Residence Permit for Truck Drivers in Poland
ONE PLUS helps international truck drivers apply for a temporary residence and work permit in Poland. We assist drivers in Wroclaw and throughout the country, checking both the driver’s documents and the transport company’s paperwork.
We prepare the MOS 2.0 application, coordinate the employer’s part, respond to letters from the Voivodeship Office and manage the case until a decision is issued.
English-speaking applicants in Poland often call this document a residence card, temporary residence card, TRC or karta pobytu. Legally, however, the application is for a temporary residence and work permit. The physical residence card is produced after the permit has been granted.
Because drivers spend long periods on the road, handling immigration formalities can be difficult. We keep the process clear and tell the driver and employer exactly what they need to do at each stage.
How much does a residence permit for a truck driver cost?
Full legal support for one truck driver residence permit application costs PLN 2,000.
Our current estimated processing time is between 2 and 6 months. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed decision date. The actual waiting time depends on the Voivodeship Office, the quality of the documents, the employer’s situation and how quickly official requests are answered.
Government fees are paid separately:
- PLN 440 for the temporary residence and work permit application
- PLN 100 for the physical residence card
- PLN 17 stamp duty on a power of attorney
Other costs may include sworn translations, photographs, a driving licence exchange, medical and psychological examinations, Code 95, a driver qualification card or additional documents required in a particular case.
Current service fees are available in the ONE PLUS price list.
Which residence permit does a truck driver need?
Most non-EU drivers employed by a Polish transport company apply for a temporary residence and work permit. This is the standard work-based residence permit for foreign nationals who plan to live and work in Poland for longer than three months.
The permit may be suitable for international truck drivers, drivers working on domestic routes, heavy goods vehicle drivers, coach drivers and other professional drivers employed by a company registered in Poland.
An employment contract alone is not enough. The driver must also be staying in Poland legally, have the right to work and hold the professional qualifications required for the position.
A temporary residence permit may be granted for a period of between 3 months and 3 years. The length of the permit depends on the employment contract, the employer’s documents, the validity of the driver’s qualifications and the circumstances of the case.
Once the permit is granted, the driver receives a physical residence card. This plastic document is commonly called a TRC or karta pobytu in Poland.
What does the Voivodeship Office check?
The Voivodeship Office reviews both the driver and the transport company. The inspector checks the driver’s immigration status, right to work, employment conditions and professional qualifications.
The office will usually examine the employment contract, position, salary, working hours, place of work and type of transport. These details must match the information provided in the residence permit application and the employer’s Annex No. 1.
The transport company may also be asked to show that it is genuinely active, meets its tax and social insurance obligations and can employ the driver under the conditions stated in the application.
Even small differences between the documents can delay a TRC application. For example, the job title in the contract may be different from the one in Annex No. 1, or the salary entered in MOS 2.0 may not match the employer’s records.
Before filing, ONE PLUS checks the documents provided by both parties. If information is missing or inconsistent, we explain what should be corrected.
Companies that employ several foreign drivers can also order an employment compliance audit. This helps identify missing, expired or incorrect documents before they cause problems during an inspection or immigration procedure.
Does a truck driver need a Polish driving licence?
A foreign driving licence should be checked before the residence permit application is submitted. This is particularly important for drivers who hold a Ukrainian, Belarusian or another non-EU licence.
Whether the licence must be exchanged depends on the country where it was issued, how long the driver has lived in Poland and the type of work being carried out. If an exchange is required, it is usually better to begin the foreign driving licence exchange in Poland before filing the residence application.
A Polish driving licence does not automatically guarantee a three-year residence permit. In the same way, a foreign licence does not always mean that the permit will be limited to one year.
However, unresolved licence issues or professional documents that are close to expiry may affect the case. If the documents do not support a longer period of employment, the Voivodeship Office may grant the permit for a shorter period, including one year.
Exchanging the licence early removes one possible concern and helps create a more complete residence permit application. The final decision and the length of the permit are always determined by the Voivodeship Office.
What professional documents does the driver need?
A Polish residence permit or residence card does not replace the documents required to work as a professional driver.
Depending on the type of work, the driver may need a category C, CE, D or DE driving licence, a valid Code 95 or driver qualification card, current medical and psychological certificates and a tachograph driver card.
A driver attestation, known in Polish as świadectwo kierowcy, may also be required. This mainly applies to non-EU drivers carrying out international road haulage for a transport company that holds a Community licence.
The transport company applies for the driver attestation through the General Inspectorate of Road Transport.
Before preparing the temporary residence permit application, we check whether the driver’s professional documents are valid. If an important document is about to expire, it may affect both the right to work and the requested length of residence.
Our guide to legalising foreign drivers and transport company employees in Poland explains the wider requirements for legal employment in the transport industry.
Documents needed for a truck driver residence permit
There is no single document list that applies to every driver. The exact requirements depend on the applicant’s nationality, current immigration status, employment contract and the practice of the relevant Voivodeship Office.
A typical temporary residence and work permit application includes:
- a valid passport
- a digital photograph that meets the MOS 2.0 requirements
- an employment contract with a Polish transport company
- proof of the right to work in Poland
- Annex No. 1 completed and signed by the employer
- documents relating to the transport company
- proof of health insurance
- salary and employment records
- a valid driving licence in the correct category
- Code 95 or a driver qualification card
- valid medical and psychological certificates
- a tachograph driver card
- a driver attestation, if required
- proof that the government fees have been paid
Applicants who are not covered by the Polish public healthcare system may need suitable health insurance for a residence permit.
During the proceedings, the inspector may request further evidence. This may include recent payslips, confirmation of registration with ZUS, updated employment documents or proof that the company is carrying out genuine transport activity.
