Poland suspends residence permit decision deadlines until March 2026

On November 1, 2025, Poland implemented an amendment suspending all statutory time-limits for issuing or amending residence permits until March 4, 2026. This suspension affects applications for temporary, permanent, and EU long-term permits, as well as Blue Cards and asylum claims. The government cites the need to manage an overburdened system due to the COVID-19 backlog, the influx of Ukrainian refugees, and increased labor migration from Asia and Latin America. While applications will continue to be processed, applicants lose the ability to expedite stalled cases through formal reminders or complaints. Employers are advised to anticipate longer processing times and adjust project plans accordingly. The government plans to use this period to train staff and upgrade to the MOS e-case system before the March 2026 deadline.