Your diploma ceremony is in three weeks. Your family back in Kathmandu is already posting photos. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a quiet question keeps nagging: on the day after graduation, am I still allowed to be in Poland?
It's a fair question, and a lot of Nepali students ask it too late. The good news: Poland gives graduates of Polish universities a specific route to keep their legal status after studies — a 9-month temporary residence permit for job search. The catch is the timing. Miss it and the route is gone. This guide walks through exactly how Nepali students keep legal status in Poland after studies in 2026.
So what is the 9-month graduate permit, exactly?
It's a Karta Pobytu (Polish residence permit) issued to foreigners who finished higher education at a Polish university and want to look for work or start a business in Poland. According to the official MOS information page for graduates, it is granted for 9 months and only once. It is not a renewable permit — you can't stack a second one on top.
Think of it as a bridge. It isn't the final destination. Its job is to carry you from "student" to "employee" (or business owner) without a gap in your legal stay.
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When exactly do you have to apply?
This is the part that catches people. Three rules matter:
- You apply only directly after completing your studies — not months later, and not from abroad.
- You must file no later than the last day of your legal stay. If your student permit ends on 30 June, filing on 1 July is too late.
- Since 27 April 2026, applications are filed electronically through the MOS portal (mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl), logging in with login.gov.pl. Paper filing is no longer the default path.
Our practical advice: don't wait for the diploma paper itself if your university can give you an official certificate of completion earlier. Ask your dean's office early. For the bigger picture on what decides your path, see Staying in Poland After Studies: 7 Things That Decide Your Residence Path.
Practical tip: open your MOS account and set up login.gov.pl (via a trusted profile or bank login) BEFORE graduation week. People lose days just getting access, and days are what you don't have.
What documents does the application need?
Voivodeship offices and the UDSC graduate permit page describe the same core set. Expect to prove:
- You graduated: your diploma (or official certificate of completion) from a Polish university.
- You're really looking for work: CVs sent to employers, interview invitations, job-board applications. Keep dated proof — screenshots with dates are fine to start.
- Health insurance covering the whole stay. Student cover often ends with studies, so check your end date.
- Enough money to live on and to return home, for the 9-month period.
- A place to live: a rental contract or a confirmation from the landlord.
- Your passport and the standard application form data, plus a photo.
Money is where Nepali students worry most. Many are on tight budgets. Don't guess your numbers — ask us or the office how the funds are assessed for your situation before you file, because the clerk compares your bank statements against living costs, not against what feels reasonable.
How much does it cost, and what are the fees?
Regional voivodeship pages, for example Poznań's fee overview, list the stamp duty for a standard temporary residence permit at PLN 340, and PLN 100 for issuing the residence card itself. A combined permit for residence and work costs PLN 440. Fees can change, so confirm the figure on the voivodeship page on the day you pay.
Budget a little extra for translations (if any document is not in Polish or English), insurance, and photos. It adds up, but it is far cheaper than losing your status.
What happens while you wait for the decision?
Here's the fear we hear most: "My student permit ends in two weeks and the decision won't come for months. Am I illegal?" In general, a complete application filed on time, before your legal stay ends, is what protects your right to remain in the country while the office decides. That's why the deadline is everything — not the speed of the decision.
Waits can stretch. If you've been waiting beyond the statutory time, read Nepal Citizens Waiting Too Long in Poland: What Ponaglenie Actually Does. And keep your address and contact details current — missed letters from the office cause refusals that had nothing to do with your case.
Sandesh, a computer science graduate from Pokhara, filed his graduate application on his last legal day. He got a 9-month card, sent 40 applications, and signed a contract in month five. His employer then filed for the next permit while he still had four months left on the clock. (Illustrative composite case.)
What should you do once you find a job?
The 9-month permit is not meant to be your last one. Once you have an employer, the next step is a temporary residence and work permit (the single permit) — and the employer has a role in that process. Don't leave this for month eight. Start the moment you have a signed offer.
Employers change, and so do cases. Read Nepali in Poland: Employer Changed — What Happens to Your Karta Pobytu Case so you know what not to do. And if long-term planning is on your mind, From Nepal to Permanent Residence in Poland: The Real 5-Year Path shows how these years can count toward the future.
For work rules and employer obligations, the Polish government's portal for foreigners is the place to check. For insurance and contributions once you work, see ZUS and NFZ.
Which mistakes cost Nepali graduates their status?
- Filing one day late. There's no grace period you can count on.
- Assuming you can "renew" the 9-month permit. You can't — it's once only.
- Weak job-search proof. A CV in a drawer isn't evidence.
- Insurance that ended with studies. Check the end date.
- Leaving Poland mid-process without checking the rules first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the graduate permit months after I finish my degree?
No. The permit is for graduates applying directly after completing studies, and the application must be filed no later than the last day of your legal stay. Waiting "until I get organised" is the most common reason the route closes.
Can I get a second 9-month permit if I don't find a job?
No. The permit is granted once only and can't be renewed as a continuation of stay. If time is running out, you need another legal basis — most often a job offer leading to a work-based permit. Start employer conversations early.
Do I have to file in person at the office?
Since 27 April 2026, applications go through the MOS portal at mos.cudzoziemcy.gov.pl using login.gov.pl. You'll still visit the office later for fingerprints and card collection, but the filing itself is online.
I started my studies in Poland but didn't finish. Does this permit still apply?
The graduate permit requires a completed degree from a Polish university. If you didn't finish, other routes may exist, depending on why. That's a case-by-case question — message us before your current permit expires, not after.
Will the 9 months count towards permanent residence?
Residence rules for long-term status have specific conditions about the type of stay. Don't assume. Ask us to check your personal timeline before you plan around it.
Graduation should feel like a finish line, not a deadline you didn't know about. Legal Solutions — 98% approval rate. Drop us a WhatsApp at +48 453 202 991 — we read every message. Prefer a call? +48 735 248 525.