Documents issued outside Poland may require a sworn translation into Polish. We check this before filing so that missing translations do not cause unnecessary delays.
The application also requires a digital photograph that meets the technical standards of MOS 2.0. The correct file can be prepared with DocPhoto Online for MOS 2.0.
How do you apply through MOS 2.0?
Applications for a temporary residence and work permit are submitted online through MOS 2.0.
The driver creates a personal account, signs in through login.gov.pl, completes the form, uploads the supporting documents and signs the application electronically.
The employer receives a separate link to Annex No. 1. The transport company must enter the employment details, sign the annex through login.gov.pl and return it through the system. The information provided by the driver and employer must be consistent.
ONE PLUS prepares and checks the residence permit application through MOS 2.0, organises the attachments and coordinates the process with the employer. The driver must still sign in to the personal account and sign the final application.
Once the application has been submitted successfully, MOS generates an electronic receipt called UPO. If no UPO is issued, the applicant should check whether the application was actually delivered to the office.
The Voivodeship Office will later invite the driver to attend in person. During the appointment, the driver presents the passport and original documents, provides fingerprints and completes any remaining formalities.
Why is the employer’s part important?
A work-based residence permit cannot be prepared properly without the transport company.
The employer confirms the driver’s position, salary, working hours and other conditions of employment. The company must also complete Annex No. 1 and provide documents relating to its business activity.
If the employer enters incorrect information or does not complete its part of the MOS 2.0 application, the case may be delayed before the office begins a full review.
ONE PLUS works directly with the employer or HR department. We explain which documents are needed, check the information and make sure the driver’s application matches the company’s records.
This is particularly useful when a transport company employs several foreign drivers or when immigration matters are divided between HR, payroll, accounting and management.
What happens if the driver changes employers?
A temporary residence and work permit may be linked to a specific employer and to the employment conditions stated in the decision.
Changing the transport company, position, salary or working hours may require a new residence permit application, a change to the existing permit or a notification to the authorities.
A driver should not assume that a valid TRC allows them to work for any company. The right to start a new job depends on the current decision, the driver’s immigration status and the new employment documents.
Our guide to changing employers with a Polish residence card explains the main rules and possible obligations.
ONE PLUS reviews the existing residence permit decision, the proposed contract and the driver’s current status. We then explain what needs to be filed and when the driver can legally begin the new job.
Are truck driver residence permits processed faster?
Truck drivers are in short supply in many parts of Poland, and road transport is important to the Polish economy. This does not mean that every driver automatically receives priority at the Voivodeship Office.
There is no nationwide fast-track procedure that guarantees a quicker temporary residence permit decision for truck drivers.
Some regional offices may offer separate appointment arrangements or other administrative solutions for particular groups of international drivers. These arrangements depend on the region and may change over time.
A complete and consistent application remains the best way to avoid unnecessary delays. It also helps when the employer responds quickly and all professional documents remain valid throughout the proceedings.
If the office does not take action for an unreasonable period, we review the file and consider lawful ways to speed up a delayed residence permit application.
Can a driver work while waiting for a TRC?
Submitting a residence permit application may allow the driver to remain legally in Poland while the case is pending, provided that all legal conditions are met.
It does not automatically give the driver the right to continue working, cross borders or carry out international transport.
The right to stay, the right to work and the right to leave and re-enter Poland must be checked separately.
UPO confirms that the electronic application has been received. It does not replace a visa, residence card or another document required to enter Poland.
Before sending a driver on an international route, the transport company should check whether the driver can legally work, cross the relevant borders and return to Poland. This is particularly important when a visa, residence card, work authorisation or professional document is close to expiry.
We review each case individually so that the driver and employer understand what is allowed before the next journey begins.
Common mistakes in truck driver TRC applications
The most common problem is inconsistent paperwork. The contract may show a different position from Annex No. 1, the salary may not match the amount reported to the office, or the company may fail to complete its part of the MOS application.
Drivers also run into problems when they start the driving licence exchange too late, allow Code 95 or medical certificates to expire, or fail to obtain a required driver attestation.
Another common mistake is submitting a karta pobytu application and then failing to monitor official correspondence. The Voivodeship Office may request updated payslips, employment documents or explanations and set a deadline for the response.
A complete residence permit application cannot guarantee a decision by a particular date. It can, however, reduce the number of follow-up requests and prevent many avoidable delays.
What is included in ONE PLUS legal support?
Our service covers the full residence permit process, from the first document review to the final decision.
We check the driver’s immigration status, right to work, employment contract and professional qualifications. We review the transport company’s documents, prepare the MOS 2.0 application and coordinate Annex No. 1 with the employer.
After the application is filed, we monitor the case, contact the Voivodeship Office, prepare responses to the inspector’s letters and submit additional documents when required.
Once the temporary residence permit has been granted, we explain how to pay for the physical residence card, provide any final confirmations and prepare for collection.
The ONE PLUS team has more than 11 years of practical experience with Polish residence permits, TRC applications and karta pobytu procedures. We work with individual drivers and transport companies in Wroclaw and throughout Poland.
Apply for a residence permit as a truck driver
If you need a Polish residence permit as a truck driver, start with a document review. We will check your immigration status, employment arrangements, driving licence and professional qualifications. We will also explain what the transport company needs to provide.
ONE PLUS will prepare the residence permit application, coordinate the employer’s part and manage the case until the Voivodeship Office issues its decision.
Full legal support costs PLN 2,000. The estimated processing time is between 2 and 6 months.
Contact ONE PLUS to discuss your situation and find out what you need for a complete truck driver residence permit application in Poland.
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