzoziemców (art. 127 § 1, art. 129 § 2 KPA).