Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-poland
Change description : 2019-09-20 14:24:00: Brexit update: List of outreach events for UK nationals in Poland updated. [Brexit]
Showing diff : 2019-08-01 09:06:29 +00:00..2019-09-20 13:28:03 +00:00
Guidance
Official information for UK nationals moving to or living in Poland, including guidance on Brexit, residency, passports and healthcare.
This page tells you what to do ahead of the UK leaving the EU. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.
You should:
To keep up to date:
TheTo Britishkeep Embassyup regularlyto holdsdate eventswith acrossinformation Polandabout forBrexit:
Youupdates canfrom also:
CheckYou may want to check the entry requirements for Poland.
If you’re staying in Poland for more than 3 months, you must register your address with the Department of Foreigners at your local Voivod office.
You can Checkcheck the locations of local voivode offices in Poland and where you should register your stay.
You can also find out how to apply for permanent residency at your local Voivod office.
Read the PolishUK Officeleaves forthe Foreigners dedicated page on Brexit.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, UK nationals arriving in Poland before 31 December 2020 will be able to stay and register under the current rules.
If the UK leaves without a deal, the Polish government has stated that UK nationals legally residing in Poland at the point of Brexit will be able to stay and continue their lives as they do now.
In order to secure your status and these rights, you should registermake sure you have registered your stay or applyapplied for permanent residency before Brexit. Incomplete applications will be discontinued if the UK leaves the EU without a deal before your application is completed. If you have not yet registered your stay in Poland, you should do so as soon as possible. ReadYou should read the guidance issued by the Polish Office for Foreigners.
If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, and you are already legally resident in Poland, you will need to submit a new residency application specifically for UK nationals legally resident in Poland at the point of the UK’s exit from the EU. You will have until 31 December 2020 to submit your application.
If you previously attempted to register your stay in Poland before Brexitthe UK left the EU but your application was discontinued, this will not prevent you from making an application under the new scheme. You may need to provide more documentation to prove that you were legally resident in Poland on the day of exit. For more information you can:
read the webpage of the Polish Office for Foreigners page dedicated to Brexit
check the European Commission’s webpage for more information about no deal residency schemes in Poland
In the event of changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit,the UK leaves the EU, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available. You should sign up for our email updates.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Poland.
See
AfterIf Brexit, the rulesUK onleaves travelthe willEU change.with Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
If there’s a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations. negotiations
If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, younew musttravel rules will apply. You should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU,. youYou will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (e.g. train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.
You mustshould ensure you are properly registered for healthcare as a resident in Poland, as well as registering, where necessary, with a health insurer.
If you live in Poland and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.
If you are resident in Poland, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Poland.
When
ReadYou can read the NHS guidance on healthcare in Poland.
ReadYou can read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
You can find an English-speaking doctor in Poland.
You should also check your prescriptions are legal.
If there’sthe UK leaves the EU with a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Poland will remain the same until 31 December 2020, as long as you remain a resident in Poland.
If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU with or without a deal, and you are a resident in Poland and pay contributions to the National Health Fund (NFZ), you will continue to have access to healthcare in Poland after Brexit.the UK leaves the EU.
If you are registered for healthcare in any other way, your access to healthcare may change and you should review the status of your healthcare cover.
The UK has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with Poland for S1 form holders until the end of December 2020. If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, and there is no arrangement with Poland to continue reciprocal healthcare, those receiving coverage through the S1 form will not be covered.
You mustshould take action now to confirm your residency status and decide howwhat steps you need to take to ensure access to healthcare. UK nationals will be able to return to UK for treatment.
Your EHIC may not be valid in the event ifthe there’sUK noleaves the EU without a deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme should the UK leave the EU without a deal, however this is reliant on Poland continuing to accept UK EHICs.
You should read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Poland and how it may change after UK leaves the EU.
ReadYou should read our guidance on working in another EU country.
You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.
ReadIf our guidance if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU, you can read our further guidance.
ReadYou can also read the Polish government’s guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.
If there’sthe UK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.
In there’sthe noevent the UK leaves the EU without a deal, if you were a resident in Poland before Brexit,the day the UK leaves the EU, you will not need a work permit. UK nationals who want to move to Poland after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU will need to obtain a work permit. More information can be found on the Office for Foreigners website.
GetYou should get your UK professional qualifications recognised in Poland before Brexit.UK’s departure from the EU.
ReadYou can read the European Commission’s guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.
ReadYou should also read the Polish government’s information about access to education in Poland for children of UK nationals (in Polish).
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Poland to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
You should read the guidance on:
We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Poland.
Find English-speaking lawyers in Poland.
You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad toso that you protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If
The and you have a UK-issued A1/E101leaving form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.
If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.
Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit
Brexit will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Poland. You should direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in the EU. Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire in Poland, you can claim:
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don´t.
The UK government will continueuprate toyour payUK a State Pension tofor thosethe eligiblefiscal inyear the2019/2020 EUin afterany Brexit.scenario.
If Yourthe UK Stateleaves Pension will be uprated in April 2020, 2021 and 2022 if you live in the EU, EEAwith or Switzerland.
If there’s a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Poland, you will still be able to count your UK social security contributions towards your Polish pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.
