Immigration Lawyer Poland Adwokat Natalia Szabatowska

28/07/2026

🚨 Silent approval in residence permit proceedings – a breakthrough or a limited reform? (draft of the amendment)

The Polish government has presented a draft amendment to the Act on Foreigners introducing the concept of silent approval in temporary residence permit proceedings.

The proposal aims to address one of the biggest challenges faced by foreign nationals and employers in Poland – delayed administrative proceedings.

Under the draft, if the voivode fails to issue a decision within the statutory deadline (currently proposed to be 60 days from the submission of the application), a temporary residence permit could, in certain cases, be deemed granted by operation of law ("silent approval"), without the need for a formal administrative decision.

According to the draft, silent approval would be available only to nationals of selected third countries classified as posing a low migration and security risk. The final list of eligible countries will be specified in a regulation adopted by the Council of Ministers and has not yet been published.

Public discussion has suggested that the list could potentially include countries such as Japan, South Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States, and Israel. However, it is important to note that these countries have not been officially confirmed, and the final scope of the regulation may differ.

The government's objectives are to:
✔️ reduce waiting times for temporary residence permits;
✔️ ease the administrative burden on provincial offices;
✔️ increase Poland's attractiveness for highly qualified professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors from selected countries.

While the proposal is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, it also raises important questions. Thousands of foreign nationals from other countries experience the same delays in residence proceedings every year. Limiting the silent approval mechanism to selected nationalities may therefore create unequal treatment between applicants who are otherwise subject to the same administrative procedures.

It is also worth remembering that this is still a draft. The proposed legislation must complete the full legislative process before it can enter into force, and the detailed rules are yet to be finalized.

If adopted, this reform could become one of the most significant changes to the Polish immigration system in recent years.
Whether it will substantially improve the efficiency of residence permit proceedings, however, will largely depend on its final scope and implementation.

https://lavolegal.pl/en/kontakt-2/

26/07/2026

Have you ever heard of a "SIS alert"?

If you're a third-country national living in Europe, there's a good chance the Schengen Information System (SIS) may affect your future - even if you've never heard of it.

A single SIS alert can influence your ability to enter the Schengen Area, obtain or renew a residence permit, or even remain in it. The system contains alerts on entry bans, return decisions, persons wanted for arrest or extradition, missing persons, etc.

The newly published 2025 SIS Annual Statistics show just how central SIS has become in the EU's migration policy.

📌 1,990,038 alerts on persons were stored in SIS by the end of 2025 (+19% compared to 2024);

📌 819,413 alerts related to return decisions (41% of all person alerts);

📌668,853 alerts related to refusals of entry or stay in the Schengen Area (34% of all person alerts).

It has become one of the EU's key tools for enforcing return decisions, entry bans and monitoring the legal status of third-country nationals across the Schengen Area.

What about Poland? 🇵🇱

By the end of 2025, Poland had 47,454 alerts on persons.

For foreigners, the message is simple: a decision issued in one Schengen country (eg. return decision - obligation to return and entry ban) may have consequences across the entire Schengen Area. Understanding what a SIS alert means - and whether one has been entered against you- can be crucial for your immigration status.

You may check what data are stored in SIS about you (if any alert was made by Poland or another EU country).

If you need assistance with determining that or you want to check the possibility to remove the alert:

Contact us:
[email protected]
728 976 411
https://lavolegal.pl/en/kontakt-2/

12/07/2026

📊 Poland Grants Record Number of Citizenships in 2025

In 2025, Poland granted citizenship to 19,135 foreign nationals – the highest number ever recorded and 17% more than the year before.

The largest group of new Polish citizens were Ukrainians (10,295), followed by Belarusians, Russians, and Vietnamese.

These figures show that an increasing number of foreigners are choosing to build their lives in Poland for the long term.

At the same time, the citizenship process seems to be becoming more demanding. Although several proposals to tighten the rules have been put forward in recent months, none have been passed by Parliament or entered into force.

Even without changes to the law, many applicants are experiencing stricter administrative practice. Authorities often request additional documents that are not expressly required by the statutes, particularly to prove continuous residence and genuine personal presence in Poland. We've also seen cases where even minor offences, such as speeding tickets, have been treated as grounds for refusing an application.

What do you think? Should it become harder to obtain Polish citizenship, or should the current rules stay the same?

💬 If you've applied for recognition as a Polish citizen, what challenges did you face during the process?

31/05/2026

Could you be deported from Poland without even realizing you're at risk?

Many foreigners assume deportation only applies to serious crimes. In reality, overstaying a visa, working without proper authorization, violating the conditions of your stay, or other immigration-related issues may lead to a return decision and even a ban on re-entering Poland or the Schengen Area.

If you live, work, or plan to stay in Poland, understanding your rights and obligations is essential.

Read our latest article to learn:
✅ What deportation means under Polish law
✅ The most common reasons foreigners face deportation
✅ What happens after a deportation decision is issued
✅ Whether you can appeal and defend your right to stay

Read more below 👇
https://lavolegal.pl/en/when-may-i-be-deported-from-poland-what-is-deportation/

Deportation from Poland - obligation to return

26/05/2026

✈️ 🇵🇱 Traveling to Poland and other Schengen countries will soon come with a new requirement for non-EU visitors!

