It's a Wednesday afternoon and your team lead pulls you aside: the company restructured, your contract is being transferred to a new entity — or worse, the agency that sponsored your Karta Pobytu (Polish residence permit) is letting you go. Your first thought: does this void my case? Your second: do I have to leave Poland? The short answer to both is no — but only if you move fast. This guide covers every scenario for Filipino workers in Poland whose employer situation changed in 2026, what the law actually says, and exactly what to do in the next 15 working days.
The 15-Day Rule: Your Most Important Deadline
Under Polish law, when you hold a unified temporary residence and work permit (zezwolenie na pobyt czasowy i pracę) and your employment ends — for any reason — you must notify the voivode (urząd wojewódzki) in writing within 15 working days of the employment ending. This is not optional. It's a statutory obligation under the Act on Foreigners, confirmed by gov.pl/web/udsc. Missing this window doesn't automatically make you illegal, but it removes a layer of protection if your case gets scrutinised.
Losing your job does not immediately cancel your stay. Your physical residence permit card keeps its validity. The danger is that the voivode may later withdraw the positive decision your card was issued on — and once that decision is withdrawn, your legal basis for staying disappears. Fifteen working days is tight. Start counting from the day the contract ends, not the day HR processes the paperwork.
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3 Scenarios — Which One Is You?
Not every employer change is the same situation. The path you take depends on what exactly changed.
Scenario 1: Your application is still pending, and your employer changed
This is the trickiest scenario. You applied for a Karta Pobytu listing Employer A. Before the voivode decided, you moved to Employer B. The voivode checks ZUS records at the moment of decision — if the name in your application doesn't match your active ZUS registration, that's a ground for refusal. You must file a zmiana wniosku (amendment to your application) with full documentation from your new employer, including a new work contract and an Annex 1 from your new employer. Do not wait until you get a letter from the office — by then it is too late.
Scenario 2: You already have a valid Karta Pobytu, and you want to switch employers
Your physical card doesn't change — it stays in your wallet. But the decision behind that card names a specific employer. To legally work for a different employer, you must apply for a zmiana zezwolenia (permit modification). The fee is PLN 220 — half the standard rate — as confirmed by zielonalinia.gov.pl. You submit this to the voivode for your region of residence, NOT the voivode who originally issued your permit if you have since moved.
Scenario 3: You were fired or made redundant, and you're now looking for a new job
This is the scenario that most people panic about. Here's the reality: your stay remains legal while the card is valid, even after employment ends. But your work authorisation is tied to that employer. You cannot legally start working for a new employer on the old permit. You have two paths: file for a permit modification as soon as you secure a new job offer, or — if you have six months or more left on your card — register with a state employment office (Powiatowy Urząd Pracy) while you job-hunt, as this may help preserve your legal status argument if the process takes time.
Step-by-Step: What to File When Your Employer Changes
Whether your application is pending or your card is already in your wallet, the mechanics of the modification process are similar.
- Notify the voivode in writing within 15 working days of employment ending. Use registered post (list polecony) so you have proof of delivery.
- Secure a new job offer. The new employer must be ready to provide: a signed employment contract (minimum PLN 4,806 gross/month — the 2026 minimum wage), proof of ZUS registration, a completed Annex 1 (the employer declaration form), and the company's NIP/REGON documents.
- File the zmiana zezwolenia na pobyt czasowy i pracę application. As of April 27, 2026, all new permit applications go through the MOS e-portal (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl). However, the modification of an existing permit (zmiana) is still submitted in paper form to your regional voivode — confirm this with your specific urząd, as rules are being updated in 2026.
- Pay the PLN 220 fee. This is the official stamp duty (opłata skarbowa) for a permit modification — half the full-permit rate. Keep the proof of payment for your file.
- Attend biometrics if called. Some voivodes require a new biometrics appointment after a modification. Others use the existing biometric data. You will receive a written notice.
