Waiting time for residence cards has been increased

The latest amendments to the Special Law on the Protection of Ukrainian Refugees have suspended until September 30, 2025 the liability of voivodeships for failure to comply with the deadlines for considering cases on residence cards. It is expected that this will significantly increase the periods for obtaining documents. What this means for foreigners, both those who are just about to submit documents and those who are already waiting for a decision on the residence card, read in the material.

Liability of officials for failure to comply with deadlines Let us remind you that from January 29, 2022, serious changes to the legislation of the Republic of Poland related to foreigners came into force.
Among other things, strict limits have been established for considering cases on residence cards:

• Up to 60 days – temporary residence.
• Up to 180 days – for permanent residence (permanent residence and long-term residence).

For exceeding these periods, officials could be punished. These provisions have been abolished by amendments to the Special Law. It is separately stated that the termination of the consideration of cases by the body conducting proceedings on these cases, or their consideration with a delay, cannot be the basis for taking judicial measures in connection with inaction, excessive duration or violation of the right of the party to consider the case without undue delay. In other words, the voivodeships do not bear any responsibility for the delay in considering requests for residence cards until 30.09.2025. Going to court for failure to meet the deadlines is futile.

Is it possible to submit documents for new residence cards?

No such prohibitions have been established – documents for residence cards on the established grounds must be accepted in the same manner. Moreover, the provisions that make the stay legal for the entire period of consideration of the request for a card (the so-called stay on a stamp) are retained, regardless of the suspension of consideration under the Special Law. The provisions on the extension of existing documents due to the pandemic and the norms of the Special Charter that were in effect previously also continue to apply.