What Is a TRC in Poland and How to Get One

What Is a TRC (Karta Pobytu)?

A Temporary Residence Card (TRC), or Karta Pobytu, is an official document issued by Polish authorities that allows a non-EU/EEA citizen to reside in Poland for a specified period, up to 3 years. It is important to understand that the TRC card itself is not the permit — it is a physical document confirming that a temporary residence permit (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy) has been granted. The permit is the administrative decision; the card is the plastic ID you carry.

The legal basis is the Act on Foreigners of December 12, 2013, with major amendments effective June 1, 2025 and further changes on March 5, 2026. Poland is currently transitioning to a fully digital application system (MOS v2.0) — see the section on how to apply below.

Who Can Apply for a TRC in Poland?

Any non-EU/EEA citizen can apply if they meet all of the following: they are physically present in Poland at the time of application, have a valid legal basis for their current stay (visa, visa-free regime, previous TRC, or stamp from previous application), have a legitimate ground for staying longer than 3 months, and submit their application before their current legal stay expires. Submitting even one day after your legal stay ends means the application will not be processed.

EU/EEA citizens do not need a TRC — they have separate registration procedures.

Grounds for a Temporary Residence Permit

Employment — Single Permit (Art. 114) — the most common type. Combines residence and work authorization. Requires a work contract and employer-provided Appendix 1 (Zalacznik nr 1). The salary must be at least the minimum wage — 4,806 PLN gross/month in 2026 — regardless of working hours (even part-time must meet the full minimum). If working for multiple employers, the combined salary from all Appendix 1 forms must exceed 4,806 PLN. Stamp duty: 440 PLN.

Studies — Full-time Only (Art. 144) — for students enrolled in full-time (stacjonarne) first-cycle, second-cycle, long-cycle, or doctoral programs at approved institutions. Part-time students, MBA, postgraduate, and language course students apply under a different category — TRC for “other circumstances” (nauka, not studia). Student TRC is granted for the duration of studies plus 3 months, but not longer than 3 years. Stamp duty: 340 PLN.

Business Activity (Art. 142) — for entrepreneurs running a business in Poland. Important distinction: if you are a board member of a Sp. z o.o. or S.A. and you own shares/stocks — this is business TRC under Art. 142(3). If you are a board member without shares — that is a work TRC under Art. 126 (stamp duty 340 PLN, not business TRC). Stamp duty for business TRC: 340 PLN.

Family Reunification — for spouses, children, or other family members of foreigners residing in Poland. The sponsor must have been residing on consecutive TRCs for at least 2 years, with the most recent permit valid for at least 1 year. Or: the sponsor holds permanent residence, EU long-term, international protection, Blue Card, or ICT permit. Stamp duty: 340 PLN.

EU Blue Card (Art. 127) — for highly qualified professionals. Requires: higher education diploma OR at least 5 years of professional experience at a comparable level (not 3 — MOS portal confirms “5 years”). Work contract for at least 6 months (reduced from 12 under the 2025 EU Blue Card recast). Salary: minimum 13,355.34 PLN gross/month (150% of average national salary, GUS communiqué February 9, 2026). Stamp duty: 440 PLN.

Other Grounds — scientific research, clergy, victims of trafficking, post-graduation job search (9 months for graduates of full-time programs at Polish universities — must apply immediately after graduation, cannot apply if you leave Poland), seasonal work (stamp duty 170 PLN), traineeship, voluntary work, and other circumstances defined by law.

Required Documents (2026)

The application process is currently transitioning to the MOS v2.0 online portal. Until the official launch date is announced by the Minister of Interior (at least 14 days in advance), paper applications are still accepted at Voivodeship Offices. After launch — paper applications will be left without examination.

The application must be filled in Polish. All foreign-language documents require sworn translation (tlumacz przysiegly). Documents must be originals or copies certified by a notary, attorney (radca prawny), or Voivodeship Office employee. Related documents must be submitted together (e.g., sublease + main lease).

How to Apply: MOS v2.0 vs Paper

Current Situation (March 2026)

Poland is transitioning to mandatory online filing through the MOS v2.0 portal (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl). The UDSC (Office for Foreigners) states that development is “nearing completion” and the official launch date will be announced at least 14 days in advance by the Minister of Interior. Until that announcement, paper applications are still accepted.