If there’sthe noUK leaves without a deal, periods of working in the UK while it was a member of the EU will count towards your Polish pension. However, the Polish government has advised that any periods of working in the UK after Brexit won’t be taken into account. For more information, you should read the European Commission’s information table on social security coordination in the event of a no deal.
Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Poland. You can:
If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit can’t be paid.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
You may be eligible to claim some Polish social security benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Polish benefits and how to claim, read the EU’s guidance on claiming benefits in Poland.
The UK government will continue to pay the UK State Pension, child benefits, and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after Brexit.the UK leaves the EU.
If there’sthe UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Poland, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Polish contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.
If there’sthe noUK leaves the EU without a deal, the Polish government has proposed that they will continue to take periods of work in the UK before Brexitthe day the UK leaves the EU into account when claiming Polish contributions-based benefits. For more information, you can:
You should also read the Polish government’s information on unemployment benefits and access to national employment agency services in a no deal scenario (in Polish).
UK licences are only valid in Poland for the first 6 months of residence. After 6 months, you must exchange your driving licence for a Polish licence. If you are a resident in Poland, you should exchange your UK licence for a Polish licence, as your UK licence may not be valid afteronce Brexit.the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your Polish licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.
For information on driving in Poland, read the information on:
When driving, you should always have your:
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
You should read the European Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Poland. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.
If there is no deal the Polish government has passed legislation that will continue to recognise UK drivingleaves licencesthe for up to 6 months. UKEU driving licenses will continue to be valid for exchange for a Polish licence without taking a test.
The Polish government has advised that UK-issued issued paper driving licences will not be recognised and cannot be exchanged after Brexit.the UK leaves the EU. If you are resident in Poland and hold a UK issued paper driving licence, you should exchange it for a Polish licence before Brexit.the UK leaves the EU.
If there’sthe UK leaves the EU with a deal, your rights will not change until the end of implementation period.
ReadPlease read our guidance on driving in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
If you’re resident in Poland, you can vote in local municipal and European parliamentary elections.
You should register on the electoral roll in the municipality where you are permanently residing no later than 5 days before the election. You can read the Polish Electoral Calendar for the European Parliament elections which outlines important dates in the process in much more detail.
You can also read the Poland National Electoral Commission’s list of specific requirements (in Polish).
AfterOnce Brexit,the UK leaves the EU, you may not be able to vote in local elections in Poland. The UK is pursuing a bilateral agreement with Poland to secure the right to vote in local elections for UK nationals living in Poland.
After Brexit,the UK leaves the EU, you will no longer be able to vote in European elections.
If your child is born in Poland, you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in Poland you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Poland.
You may also need English-speaking lawyers in Poland.
Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.
After Brexit,the UK leaves the EU you may have to get a permit from the Minister responsible for home affairs to buy the property.
AfterWhen Brexit,the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will change. ReadYou can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after Brexitthe UK leaves the EU.
While the UK is still a Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.
If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport.
Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.
For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.
As well as the European emergency number 112, Poland also has:
See Poland – emergency numbers.
If you need urgent help, contact the British Embassy Warsaw.
Tell the Polish and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
You should read our guidance on:
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
If you get healthcare in Poland through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Polish authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
2025-12-11 13:31
Added new information for dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section).
2025-12-09 13:58
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-10-11 10:48
Added information on getting a certificate of clear criminal record.
2024-06-14 15:04
Added information regarding the EES in Visas and Residency part
2023-01-11 13:14
Added new guidance to the visas and voting sections.Polish government guidance added for crossing the border if you are a UK national.
2022-08-19 10:23
Guidance has been reviewed and updated.
2022-03-11 11:40
Important information in the Working in Poland, and National insurance sections if you work in Poland, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-01 07:00
Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
2021-09-17 11:55
Support from the UK Nationals Support Fund will end on 30 September 2021. You should contact the UK Nationals Support Fund implementing partner before this date if you require additional support. If you are already being assisted by our implementing partner, they will continue to assist you until you have made your application.
2021-09-14 14:40
If you require additional support with your residency application, you should contact the UK Nationals Support Fund implementing partner before 30 September 2021. If you are already being assisted by our implementing partner, they will continue to assist you until you have made your application.
2021-05-27 07:44
Updated guidance on how to exchange your UK driving licence for a Polish one.
2020-11-06 10:38
Visas and Residency section updated with information on the new residency system and a link to new Polish government guidance.
2020-09-07 14:20
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-07-08 07:53
Visas and residency section updated to include information about how to access the UK Nationals Support Fund for those who may find it harder to complete their residency applications.
2020-03-10 15:45
A new link to the Polish Office for Foreigners' FAQs on residency rights and an updated link to Polish government guidance on healthcare.
2020-01-24 09:10
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-09-23 16:45
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-20 14:24
Brexit update: List of outreach events for UK nationals in Poland updated.
2019-08-01 09:32
Brexit: We have added new information on residency, recognition of professional qualification, pensions and benefits.
2019-06-03 11:09
EU Exit update: We have added new information in the “Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU section”
2019-04-15 12:51
EU Exit update: New information added in passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU, pensions after the UK leaves the EU and returning to the UK.