Poland’s long-awaited immigration digitalisation drive reaches a decisive milestone next week. According to guidance published on 14 April, the Office for Foreigners (UdSC) will switch off the current Case Handling Module, known as MOS 1.0, at 23:59 on Friday, 17 April. From that moment, foreign nationals will no longer be able to log in or retrieve draft applications. Paper filings will be accepted only until 26 April, after which the entire system goes dark for ten days. On 27 April the rebuilt MOS 2.0 platform will launch at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl.
![Poland counts down to MOS 2.0: legacy residence-permit portal to shut on 17 April]()
In this context, VisaHQ can streamline the switch to digital processing by pre-checking documentation, uploading files that meet the new size specifications and monitoring status changes in real time on behalf of assignees and employers. To learn more about the full range of Polish immigration and visa services, visit https://www.visahq.com/poland/
The new portal consolidates temporary-, permanent- and long-term EU residence applications and replaces the physical “stamp” with a downloadable confirmation bearing a QR code. Supporting documents must be uploaded electronically, photographs move to a single high-resolution JPEG, and applicants will receive an electronic acknowledgement of receipt (UPO) in lieu of an ink stamp. For employers the blackout means a hard stop on in-country online filings. HR teams with new hires starting in late April are advised either to courier paper applications to the relevant voivode before the 26 April cut-off or postpone onboarding until MOS 2.0 is live. Failure to lodge a timely application could leave assignees without legal stay and void their right to work. The UdSC has warned that it will not back-date submissions received after the paper deadline. Although the front end becomes fully digital, the back-end biometric requirement remains: applicants will still have to visit a voivodeship office to provide fingerprints. Industry associations nonetheless welcome the changes, predicting shorter queues, faster status updates and greater transparency once the learning curve is overcome. Multinational companies are already updating internal checklists, training mobility teams on the new file-size limits and reminding assignees to activate Poland’s trusted e-ID (Profil Zaufany) ahead of launch day.
In this context, VisaHQ can streamline the switch to digital processing by pre-checking documentation, uploading files that meet the new size specifications and monitoring status changes in real time on behalf of assignees and employers. To learn more about the full range of Polish immigration and visa services, visit https://www.visahq.com/poland/
The new portal consolidates temporary-, permanent- and long-term EU residence applications and replaces the physical “stamp” with a downloadable confirmation bearing a QR code. Supporting documents must be uploaded electronically, photographs move to a single high-resolution JPEG, and applicants will receive an electronic acknowledgement of receipt (UPO) in lieu of an ink stamp. For employers the blackout means a hard stop on in-country online filings. HR teams with new hires starting in late April are advised either to courier paper applications to the relevant voivode before the 26 April cut-off or postpone onboarding until MOS 2.0 is live. Failure to lodge a timely application could leave assignees without legal stay and void their right to work. The UdSC has warned that it will not back-date submissions received after the paper deadline. Although the front end becomes fully digital, the back-end biometric requirement remains: applicants will still have to visit a voivodeship office to provide fingerprints. Industry associations nonetheless welcome the changes, predicting shorter queues, faster status updates and greater transparency once the learning curve is overcome. Multinational companies are already updating internal checklists, training mobility teams on the new file-size limits and reminding assignees to activate Poland’s trusted e-ID (Profil Zaufany) ahead of launch day.