Starting in late 2026 (no official launch date has been confirmed yet), the ETIAS system will be introduced — an electronic travel authorization similar to the U.S. ESTA. It’s not a visa, but a mandatory pre-travel authorization for citizens of visa-free countries.

📌 What you should know:
• ETIAS will be required for short stays of up to 90 days
• Applications will be completed online
• The authorization will be valid for up to 3 years or until the passport expires
• The fee is expected to be around €7 for travelers aged 18–70

✅ Who will be exempt?
ETIAS will NOT be required for:
• Citizens of EU and Schengen countries
• Holders of valid Schengen visas
• Residents with valid residence permits in EU/Schengen countries

Poland, as part of the Schengen Area, will be included in the ETIAS system along with many other European countries.

Check also our previous posts about EES (Entry Exit System): https://lavolegal.pl/en/illegal-stay-of-american-citizens-is-that-possible-what-changes-with-the-ees-system/

11/05/2026

Poland is moving from paper-based applications to a fully electronic system called MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw). Applications submitted outside the MOS system will no longer be accepted.

To apply through MOS you need to:

▪️ get a PESEL number,
▪️ create a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany) and confirm your identity,
▪️ create an account in the MOS system.

The fastest way to get a PESEL number is usually through the City Hall (Urząd Miasta / Urząd Gminy). There are two common options:

⭐️ address registration (zameldowanie) — if you have a registered place of residence in Poland, you receive a PESEL automatically during registration (you need a legal title to the property and a document confirming your right to stay in Poland; registration can be done for a minimum of 30 days),

⭐️ separate PESEL application — you must provide a legal basis for obtaining a PESEL number (creating a Trusted Profile is one of the accepted reasons).

In both cases, the application is handled by the same municipal office. After receiving the PESEL number, you can create a Trusted Profile and then register in MOS.

Contact us if you have any doubts:
[email protected]💻
728 976 411📞

20/04/2026

🚨 LAST CALL!

Send your application tomorrow using priority registered mail to apply for a residence permit before MOS II comes into force.

Starting April 27, the MOS system will allow electronic submission of residence applications (only).

If you prefer the traditional method, you can still submit a paper application until April 26 — but in practice, this means April 25 (since the 26th is a Saturday).

Important‼️ the application must be received by the office by that date, not just sent. Otherwise, your application will be disregarded.

13/04/2026

Poland is going fully digital for residence permits — and it starts sooner than you think⏰

Starting April 27, Poland is introducing a major change in the way foreigners apply for residence permits.

From this date, most applications for temporary residence, permanent residence, and EU long-term residence will have to be submitted online through the MOS (Case Handling Module) system.

What does this mean in practice?

✔️ No more paper applications
✔️ A fully digital application process — you need to have a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany) or a qualified electronic signature

But keep in mind:
👉 After submitting your application online, you will still need to visit the office in person to provide fingerprints and show original documents.

This is a big step towards digitalization — and a change that will affect thousands of foreigners living in Poland.

If you're planning to apply for a residence permit, make sure you're ready for the new system.

‼️IMPORTANT: If you plan to submit your application by post before this change takes effect, make sure it is delivered to the Immigration Office no later than April 26. Otherwise, your application may be rejected.

Contact us if you have any doubts:
[email protected]💻
728 976 411📞

26/03/2026

Avoid mistakes. Eliminate stress. Stay safe.

Working with a professional attorney or advocate means you don’t have to navigate complex procedures alone. Instead of risking costly errors, you gain expert guidance and full protection.

We offer:

▪️Individual, 1:1 support – we guide you “by the hand” through the entire process
▪️Full legal representation – in offices and courts (agencies only handle applications)
▪️Comprehensive service (A–Z) – documents, certifications, deadlines, correspondence address, and ongoing contact
▪️Fast response times – within 24–48 hours, and immediately in critical situations
▪️Proactive risk management – we foresee issues before they affect your legal status
▪️Crimmigration expertise: defending against deportation and entry bans, handling residence appeals, and criminal cases affecting immigration status.

With us, you gain what matters most: peace of mind and legal security.

📩 [email protected]
📞 728 976 411
💻 https://lavolegal.pl/en/

23/03/2026

🇺🇸 Can an American citizen have an illegal stay in Poland?

It sounds counterintuitive - but yes, it’s possible.

And with the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES), it will not only be much easier to detect overstays, but also easier to unintentionally fall into illegal stay.

In my latest article, I explain:

🔹 how the EES system affects bilateral visa waiver agreements Poland has signed with US, Israel, Mexico, Argentine, Chile, Japan, Brazil, Honduras and other countries
🔹 when a legal stay turns into an illegal one
🔹 why visa-free travel (e.g. 90/180 rule) creates real risks
🔹 what consequences U.S. citizens may face in the Schengen

Overstaying can lead to serious consequences like fines, entry bans, or future travel complications.

This is particularly important if you’ve been relying on the “90 days” rule without taking the 180-day limit into account (thanks to bilateral agreements).

Contact us if you have any doubts📞📩

👉 Read the full article here: https://lavolegal.pl/en/illegal-stay-of-american-citizens-is-that-possible-what-changes-with-the-ees-system/

Entry Exit System vs bilateral visa waiver agreements