After the meeting with the deputy voivode: joint work on an app
A working relationship with the administration, an app to help prepare documents, and plans to strengthen the team issuing certificates from October.
Representatives of Tu Żyjemy, a grassroots civic initiative of Pomeranian residents, met with Emil Rojek, Deputy Voivode of Pomerania, and Żaneta Jenta, Director of the Department for Foreigners. Olga Winnik, Ksenia Naranovich and Walentyn Kariejew attended on behalf of Tu Żyjemy. The discussion focused on problems with residence legalisation, the organisation of the office’s work and possible improvements.
Working together on an app
An important outcome of the meeting is the establishment of a working relationship with the administration and the start of joint work on a concept for an app to help people prepare their documents. The office has designated a contact person who will help incorporate the experience of staff directly involved in processing applications. We see this as the first concrete and significant outcome of dialogue between foreign residents and the administration.
The app is intended to help applicants identify which documents they need in their individual circumstances and guide them through the preparation process step by step. Its purpose is to make the requirements easier to understand, reduce errors when submitting applications and limit the need to provide additional documents later.
Processing order and staffing
We also discussed the order in which cases are processed. As the department’s director explained, certain categories of applications previously received priority treatment. There are now fewer such categories, while the remaining applications are processed in a common queue, in the order in which they are received. Office representatives highlighted ongoing staff shortages. They reported that they had requested an increase in the number of posts, but that approval had not been granted. Some of the difficulties stem from national IT systems and procedures, which cannot be changed by a single voivodeship acting alone.
The meeting also clarified that the 24 additional posts announced, funded through a FAMI project, are intended primarily to handle applications for CUKR residence cards. We were also informed that from October 2026, the team issuing certificates confirming that proceedings are ongoing (zaświadczenia o toczącym się postępowaniu) will be strengthened.
Next steps
One of the app’s functions will be to help people prepare the necessary documents before submitting their applications. Tu Żyjemy’s next step is to define the requirements and prepare a pilot version. The next meeting with the office’s management is to focus on presenting it and discussing further work.
Our aim is to make the residence legalisation system clearer, more predictable and easier to navigate for people who live, work and build their lives in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. We will provide regular updates on our joint work and its results.
The dialogue has begun. Now we are moving on to practical work.