In recent weeks, social media and online forums have been flooded with claims that until March 4, 2026, Polish Voivodeship Offices (Urząd Wojewódzki) will not process any cases related to foreigners — including residence cards (karta pobytu) and extensions of residence permits. According to these reports, all proceedings concerning residence cards in Poland have been temporarily suspended until that date.
Let’s take a closer look at what the law actually says, why it was introduced, what it really means, and what every foreigner waiting for their residence card should know.
This information circulating online is not accurate.
The law indeed introduces a temporary suspension of administrative deadlines (in Polish: zawieszenie biegu terminów) for certain immigration-related procedures.
However, this does not mean that offices have stopped working or that your case is “on hold.”
Authorities still accept, register, and process applications, though under a different legal timeline.
On September 12, 2025, the Polish Parliament (Sejm) adopted a new amendment regulating matters related to foreigners’ legalization of stay and assistance to Ukrainian citizens.
This law extends the suspension of administrative time limits until March 4, 2026, covering a wide range of immigration procedures.
The suspension applies mainly to the following types of cases:
It also includes cases related to international protection (asylum procedures).
The key point is:
These cases are still being processed.
The Voivodeship Offices are open, applications are being accepted, and cases are not “stored away until 2026.”
The only change is that the official time limits defined in administrative law are not counted during this period.
It’s important to understand that zawieszenie biegu terminów is not new.
This legal mechanism was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when public institutions were overwhelmed by thousands of pending cases.
Later, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the number of foreigners applying for residence in Poland multiplied dramatically.
The Polish administrative system could not handle this sudden wave efficiently, so the suspension of deadlines became a necessary measure — it allowed offices to continue processing cases legally, without violating statutory time limits.
Many foreigners mistakenly believe that Voivodeship Offices have stopped processing residence cases.
That is not true.
The suspension of deadlines does not prohibit the authorities from reviewing or finalizing your case.
It simply removes their obligation to meet the usual statutory deadlines for issuing decisions.
In practical terms — if the Voivode normally had to review your case within 60 days, that countdown is now paused until March 4, 2026.
However, this does not mean your application is forgotten.
Offices continue working, decisions are still being issued, and residence cards are still printed and delivered.
Until March 4, 2026, the usual rules holding public offices accountable for delays or inactivity do not apply.
This means that:
Before this change, foreigners — including many clients of ONE PLUS — successfully received compensation ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 PLN for long waiting periods.
Now, even if your case takes much longer than expected, the court will not award any payment for the delay.
This temporary measure, valid until March 4, 2026, helps protect the system from overload and an avalanche of complaints.
Poland remains one of the most attractive EU destinations for foreigners seeking legalization.
The surge of applications from citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Colombia, Canada, and many other countries caused a serious administrative backlog.
The government introduced zawieszenie to:
The law clearly states that all actions taken by the authorities during this suspension remain valid and lawful.
If an inspector continues to process your file, requests additional documents, or issues a decision — everything remains legally binding.
However, if your case is delayed, you can no longer rely on traditional legal tools such as:
Despite the restrictions, our legal team continues to file complaints in court — not to demand compensation, but as a strategic legal tool to push the office to act.
Court proceedings usually force the authority to:
In practice, several outcomes are possible:
In other words, even without financial awards, judicial pressure works.
Inspectors prefer to close pending files to avoid court hearings and further bureaucracy.
These rules apply to all foreigners, regardless of nationality.
Whether you are from Canada, the UK, South Africa, India, Ukraine or Colombia, your case may fall under the suspension if it concerns the listed types of residence permits.
However, not every procedure is affected.
For example, matters related to invitations, PESEL numbers, or company registration are not subject to this suspension.
The statement “residence cards will not be processed until March 4, 2026” is a myth.
Applications are still being reviewed and decisions are being made — just within a legally suspended timeframe.
This means that officials are not bound by statutory deadlines, not penalized for delays, and not required to pay compensation — but the process continues.
Poland’s immigration system is adapting to extraordinary challenges — the pandemic, war, and massive migration.
The suspension of deadlines is a temporary legal measure that keeps the system operational, even if slower than usual.
At ONE PLUS, we continue to assist clients through every stage of their legalization process — from application to court representation — ensuring that every case moves forward lawfully, efficiently, and strategically, despite temporary administrative suspensions.
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