Residence card for an employee: a 2026 guide
How an employer can help a foreign worker obtain a residence card in 2026. Documents, deadlines and pitfalls.
The residence card (karta pobytu) is the document confirming a foreigner's right to stay legally in Poland. For an employee the most common route is a temporary residence permit tied to work. The process takes time, requires documents from both the employer and the employee, and since 2025 much of the communication with the voivodeship office has moved to the MOS system.
Core documents
To start the procedure, the employee files an application with the voivode for their place of stay. The employer prepares Attachment No. 1 with details of the position, salary and working conditions. The salary cannot be below the statutory minimum wage.
- Application for a temporary residence permit (work).
- Attachment No. 1 filled in by the employer.
- Employment or civil-law contract / declaration of intent to hire.
- Health insurance (ZUS RCA or a policy).
- Proof of accommodation in Poland.
- Current biometric photos and proof of the stamp duty payment.
Timelines and waiting
By law the office has 60 days to decide, but in reality the procedure takes 6 to 12 months depending on the voivodeship. Important: a correctly filed application grants a passport stamp and the right to stay and work legally until the decision, provided the employee is already employed by the applicant.
Most common mistakes
Most refusals stem from formal gaps: outdated employer data, incorrect salary in Attachment No. 1, missing proof of insurance. The second issue is an employer change during the procedure — in most cases the application must be updated within 15 business days, otherwise refusal is likely.
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