You can file a complaint to the voivodeship administrative court (WSA) about the voivode's inaction or delay at any time after filing a ponaglenie (Art. 53 § 2b of the Law on proceedings before administrative courts) — there is no final deadline and no need to wait for a reply. You file it at the voivodeship office, which has 30 days to forward it to the court. Court fee: 100 zł.
Inaction or delay?
- Inaction (bezczynność) — the statutory deadline has passed and there is no decision.
- Delay (przewlekłość) — the office takes longer than necessary: months without any action, needless summonses. This ground does not depend on the deadline passing, so it helps when the office relies on suspended deadlines.
Choose one in the complaint. A ponaglenie covering both grounds opens the way to either complaint.
How to file
- To the WSA competent for the voivode's seat (table below), but filed at the same voivodeship office (Art. 54 § 1).
- Copies: the original + 1 copy for the voivode (with copies of attachments) + a copy for you with proof of filing.
- The 100 zł fee is easiest to pay after the court sends a summons — to the account and within the time stated in it. If you win, the court orders it refunded.
- If you cannot afford the fee or a lawyer, apply for legal aid on the official PPF form (available on every WSA website).
- You can be represented by an advocate, a legal adviser, or your spouse, parents, siblings or children (Art. 35). You may also sign the complaint yourself.
What the judgment can give you
- an order for the voivode to issue a decision within a set time;
- a finding of inaction or delay — and whether it was a flagrant breach of the law;
- a sum of money from the office for you — up to 44,517.80 zł; courts usually award it only for a flagrant breach;
- reimbursement of costs (the fee).
The competent WSA for each voivodeship
| Voivode | Court | Court address |
|---|---|---|
| Dolnośląski | WSA we Wrocławiu | ul. Świętego Mikołaja 78-79, 50-126 Wrocław |
| Kujawsko-Pomorski | WSA w Bydgoszczy | ul. Jana Kazimierza 5, 85-035 Bydgoszcz |
| Lubelski | WSA w Lublinie | ul. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 40, 20-029 Lublin |
| Lubuski | WSA w Gorzowie Wielkopolskim | ul. Dąbrowskiego 13, 66-400 Gorzów Wielkopolski |
| Łódzki | WSA w Łodzi | ul. Piotrkowska 135, 90-434 Łódź |
| Małopolski | WSA w Krakowie | ul. Rakowicka 10, 31-511 Kraków |
| Mazowiecki | WSA w Warszawie | ul. Jana Kazimierza 10, 01-248 Warszawa |
| Opolski | WSA w Opolu | ul. Kośnego 70, 45-372 Opole |
| Podkarpacki | WSA w Rzeszowie | ul. Kraszewskiego 4a, 35-016 Rzeszów |
| Podlaski | WSA w Białymstoku | ul. Henryka Sienkiewicza 84, 15-950 Białystok |
| Pomorski | WSA w Gdańsku | al. Zwycięstwa 16/17, 80-219 Gdańsk |
| Śląski | WSA w Gliwicach | ul. Prymasa Stefana Wyszyńskiego 2, 44-100 Gliwice |
| Świętokrzyski | WSA w Kielcach | ul. Prosta 10, 25-366 Kielce |
| Warmińsko-Mazurski | WSA w Olsztynie | ul. Emilii Plater 1, 10-562 Olsztyn |
| Wielkopolski | WSA w Poznaniu | ul. Franciszka Ratajczaka 10/12, 61-815 Poznań |
| Zachodniopomorski | WSA w Szczecinie | ul. Staromłyńska 10, 70-561 Szczecin |
Complaint against a decision of the Head of UdSC
A decision of the Head of the Office for Foreigners (after an appeal) can be challenged before the WSA in Warsaw — within 30 days of delivery, via the Head of UdSC.
Frequently asked questions
When can I complain to the WSA about the voivode's inaction?
At any time after filing a ponaglenie (Art. 53 § 2b) — there is no final deadline and no need to wait for a reply to the ponaglenie.
How much does a complaint to the WSA cost?
The court fee is 100 zł; if you win, the court orders it refunded. You can apply for legal aid (PPF form).
Where do I file the complaint?
At the voivodeship office handling the case; it has 30 days to forward the complaint with the files to the competent WSA.
Who can represent me before the WSA?
An advocate, a legal adviser, or your spouse, parents, siblings or children (Art. 35). Not an intermediary company or your employer. You may sign the complaint yourself.
How much can I get from the office for inaction?
The court may award up to 44,517.80 zł — usually only for a flagrant breach of the law.
For information only; this is not legal advice.