Residence Card in Warsaw

How a residence card is issued in Warsaw

A residence card (karta pobytu) in Warsaw is issued by the Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki w Warszawie (the Mazovian Voivodeship Office, MUW), the voivodeship office that decides cases of foreigners living in Warsaw and the Mazovia region. Since 27 April 2026, applications for temporary residence, permanent residence and EU long-term resident status are filed electronically through the MOS portal. You visit the office when summoned, to give fingerprints and complete other steps that cannot be done online. Pro Document handles these cases from preparing the documents and the application to receiving the card.

Where residence card cases are handled in Warsaw

•    Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki w Warszawie: pl. Bankowy 3/5, 00-950 Warsaw;
  

•    Wydział Spraw Cudzoziemców (Foreigners Department): ul. Marszałkowska 3/5, 00-624 Warsaw;
  

•    department phone: 22 695 67 73, contact form: kontaktwsc.mazowieckie.pl;
  

•    office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00–16:00.
  

Addresses and hours may change, so check the office website (gov.pl/web/uw-mazowiecki) before you go. You file your case with the office responsible for your place of residence: if you live in Warsaw or elsewhere in the Mazovian Voivodeship, that is the MUW.

How long a residence card takes in Warsaw

The official processing period for a temporary card is up to 60 days, but in practice cases at the MUW take much longer. These are figures from the Polish Ministry of the Interior (the deputy minister's reply to parliamentary interpellation no. 18089 of 27 July 2026, data as of 6 July 2026), average processing time in days:

Of the 26,877 decisions the MUW issued in 2023–2026, 11% took under 6 months, 48% took 6–12 months, 29% took 12–18 months, 9% took 18–24 months and 3% took more than two years. The ministry explains the rise in the average by the office clearing a backlog of old cases, and calls the MUW the most heavily loaded authority in the country.

The practical conclusion: file a complete, error-free package, and if deadlines are breached, do not wait in silence. The tools available are described on the page "Acceleration of Decision".

Types of residence card issued in Warsaw

•    temporary residence card (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy) — for 1–3 years, for work, study, family reunification, business or the Blue Card;
  

•    permanent residence card (zezwolenie na pobyt stały) — unlimited status;
  

•    EU long-term resident card — after 5 years of legal residence, Polish at level B1 required;
  

•    CUKR card for Ukrainian citizens with a PESEL UKR — simplified procedure, valid for 3 years.
  

Grounds for obtaining a residence card

•    work: an employment contract or job offer and the employer's attachment (załącznik nr 1);
  

•    study: enrollment in full-time studies at a Polish university;
  

•    family reunification: spouses and children of Polish citizens or of foreigners with legal status;
  

•    business: an operating company (spółka z o.o. or JDG);
  

•    Blue Card: high qualifications and a salary not below the threshold (PLN 13,355.34 gross per month in 2026).
  

Documents needed for a residence card in Warsaw

•    a foreign passport;
  

•    a completed application (wniosek), filed through MOS;
  

•    a biometric photo;
  

•    proof of the purpose of stay (employment contract, university certificate, proof of relationship, etc.);
  

•    health insurance;
  

•    proof of residence in Poland (lease agreement or title);
  

•    a receipt for payment of the stamp duty and the card production fee (100 zloty).
  

The exact list depends on the basis: see the page for the specific card type for details.

How the procedure works in Warsaw

1. Create an account in the MOS system and fill out the application online.
2. Sign the application with an electronic signature (Trusted Profile or a qualified signature).
3. Gather the documents for the specific basis.
4. Submit the application and pay the fees.
5. Attend the MUW when summoned to give your fingerprints. The summons and correspondence with the office generally arrive electronically (e-Doręczenia).
6. Wait for the decision; provide documents if the office requests them.
7. Receive the decyzja and the card: it must be collected within 60 days of notification.

Main reasons for refusal

•    an incomplete package of documents for the chosen basis;
  

•    a photo that does not meet the requirements;
  

•    insufficient proof of the purpose of stay or of income;
  

•    health insurance not obtained or expired by the time of filing;
  

•    a legal address of residence that is not confirmed;
  

•    an outdated application form or technical errors.
  

Cost of a residence card in Warsaw

Official state fees are fixed (stamp duty at filing plus 100 zloty for producing the card). The cost of support depends on the complexity of the case, the basis and the scope of assistance, from a one-time consultation to full case management. We calculate it individually after a free assessment of your situation.

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