Poland's MOS Portal Goes Electronic-Only on April 27
On April 11, 2026, authorities announced that the nationwide MOS (Case Handling Module) e-residence portal will launch on April 27, 2026. From that date, all applications for temporary residence, permanent residence, and EU long-term resident permits must be submitted electronically via MOS (smart forms, document uploads, electronic payments); paper applications will be rejected. This is the largest overhaul of Poland’s immigration processes in a decade. Expats and digital nomads with upcoming expirations are advised to file paper applications by April 26 if needed to avoid gaps in legal status. Training for offices is scheduled for mid-April. This announcement directly impacts planning in the queried window.
Poland's MOS Portal Goes Electronic-Only on April 27
Paper residence applications in Poland are done. Starting April 27, 2026, the country's new MOS (Case Handling Module) portal handles all temporary, permanent and EU long-term residence permit submissions and any paper application received after April 26 won't be processed, postmark be damned.
That's a hard cutoff, not a suggestion.
The portal runs through login.gov.pl, requires a fresh account (old credentials don't transfer) and accepts e-signatures via trusted profile, qualified e-signature or personal signature. Fees run PLN 340,640 in stamp duty plus a PLN 100 card fee, paid electronically. After submitting, you download a UPO receipt, attend a biometrics appointment later and wait for a mailed decision , honestly, a cleaner process than the queue-and-pray system it replaces.
Who's affected: expats and digital nomads staying long-term for work, business, study or training. Tourists on short-term visas aren't touched and turns out some categories , intra-corporate transferees, family reunions from abroad, certain UK and EU-related cases , still require paper, so check your permit type before assuming.
The urgency is real for anyone with a permit expiring by mid-May 2026. File on paper by April 26 if you're cutting it close, because a gap in legal status during the transition isn't something you can charm your way out of, Polish immigration offices aren't known for flexibility on this.
What to do now:
- Confirm your permit type falls under MOS coverage (temporary, permanent or EU long-term residence)
- Create a new account at login.gov.pl , old accounts won't work
- Prepare a digital photo, full passport scan and proof of fee payment
- If your stay expires before mid-May, submit paper by April 26 to avoid any status gap
- Employers and schools sign required attachments digitally via an emailed link
English FAQs dropped April 12, which is, frankly, more notice than most countries give. The system builds on 2025 legislation and a January 2026 framework, aligning with EU goals for faster processing , roughly 30% quicker by official estimates.
Stay on top of the latest visa updates as more EU countries push toward digital-only systems.
Read our full Poland guide for the complete picture.