Official matters
Residence card: what to prepare before your visit to the office
Quick answer
A temporary residence permit (residence card) requires 3 copies of the application, 4 photographs, the stamp duty (usually 340 PLN or 440 PLN depending on the grounds), and documents confirming the purpose of your stay (for example Annex no. 1 from your employer), health insurance and a stable source of income.
Verified: September 2026 Checked by: Marta Wagner-Mejna
Step by step
- Fill in the application in the MOS system (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) or download the current form from the Voivodeship Office website.
- Prepare Annex no. 1 (for stay-and-work permits), which your employer must complete and sign.
- Attach documents confirming health insurance cover (for example the ZUS ZUA registration).
- Pay the stamp duty to the Gdańsk City Office account (440 PLN for stay and work, 340 PLN on other grounds) and attach proof of payment.
- Have 4 colour biometric photographs taken that meet Polish passport requirements.
While it is valid, the residence card confirms a foreign national’s identity during their stay in Poland and, together with a travel document, allows them to cross the border repeatedly without needing a visa.
The procedure at the Pomeranian Voivodeship Office in Gdańsk takes anywhere from a few months to well over a year. Filing the application on time guarantees legal residence for the whole period you are waiting for the voivode’s decision.
Where to look next
Official offices and verified external sources.
Does this not match your situation?
Marta Wagner-Mejna holds free consultations (legal guidance and official matters). The conversation runs in Polish, English. No referral, no fees.