How to check the status of a residence case

What MOS shows

In MOS you see the status of the application until you send it - for example whether the employer has already filled in the annex. After the application is submitted, MOS delivers to you the certificate of submission of the application. According to the MOS portal, further handling of the application is not currently run through the portal. You receive summonses and the decision from the voivode in the usual way. See: UPO and certificate.

Where to check the stage of the case

The case is handled by the voivode competent for your place of stay (Art. 104 para. 1 of the Act on Foreigners). That is where, at the voivodeship office, you ask about its stage. You will find the contact details of the department for foreigners on the office's website.

• Give the case reference number from the letters you received from the office. If you do not have it yet, give your details from the application and the date of submission from the UPO.
• Write down the date and content of every conversation with the office.
• The office is obliged to inform you of circumstances that may affect your rights (Art. 9 of the Code of Administrative Procedure) and to ensure your active participation at every stage of the case (Art. 10 para. 1).

Access to the file

As a party you can inspect the file of your case and make notes, copies and transcripts from it - also after the proceedings have ended (Art. 73 para. 1 of the Code of Administrative Procedure). You do this at the office, in the presence of an employee (Art. 73 para. 1a). The office may also make the file available in its IT system (Art. 73 para. 3), but it has no obligation to do so.

In the file you will see which documents and letters are already in the case. This way you learn its stage from documents, and not only from verbal information.

Note: if you are abroad and do not have a proxy for conducting the case who lives in Poland, the provision on access to the file does not apply (Art. 10 para. 1 of the Act on Foreigners).

Letters from the office

• Letters are delivered to the address you indicated. During the case notify the office of every change of address - otherwise a letter sent to the old address counts as delivered (Art. 41 of the Code of Administrative Procedure). See: change of address.
• If you have appointed a proxy, letters are delivered to the proxy (Art. 40 para. 2).
• If the office does not deal with the case on time, it must notify you, give the reason and a new deadline (Art. 36 para. 1). We describe the deadlines in the guide waiting time.

When you cannot watch the case yourself

Checking the status, collecting letters and contact with the office can be handled by a proxy in administrative proceedings. We describe the rules on power of attorney in the guide signature and proxy.