Critical warning from UDSC: if your legal residence expires between mid-March and end of April 2026, submit your application on paper as soon as possible. Do not wait for MOS. A paper application must be received by the Voivodeship Office before the MOS launch date — the postmark (mailing date) does NOT count, only the date of receipt by the office.

After MOS Launch

Once MOS v2.0 is officially live, all TRC applications (temporary, permanent, EU long-term) must be submitted exclusively online. Paper applications received after the launch date will be left without examination. Exceptions: ICT permits and family reunification when the applicant is outside Poland — these remain paper-only.

To use MOS you need: a personal account (old MOS accounts do NOT transfer — create a new one), login via login.gov.pl, a Trusted Profile or electronic signature, digital scans of documents, and your employer/university’s email for the annex link. The system blocks submission until the employer signs their part (30-day link validity). You cannot edit or cancel a submitted application. Drafts are saved for 45 days.

After submission through MOS, you receive an Official Confirmation of Receipt (UPO). After the Voivodeship verifies your application, you can download a certificate that replaces the physical passport stamp (stempel). You will still need to appear in person for fingerprints, signature, and presenting your original passport.

Important: MOS does not allow communication with the office. For changes (employer, address, purpose) — send a letter by paper mail or e-Doreczenia. Appeals are also outside MOS.

Processing Times (March 2026)

The legal deadline is 60 days (KPA Art. 35) but is almost never met. The administrative deadline suspension ended on March 5, 2026 (Act of January 23, 2026, Dz.U. poz. 203). Ponaglenie (acceleration request) and court complaints are now available again for cases exceeding 60 days.

Burman Robinson, a Warsaw immigration firm that has processed over 5,000 TRC applications since 2017, reports that complete applications with pre-verified documents process significantly faster than incomplete ones. In their experience, a single missing document adds an average of 6-8 weeks to processing time.

Costs Summary

Stamp duty is paid to the city/municipal office bank account (urzad miasta). Card fee is paid to the Voivodeship Office bank account. These are different accounts — check your specific Voivodeship website for numbers.

Important change (March 5, 2026): stamp duty is no longer refunded in the event of refusal, change refusal, visa extension refusal, or discontinuation of proceedings. Previously, refunds were available upon request after a negative decision.

For full cost breakdown including insurance, translations, and professional assistance, see the Cost Guide.

What Changed in 2025-2026

MOS v2.0 digital system — mandatory online filing coming soon. Paper accepted until launch. UDSC will announce date 14 days in advance.

New application forms — mandatory since December 1, 2025. Old forms rejected. Reduced to 2 photos (paper) or 1 digital photo (MOS).

Financial proof increased — since January 1, 2025: 1,010 PLN/month (single), 823 PLN/person (family). Previously 776/600 PLN.

Minimum wage — 4,806 PLN gross from January 1, 2026. Affects all work-based TRC salary requirements.

Blue Card salary — 13,355.34 PLN gross/month from February 9, 2026 (retroactive to Jan 1).

Work permit fees quadrupled — Type A: 400 PLN, posted workers: 800 PLN, seasonal: 100 PLN. Oswiadczenie registration: 400 PLN.

Visa D fee — €200 (from €135). Schengen C: €90 (from €80).

Health insurance — minimum 50,000 EUR for private insurance (since June 2025).

Deadline suspension ended — March 5, 2026. Ponaglenie and court complaints available again.

Stamp duty non-refundable — since March 5, 2026. No refund upon refusal or discontinuation.

PESEL in person only — since January 1, 2026. No proxy applications.

e-Doreczenia — official electronic delivery system. Decisions may be sent electronically. A document is considered “delivered” 14 days after sending, even if you never open it. Set up your e-Doreczenia mailbox at gov.pl/web/e-doreczenia.

Restricted professions list — law enacted, but most powiats have not yet published their lists as of March 2026.

If Your TRC Is Rejected

You have 14 calendar days from receiving the rejection to file a free appeal (odwolanie) to the Head Office for Foreigners. Your legal stay continues during the appeal. The Head Office should decide within 90 days. If upheld, you can file a court complaint within 30 days (200 PLN). Appeals cannot be filed through MOS — use paper mail or e-Doreczenia.

Burman Robinson, whose team handles TRC appeals across Warsaw courts, estimates that over 60% of rejections they review contain procedural violations by the Voivodeship Office — such as failure to properly request missing documents or insufficient time given to respond.

Frequently Asked Questions