UPO - official confirmation of receipt

The MOS system generates the UPO automatically after you send the signed application (Art. 106d para. 5 of the Act on Foreigners). An application is considered submitted when both of these are true: it is signed with the required signature, and the person submitting it has received the UPO (Art. 106d para. 6). So the UPO shows whether the application was submitted on time - no later than on the last day of the legal stay.

Save the UPO and keep it. It confirms that the application was submitted before you receive the certificate.

Certificate confirming submission of the application

From 27 April 2026 the voivode no longer puts a stamp in the passport. Instead, the voivode issues a certificate confirming the submission of an application for temporary residence, permanent residence or EU long-term resident residence (Art. 108 para. 1 point 1, Art. 206 para. 1 point 1 and Art. 222a para. 1 point 1). You receive it if:

  • the application was submitted on time, during a legal stay, and
  • the application has no formal defects or they were removed on time.

The certificate:

  • is delivered by the voivode through MOS; the voivode may also hand it over when you attend the office in person,
  • is free of charge,
  • has a QR code and the qualified electronic seal of the Head of the Office for Foreigners,
  • contains your details, the series and number of your passport, the date the application was submitted and the text of the provision on the legality of stay.

What it is used for

The certificate confirms that you have submitted an application and that your stay in Poland is legal until the day on which the decision becomes final - on the terms described in the guide legal stay after submitting the application. You can show it, for example, to your employer.

If you have not received the certificate

The certificate is issued only when the application has no formal defects. If there are defects, the voivode will summon you to remove them within a period of not less than 7 days. If you do not remove them, the application will be left without examination (Art. 64 para. 2 of the Code of Administrative Procedure). Collect letters from the office and check notifications from MOS.