Poland’s long-planned immigration overhaul has come into force with a bang. From 00:00 on 1 January 2026 every temporary-stay (residence) permit must now be filed exclusively through the Moduł Obsługi Spraw (MOS) e-portal and signed with a qualified electronic signature validated via the applicant’s Trusted Profile or EU e-ID. Paper dossiers delivered to any of the 16 voivodeship offices are legally deemed “not filed”, forcing employers, relocation providers and foreign assignees onto the new platform overnight.
The financial impact is just as dramatic as the technological shift. Standard residence-permit charges have jumped from PLN 100 to PLN 400, while posted-worker permits now cost PLN 800. At the same time Polish consulates worldwide began charging €200 for national (D-type) visas and €90 for Schengen (C-type) visas. Authorities argue that higher fees will fund cybersecurity upgrades and ultimately shorten queues, but global mobility teams must re-forecast 2026 budgets immediately.
For organizations that need an immediate, practical response to these changes, VisaHQ can step in as a one-stop partner. Through its Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/), the firm helps secure Trusted Profile accounts, arrange qualified e-signatures, and lodge MOS applications on clients’ behalf while keeping HR teams updated on evolving costs and document lists—streamlining compliance and reducing administrative strain.
![Poland switches to mandatory MOS e-portal and quadruples residence-permit fees]()
Compliance work has multiplied. Employers must secure Trusted-Profile log-ins or EU e-ID certificates for every assignee, purchase qualified e-signatures, train staff on MOS navigation and upload full-page passport scans for each applicant. Popular “work-arounds” such as mailing an application on the final day of lawful stay to gain a 90-day grace period are now impossible. Officials can also request supplementary evidence at any stage and will automatically refuse files missing mandatory documents.
In the medium term, the Interior Ministry promises that MOS will slash backlogs by 30 percent thanks to automatic data cross-checks with labour-office and tax databases. In the short term, however, companies are reporting time-outs and error messages during peak traffic; many are turning to specialist providers to pre-screen data and obtain e-signatures in bulk. HR leaders are advised to audit all in-flight applications, update internal check-lists and budget for higher government fees to avoid status gaps and payroll-tax exposure.
The reform cements Poland’s transition to a fully digital immigration environment and puts it ahead of many EU peers. For multinationals the message is clear: digital readiness and robust budgeting are now prerequisites for sending staff to Poland in 2026 and beyond.
The financial impact is just as dramatic as the technological shift. Standard residence-permit charges have jumped from PLN 100 to PLN 400, while posted-worker permits now cost PLN 800. At the same time Polish consulates worldwide began charging €200 for national (D-type) visas and €90 for Schengen (C-type) visas. Authorities argue that higher fees will fund cybersecurity upgrades and ultimately shorten queues, but global mobility teams must re-forecast 2026 budgets immediately.
For organizations that need an immediate, practical response to these changes, VisaHQ can step in as a one-stop partner. Through its Poland portal (https://www.visahq.com/poland/), the firm helps secure Trusted Profile accounts, arrange qualified e-signatures, and lodge MOS applications on clients’ behalf while keeping HR teams updated on evolving costs and document lists—streamlining compliance and reducing administrative strain.
Compliance work has multiplied. Employers must secure Trusted-Profile log-ins or EU e-ID certificates for every assignee, purchase qualified e-signatures, train staff on MOS navigation and upload full-page passport scans for each applicant. Popular “work-arounds” such as mailing an application on the final day of lawful stay to gain a 90-day grace period are now impossible. Officials can also request supplementary evidence at any stage and will automatically refuse files missing mandatory documents.
In the medium term, the Interior Ministry promises that MOS will slash backlogs by 30 percent thanks to automatic data cross-checks with labour-office and tax databases. In the short term, however, companies are reporting time-outs and error messages during peak traffic; many are turning to specialist providers to pre-screen data and obtain e-signatures in bulk. HR leaders are advised to audit all in-flight applications, update internal check-lists and budget for higher government fees to avoid status gaps and payroll-tax exposure.
The reform cements Poland’s transition to a fully digital immigration environment and puts it ahead of many EU peers. For multinationals the message is clear: digital readiness and robust budgeting are now prerequisites for sending staff to Poland in 2026 and beyond.
