Check what kind of summons it is

After you submit the application in MOS, the voivode may send several different summonses, also at the same time (Art. 106e para. 2 of the Act on Foreigners). Each has a different deadline and a different consequence. Write down the date of delivery - the deadline counts from it. We describe temporary residence applications submitted in MOS from 27 April 2026. Similar rules apply to permanent residence and EU resident residence (Art. 203f and Art. 219f).

  • Documents and evidence - at least 14 days from delivery (Art. 106f). The voivode assesses how much time you need to obtain a document. If you attached only scans to the application, the voivode will summon you to submit the originals.
  • Formal defects in the application - at least 7 days, on pain of leaving the application unexamined (Art. 64 para. 2 of the Code of Administrative Procedure). See: formal defects.
  • Appearing in person - at least 7 days. Failing to appear ends in discontinuance of the proceedings (Art. 106e para. 1 and Art. 106i). See: fingerprints.
  • Stamp duty - according to the MOS portal the deadline is from 7 to 14 days, and failure to pay risks the return of the application.

How to reply

  1. Check which documents the office demands and how they should reach the voivode - the summons gives the documents, the deadline and the method of delivery. If the letter is unclear, ask the office for an explanation.
  2. If you will not manage to obtain a document, write to the office before the end of the deadline. State what is missing and what you did to obtain it.
  3. Send the reply before the end of the deadline. The deadline is met when you post the letter at a Polish postal outlet (Art. 57 para. 5 point 2 of the Code of Administrative Procedure). Keep the proof of posting.

The day of delivery is not counted in the deadline. When the last day falls on a Saturday or a holiday, the deadline expires on the next working day (Art. 57 paras. 1 and 4).

When the deadline has passed

You can ask for the deadline to be restored. You have 7 days from the cessation of the cause, you must make it plausible that you are not at fault, and you must complete the action at once (Art. 58 paras. 1 and 2).

Failing to deliver the documents from the summons under Art. 106f does not mean leaving the application unexamined, but the deadline for examination keeps running (Art. 112a para. 2 point 3). An application without evidence may be assessed negatively, because the office refuses the permit when you do not meet the requirements (Art. 100 para. 1 point 1).

Watch your mail

A letter from the office that you did not collect is deemed delivered when the 14 days for which it waited at the post office have passed (Art. 44 paras. 1 and 4). Report a change of address to the office (Art. 41). If you have a proxy, letters go to the proxy (Art. 40 para. 2).