How can residence proceedings be improved? Following our meeting with MP Franciszek Sterczewski
We discussed improvements in public offices and proposed legislative changes. The MP pledged parliamentary questions and interventions.
On 4 November, we met with MP Franciszek Sterczewski and representatives of Polskie Forum Migracyjne, Głos Migranta, Amnesty International and Ukraiński Dom. We discussed how experience from Małopolska and Wrocław could help improve the work of public offices in other voivodeships. We also presented proposals for legislative changes that could reduce backlogs and simplify residence proceedings.
Meeting with MP Franciszek Sterczewski and representatives of organisations — 4 November 2026.
The MP pledged to submit parliamentary questions (interpelacje) and undertake parliamentary interventions (interwencje poselskie). We want to use the responses to identify which organisational changes have produced results in Małopolska and Wrocław, and under what conditions they could be applied in other regions of Poland. The responses could also provide a basis for a working conference within the Parliamentary Group on Migration Policy (Parlamentarny Zespół ds. Polityki Migracyjnej), where representatives of public offices could exchange experience and discuss opportunities to implement proven solutions.
One focus of our work is improving internal processes in public offices: the division of tasks, document flow and use of digital tools. We want to learn about solutions that make proceedings more efficient and reduce repeated work. The responses to our previous letters have left many questions open. Parliamentary interventions may help us obtain detailed information and speak to the people responsible for improvements already introduced.
Our legislative proposals include a special procedure for closing the backlog of temporary residence cases concerning applications submitted before 27 April 2026. We propose using a mechanism similar to the one introduced in 2022: granting two-year permits after checking specified formal and security conditions, with subsequent confirmation of employment conditions or whether the purpose of residence remains valid. This could reduce the work needed to conclude pending proceedings. The proposal requires a legislative amendment and further development with experts. Information from UdSC about the 2022 measurePL🌐 Translate.
We thank Franciszek Sterczewski for his openness and willingness to act, and Agnieszka Kosowicz of Polskie Forum Migracyjne for helping organise the meeting. We thank all participating organisations for the discussion.