You've been waiting seven months for your karta pobytu (Polish residence permit) decision. Then one Tuesday your manager calls: the company is restructuring, your department is being dissolved, and your last day is in two weeks. Or maybe the story is simpler — you found a better job, more money, better conditions. Either way, the same question hits immediately: does changing employer in Poland destroy my karta pobytu case? The answer is: no, it doesn't destroy it — but you have a very specific window to act, and if you miss it, you're starting over. Here's exactly what happens to your case when your employer changes in 2026, what you must file, and what the new MOS online system means for you as a Nepali worker in Poland.
What 'Employer Changed' Actually Means for Your Case
Your karta pobytu application is tied to a specific employer. When the urząd wojewódzki (regional immigration office) reviews your case, they're evaluating that employer's offer — their ZUS registration, the contract terms, the salary against the minimum wage (currently PLN 4,806 gross per month in 2026), the job description. Change the employer and you've changed the core of what the urząd is reviewing.
There are two separate situations you may be in, and the procedure is different for each. First: your application is still pending (you submitted it, you have the stamp in your passport, no decision yet). Second: you already have an approved karta pobytu card in your hand. Let's cover both.
Scenario one — application pending: You do not have to withdraw and refile from scratch. Polish law allows you to file a zmiana zezwolenia (amendment of the permit) to update your case with the new employer's details. This is faster and cheaper than a brand new application — the amendment fee is PLN 220, compared to the full PLN 340 stamp duty for a fresh application. The official procedure is described on gov.pl/web/udsc.
Scenario two — card already issued: Your existing karta pobytu is employer-specific. If you change jobs while holding a valid card, you must apply for a new karta pobytu with the new employer before you start working for them. You cannot legally begin work with the new employer solely on the basis of your old card. Your right to stay in Poland remains valid (your card doesn't get cancelled just because you changed jobs), but your right to work for the new employer doesn't exist until the new permit covers it.
There is a third path that some workers overlook: the simplified notification procedure (oświadczenie). For certain countries and job types, a new employer can register an oświadczenie at the powiatowy urząd pracy (district labour office), which lets you start work legally within days — bridging the gap while the full karta pobytu amendment processes. Check with a specialist whether your new job qualifies. Nepali citizens working in Poland generally have access to this route.
For more context on how documents and employer obligations work in Poland, read 5 Documents Every Employer in Poland Must Give Nepali Workers in 2026 — it explains exactly what your new employer must prepare before you can file anything.
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The 15-Day Rule: What Happens If You Lose Your Job (Not Just Change It)
Being fired or made redundant is different from voluntarily switching employers — and Polish law treats it differently too. If you lose employment (contract terminated, company closes, redundancy), you are required to notify the voivode (urząd wojewódzki) in writing within 15 working days. This is not optional and not just a formality.
Missing this notification doesn't immediately cancel your case, but it becomes a compliance problem that the urząd can use to refuse your permit on grounds of non-cooperation with the authority. We've seen cases where everything else was fine but the omission of this notification letter contributed to a refusal.
The notification itself is simple — a written letter to the voivode stating that your employment ended on a specific date, the employer's name, and your permit reference number. After submitting it, you have time to find a new employer and file the amendment. During this window, your stamp (stempel) continues to legalize your stay in Poland — but it does not automatically authorize work for a new employer.
How long do you have to find a new employer before your case is at risk? There's no single fixed deadline written in law for 'you must find work within X days.' But the voivode will set a deadline when they formally note the change in your case — usually they'll send you a letter requesting the new employer's documents within 30-60 days. If that deadline passes with no response, the case can be discontinued.
The practical advice: don't wait for the urząd to contact you. The moment you know employment is ending, start gathering the new employer's documents simultaneously. The amendment process through MOS (Moduł Obsługi Spraw) — the mandatory online portal for all residence permit applications as of 2026 — means you can submit the amendment digitally, without queuing at the office.
Filing the Amendment: Step by Step Through MOS in 2026
Since January 2026, all residence and work permit applications and amendments in Poland must be submitted through the MOS online system. This was signed into law by President Nawrocki and took effect from the start of the year. No more appointment queues at the urząd. No more driving across the city at 6am to grab a number. The filing is digital, and the process for an amendment looks like this:
- Log in to MOS at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl using your existing account (or create one if you don't have it yet — you'll need your PESEL or passport number).
- Select 'Zmiana zezwolenia na pobyt czasowy i pracę' (Amendment of temporary residence and work permit) — not a new application.
- Fill in your new employer's details: company name, NIP number, registered address, and the position you'll hold.
- Attach Appendix No. 1 (Załącznik nr 1) — this is filled out by your new employer and describes the employment conditions, working hours, and monthly salary (must be at minimum PLN 4,806 gross in 2026).
- Attach proof of payment of PLN 220 (the amendment fee, half the rate of a fresh application). Pay online via the MOS portal — no need to go to the post office or bank.
