The procedure for obtaining a residence card in Poland in 2025 remains a lengthy and multi-stage process that requires foreigners to be patient, attentive, and to comply with all formalities. One of the key stages is the waiting period for the decision and the residence card itself, during which certain restrictions and risks apply.
It is important to understand: the presence of a stamp in the passport confirming the submission of the application (the so-called stempel) is not a legal basis for crossing the Polish border. This stamp confirms the submission of documents but does not replace a visa or residence card and therefore does not grant the right to re-enter Poland if one leaves its territory.
During the waiting period, it is highly discouraged to leave Poland, especially if the national visa or visa-free stay has expired. To return to the country, one will need either a new visa or to comply with visa-free conditions—for example, after a 90-day stay in Ukraine, Georgia, or another country with which Poland has a visa-free agreement.
In 2025, Wrocław demonstrates unprecedented dynamics in the field of legalizing foreigners’ stay. Thanks to strategic changes in the management of the Voivodeship Office—in particular, the appointment of a new head of the Foreigners’ Department—the decision-making process has significantly accelerated. Since the end of 2024, there have been cases of issuing decisions (decyzja) for temporary stay in just 30 calendar days. This became possible due to the creation of a separate department operating under new internal protocols and case processing algorithms. However, it is important to understand that such timelines are only possible with personal submission and if the case is assigned to the appropriate department.
ONE PLUS specialists have already achieved over 100 expedited decisions since the beginning of this year, confirming the effectiveness of the developed algorithm for preparing and submitting applications. We strongly recommend using this period for submission, especially if you have a complete, correctly prepared set of documents.
For comparison: in other Polish cities in 2025, processing times remain at 6–8 months. There is a slight improvement in Katowice, Gdańsk, and Poznań; however, in most voivodeships, cases are still processed in the standard manner. Special attention should be paid to EU resident cards—they are still classified as more complex to process and may take over 12 months.
Despite record-fast timelines for issuing positive decisions (decyzja) in Wrocław—within 1–2 months—there is a significant slowdown at the stage of producing and issuing the plastic residence card. As of 2025, the production of the card takes 2 to 3 months after payment and submission of confirmation.
In our professional opinion, this delay is artificial and related to administrative and organizational limitations of the system. Unfortunately, it is impossible to speed up the production process, even with a trusted person or personal contacts in the Office.
Thus, the total waiting time for the complete legalization process may be up to 4 months, even with the efficient work of inspectors.
According to the provisions of the Polish Administrative Code, the maximum time for reviewing an application is 90 days. However, in practice, due to the high workload of voivodeship offices and incomplete submitted documents, the process can be delayed up to 12 months or more. In 2025, such delays are still a standard situation in most voivodeships.
If the applicant does not receive information for an extended period, they have the right to:
After receiving information about the readiness of the plastic residence card (usually by phone, letter, or through the online system), the applicant is obliged to appear in person at the Office and collect the document within the established deadlines. They must have an identity document and old documents confirming the right to stay in the country.
Legal advice: To avoid additional delays, it is strongly recommended to monitor postal notifications and regularly check the status of your case. It also makes sense to connect to ePUAP or the trusted profile (profil zaufany), which will speed up the receipt of notifications from the Office and access to official correspondence.
The procedure for obtaining a temporary or permanent residence card (karta pobytu) in Poland can be burdensome and time-consuming. In the context of overloaded Offices, thousands of foreigners face excessive delays in administrative timelines. However, there are legal and effective tools to expedite the case review process, especially if the initiative comes from experienced lawyers and specialists in migration law.
The first step may be submitting an official motivated application—wniosek o przyspieszenie rozpatrzenia sprawy. This application is submitted in writing and must:
ONE PLUS lawyers prepare such appeals individually, taking into account the specifics of the client’s case and the structure of the specific voivodeship office.
If there is no response after submitting the expedited application, the next step is a complaint about the authority’s inaction—ponaglenie. It can be directed:
Such a complaint forces the Office to provide an official response and justify the delay in the process or make a decision on the case within a reasonable timeframe.
Our specialists at ONE PLUS have established direct contacts with inspectors and understand the internal logic of specific Offices. We know when and with whom to get in touch to obtain operational information, as well as how to correctly and legally influence the process. Important: unjustified pressure or chaotic communication can harm the case.
Having a trusted person is not a formality but a serious tool of influence. It is extremely important whom you entrust with representing your interests. Offices are much more willing to interact with representatives of reputable legal companies, such as ONE PLUS, whose activities inspire trust and respect among inspectors. At the same time, the participation of random firms that work according to templates and do not understand legal specifics often only worsens the client’s situation and prolongs the process.
In case of prolonged inaction by the Office, it is possible to initiate a complaint to the Voivodeship Administrative Court. This is an extreme but effective measure. After receiving notification of a court complaint, the Office is obliged to respond—either to activate the case or to send documents to the court, which in any case speeds up the consideration of the application.
The legal team at ONE PLUS has practical experience in conducting legal disputes with administrative authorities and knows how to use legal tools to protect the interests of foreign citizens.
After a positive review of the application for a temporary or permanent residence card (karta pobytu), the applicant receives an official administrative decision (decyzja). This decision is sent:
Upon receiving the decision, the foreigner must make payment for the production of the plastic card. The amount and payment details are specified in the content of the decision. Payment can be made:
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