Residence card application status: how to check it in every voivodeship
How you check the status of a residence card case (temporary or permanent residence permit) depends on the voivodeship office handling it. Below you will find three universal ways to check the stage of your proceedings, plus region-specific tips - including Poznań, Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk.
Informational material; this is not legal advice. Office procedures may change - always confirm the details on the website of the voivodeship office handling your case.
Three ways to check your status
- The case tracker on the voivodeship office website - most offices provide a form where you enter your case number (sygnatura) and details from the confirmation of filing your application.
- Electronic systems - MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw, mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl) for filing applications, and InPol in the Mazowieckie region, where you see each stage of your case after logging in.
- Direct contact - e-mail or the hotline of the Foreigners Affairs Department (Wydział Spraw Cudzoziemców). Always quote your case number, full name, date of birth and the date the application was filed.
Region by region
| Voivodeship | Office | How to check the status |
|---|---|---|
| Mazowieckie (Warszawa) | Mazowiecki Urząd Wojewódzki | Cases are handled by the Foreigners Affairs Department. You will usually check the status in the InPol system (inpol.mazowieckie.pl), where you register the application and see each stage of the case. |
| Wielkopolskie (Poznań) | Wielkopolski Urząd Wojewódzki | The office website (poznan.uw.gov.pl, foreigners section) runs a case tracker - you enter your case number or the details from the confirmation of filing. |
| Małopolskie (Kraków) | Małopolski Urząd Wojewódzki | The Department of Civic and Foreigners Affairs provides information about the stage of your case based on the case number - via the contact form, e-mail or hotline. |
| Dolnośląskie (Wrocław) | Dolnośląski Urząd Wojewódzki | At duw.pl you will find a search tool for foreigners' cases and the contact details of the Department of Civic and Foreigners Affairs. |
| Pomorskie (Gdańsk) | Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki | You obtain the status by quoting your case number - via the department form or e-mail, or at the office information desk. |
| Śląskie (Katowice) | Śląski Urząd Wojewódzki | The office serves foreigners in Katowice and in its branch offices - information about the stage of the case is given after you provide the case number and personal data. |
| Łódzkie (Łódź) | Łódzki Urząd Wojewódzki | Contact the Department of Civic and Foreigners Affairs by e-mail or phone; always quote your case number. |
| Other voivodeships | Your voivodeship office | Every voivodeship office has a foreigners section with a case tracker or an e-mail address for enquiries. Always quote the case number from your confirmation of filing. |
What the typical stages of a residence card case mean
- Application registered - the case has a number, but has not yet been assigned to a case officer.
- Formal deficiencies / summons - the office is waiting for documents; the processing deadline runs from the day you supply them.
- Fingerprints submitted - usually the last action on your side; it makes sense to count the waiting time from this date.
- Evidence gathering / verification - the office collects information, for example from your employer or state services.
- Decision issued / card in production - the decision is ready, the card is being personalised and sent to the office.
The status does not change - when the office misses the deadline
Under Article 35 of the Code of Administrative Procedure (KPA), a case should be decided within one month, and a particularly complex one within two months. If the office misses the deadline, it must notify you under Article 36 KPA and set a new date. The absence of such a notice and prolonged silence are grounds for a reminder (ponaglenie) and then a complaint about inaction to the provincial administrative court.
Want to know whether the deadline in your case has already passed? The free FasterPermit assessment takes a few minutes and shows which legal steps are available to you.
Check your case for free →Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my residence card case number?
The case number appears on the confirmation of filing, on the stamp in your passport or in the first letter from the office (for example a summons to supplement documents). Without it, the office will usually not disclose the stage of your case.
How long does a residence card application take?
The Code of Administrative Procedure provides one month for a straightforward case and two months for a particularly complex one. In practice proceedings take longer, and the office should then notify you of a new deadline under Article 36 KPA.
When does the deadline start if I supplied documents or gave fingerprints later?
The deadline runs from the last action on your side - for example the day you supplemented the documents or submitted your fingerprints. That date is the reference point when assessing the office's inaction.
My status has not changed for months - what can I do?
You can file a reminder (ponaglenie) with the higher-level authority and, if that fails, a complaint about inaction or excessive length of proceedings with the provincial administrative court. The court may set a deadline for the office and award you a sum of money and reimbursement of costs.