- Submit. You'll receive a confirmation reference number. The voivode will review the amendment and either approve it (issuing a new or updated decision) or request additional documents.
The amendment does not extend the validity period of your permit. If your original application would have resulted in a 3-year card valid until 2028, the amendment keeps that same end date — it just updates the employer name and conditions. The official MOS procedure guide is at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl.
Practical tip: Bir, a logistics coordinator from Kathmandu, changed jobs while his karta pobytu application was still in process at Warsaw's urząd. He filed the amendment within the same week his new contract was signed, attached the new employer's Załącznik nr 1 and proof of PLN 4,806 salary. The amendment was processed in 6 weeks — and he never had to leave Poland or restart from zero. His card now covers the full original validity period.
Can You Work Legally for the New Employer While the Amendment Is Pending?
This is the question that causes the most confusion — and the most violations. The short answer: with the stamp alone, no. With a valid oświadczenie (work declaration) registered by the new employer, yes.
The stamp (stempel) in your passport — the one that says your application is pending — legalizes your stay in Poland. It does not automatically authorize you to work for any employer other than the one named in your original application. Working for the new employer without authorization, even for a week, creates a work-without-permit violation that the Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy (State Labour Inspectorate) can and does enforce.
The safe bridge: your new employer files an oświadczenie o powierzeniu pracy (work declaration) at the local powiatowy urząd pracy. For Nepali citizens, this is one of the nationalities where the simplified procedure applies. An oświadczenie can be registered within a few days and allows you to start working legally immediately — without waiting for the amendment to be approved. It's valid for up to 24 months.
For the broader picture on how Nepali citizens build legal status in Poland step by step, see Nepal to Poland: 5 Legal Steps That Change on Day One After You Arrive (2026) — it covers the full sequence of what changes with each major event in your stay.
What If Your Application Gets Refused After the Employer Change?
Some workers assume that filing an amendment is risk-free. It usually is — but there are refusal scenarios specific to employer changes that are worth knowing about.
- New employer doesn't meet the conditions: if the new employer's salary offer is below the minimum wage, their ZUS registration is incomplete, or they have outstanding tax liabilities, the amendment can be refused even if your original application was straightforward.
- Employment contract issues: the contract with the new employer must be a proper umowa o pracę (employment contract) or umowa zlecenia (mandate contract) — not an informal arrangement. The urząd will verify it.
- Missing notification of previous job loss: if you didn't notify the voivode of losing the previous job within 15 working days, this can be flagged during the amendment review.
- Gap in documentation: if there's a period where you had neither the oświadczenie nor the amendment in place, the urząd may question your compliance.
If the amendment is refused, you have 14 days from the date of the decision to file an odwołanie (appeal) with the Szef Urzędu do Spraw Cudzoziemców (Head of the Office for Foreigners). This timeline is the same as for any karta pobytu refusal. The appeal process is covered in detail in Refused After Months of Waiting? The 14-Day Karta Pobytu Appeal Guide for Nepali Applicants in Poland 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my employer fires me mid-process, do I lose my karta pobytu case?
No — not immediately. You lose your specific permit-linked right to work for that employer, but your case stays open. Notify the voivode in writing within 15 working days of losing the job, then file an amendment with your new employer's details. Your stamp continues to legalize your stay throughout this process.
Can I change to a completely different type of job — say, from factory work to office work?
Yes, you can change both the employer and the type of work. The amendment form covers the new job title, employer details, and contract conditions. The voivode will verify that the new employment genuinely matches the permit type (work-based residence). If you're moving into a significantly higher salary role, that generally helps — not hurts — the application.
How long does it take to process the amendment in 2026?
Amendments typically process faster than full new applications. In Mazowieckie (Warsaw area), expect 6-10 weeks for an amendment versus 9-14 months for a fresh filing. In Szczecin or smaller voivodeships, as little as 3-5 weeks. The MOS online system has also removed delays caused by document submission queues.
Does changing employer reset my 5-year clock for permanent residence?
No. The 5-year continuous legal residence required for permanent residence (PMŻ) counts the time you've been legally in Poland — not the time with a single employer. Changing jobs, even multiple times, does not reset the clock, as long as each change was done legally with proper permits in place.
What is the total cost of an employer change amendment in 2026?
The government fee for the amendment is PLN 220 (opłata skarbowa). If you then collect the updated physical card, there's an additional PLN 100 card issuance fee, bringing the total to PLN 320 — significantly less than the PLN 440 (PLN 340 + PLN 100) for a brand new karta pobytu application. Fee information can be confirmed at gov.pl/web/cudzoziemcy.
Changing employers in Poland doesn't have to unravel months of waiting. Done right, it's a defined procedure with a defined cost and a much shorter processing timeline than starting over. Legal Solutions — 98% approval rate. Drop us a WhatsApp — we read every message: +48 735 248 525.