MOS Portal April 27: Employers Guide to Hiring Foreigners
From 27 April 2026, Poland's Case Handling Module — known as MOS — goes live nationwide. All applications for temporary residence, permanent residence, and EU long-term resident permits must be filed exclusively through the online MOS portal at gov.pl. Paper-based and postal channels are permanently closed from that date.
Critical deadline: Paper applications must be physically delivered to the voivodeship office by 26 April 2026. The postmark date does not count — only the date of physical receipt by the office matters. Applications arriving on or after 27 April will not be examined.
Who is most at risk?
Any foreign national whose legal stay expires on or before 11 May 2026 faces the greatest risk. The Office for Foreigners has urged these individuals to file paper applications no later than 26 April to avoid falling into unlawful status during the system switchover. Employers are legally liable when foreign workers overstay due to missed deadlines. HR and global mobility teams should audit all pending cases immediately.
Employer obligations — what you must do
Employers sponsoring foreign workers must verify that every foreign employee holds a valid residence title entitling them to work. Work permit applications must be submitted exclusively via praca.gov.pl — no paper is accepted. A copy of the signed employment contract must be sent within 7 days of the foreigner starting work. The labour office must be notified of the commencement, interruption, or termination of employment. Contracts drafted in a foreign language require a sworn Polish translation before work begins. All employment documents must be retained for the entire employment period plus 2 additional years. For every new contract — including with Pole's Card holders — the Labour Office (PUP) must be notified within 7 days. This obligation has been in force since 5 March 2026.
Ukrainian workers
The legal stay of Ukrainian citizens holding UKR status or staying visa-free has been extended until 4 March 2027. From 4 May 2026, applications for the special CUKR residence card will open through the MOS portal. All Ukrainians must update their PESEL UKR data by 31 August 2026.
Fines for non-compliance
Fines for illegally employing a foreign national now range from PLN 3,000 to PLN 50,000 per person. Unlike previously, penalties are applied per worker — not as a single lump sum. An employer with 10 illegally employed foreigners faces a minimum of PLN 30,000 and a maximum of PLN 500,000 in fines. For serious violations, such as misleading a foreigner, additional penalties of up to PLN 6,000 per person apply. The fee for a declaration of entrusting work has also risen to PLN 400 — a fourfold increase since December 2025.
Official sources:
- Office for Foreigners (Urząd do Spraw Cudzoziemców) — official MOS portal announcement mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl
- Mazovian Office for Foreigners — MOS launch and CUKR card information migrant.wsc.mazowieckie.pl
- Gov.pl — Office for Foreigners, MOS portal guide gov.pl/web/udsc-en