Practical tip: The day you sign a new contract, take a photo of it and send it to your legal adviser. A modification application filed on the same week as the job change is always stronger than one filed three months later. The voivode will see the gap in your ZUS contributions and they will ask about it.
What Does Your Stamp (Stempel) Actually Cover After an Employer Change?
Many Filipinos ask this at 11pm on a Sunday. Your stempel (the voivode stamp in your passport) confirms that you applied for a residence permit and your stay is legal while the application is being processed — this is sometimes called the "stamp right" under Art. 108 of the Act on Foreigners. This stamp covers your right to remain in Poland, but your right to work under that stamp is tied to the employer and job position listed in your original application.
If you change employers while your application is pending and you have a stamp, you are legally present in Poland — but you are not automatically authorised to work for the new employer. Working for an unlisted employer while the modification is still being processed is a grey area that can result in the new application being complicated. File the amendment before you start the new job, not after.
See also our detailed guide to 5 Documents Every Employer in Poland Must Give Filipino Workers in 2026 — because a good new employer will know these obligations and have them ready.
The New MOS System and Employer Changes in 2026
Poland's immigration system changed significantly in 2026. From April 27, 2026, all new residence permit applications must be submitted exclusively through the Moduł Obsługi Spraw (MOS) e-portal at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl. You must log in with a Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany) or an e-ID. Paper forms submitted to the urząd window after this date are not accepted for new applications.
For modifications (zmiana zezwolenia), the situation in mid-2026 is that some voivodes still require paper submission for modification requests, while others are processing them through MOS. Call your regional urząd — or have your legal adviser confirm — before filing. The contact details for your urząd are listed on the gov.pl voivodeship pages. Don't lose time guessing.
If you are starting a new residence permit application from scratch with a new employer (because the old permit expired), the fee is now PLN 440 total (PLN 340 stamp duty + PLN 100 card issuance fee). Budget this before you commit to a start date with your new employer.
For more on processing timelines, our post 11 Months and No Decision: How Long Filipinos Really Wait for Karta Pobytu in Poland 2026 gives you realistic expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my employer fires me mid-application, does my entire Karta Pobytu case get cancelled?
Not automatically. Your application stays in the system. But the voivode cannot grant a work-based residence permit if you are no longer employed. You need to either secure a new employer and file an amendment (zmiana wniosku) before a decision is made, or withdraw the application and file fresh once you have a new job. The faster you act, the more options you have.
Can I start working for the new employer immediately after signing the contract, before the modification is approved?
Legally, no. Your work authorisation under the existing permit is tied to the employer named in the decision. Working for an unlisted employer before the modification is processed puts you in breach of your permit conditions. In practice, some workers do this — but if the voivode or PIP (labour inspectorate) checks your ZUS records and finds a mismatch, the consequences can include permit withdrawal. File first, then start.
My employer changed its company name but my job is the same — do I need to file anything?
Yes. Even a name change, KRS number change, or a merger that creates a new legal entity requires notification to the voivode. The employer named in your permit decision must match your ZUS registration exactly. A mismatch — even a technical one — is a trigger for problems. Collect the company's updated KRS extract and file a written notification promptly.
I have a valid Karta Pobytu but it was issued for a different employer. Can I still travel within Schengen?
Yes. Your Karta Pobytu gives you Schengen travel rights regardless of the employment status listed on it, as long as the card itself is valid and your stay in Poland is legal. Schengen border guards do not verify employment conditions. But note: if your card was issued based on work-permit conditions and those conditions have materially changed (you left that employer), you should have a modification in process to remain fully compliant.
What if I find a new employer but my old permit expired before the modification was decided?
This is a restart situation. You cannot modify a decision that no longer exists. You and your new employer will need to file a fresh application through MOS. Budget PLN 440 in fees and realistic waiting times — see our Karta Pobytu for Philippines Citizens in Poland 2026: Step-by-Step Guide for the full timeline.
Employer changes don't have to derail your legal status — but they do require fast, accurate paperwork. Legal Solutions — 98% approval rate. Drop us a WhatsApp — we read every message: wa.me/48453202991