Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Polish Government and your local authority. You can also read our Poland travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Poland see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• sign up for email updates from the British Embassy in Warsaw

The Withdrawal Agreement

IfThe Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you werecan legallycontinue residentto live, work and study in Polandthe EU broadly as you did before 131 January 2021,2020.

If you are resident in Poland at the end of the transition period, you will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for as long as you remain resident in Poland.

Any rights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. will be the subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information.

YouIn shouldthe checkmeantime, thatmake sure you are correctly registered andas shoulda getresident ain newPoland. residenceWe documentwill toupdate evidencethis yourguidance rights.as soon as more information becomes available.

You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.

Visas and residency

IfCheck youthe wereentry legallyrequirements residentfor in Poland.

Residency

If beforeyou’re 1staying Januaryin 2021,Poland youfor shouldmore obtainthan a3 newmonths, residenceyou documentmust fromregister your localstay Voivodeshipwith Office.the ThisDepartment documentof willForeigners evidenceat your rightslocal underVoivodeship the Withdrawal Agreement.office.

YouIf shouldyou’ve checkbeen theliving locations of local Voivodeship Offices in Poland.

Read thefor informationmore andthan infographic5 aboutyears theconsecutively, processyou should apply for obtaininga thedocument newconfirming permanent residency.

You documentsshould oncheck the Polishlocations government’sof guidancelocal forVoivodeship UKOffices nationalsin Poland.

YouRead should also read the Polish Government’s residency guidance for UK nationals and their frequently asked questions.

If the authorities think you may be a Polish national, for example if you have Polish parents, grandparents or great grandparents, they might research your family history. Your application may take longer than usual to process.

Additional support

If you needare additionalresident supportin Poland before 31 December 2020, you will be able to completestay. yourTo residencyconfirm application,your readrights under the guidanceWithdrawal onAgreement, theyou UKshould Nationalsobtain Supporta Fund.

Movingnew residence document. You will be able to Poland

request the new document from 2021.

CheckRead the entryinformation requirementsabout the process for Polandobtaining andthe readnew residency documents on the Polish government’s guidance onfor movingUK to Polandnationals,. includingWe howwill toupdate getthis aguidance visa.

Passportswhen andfurther travel

information becomes available.

YouIf shouldyou carryarrive yourin residencePoland document,after as31 wellDecember as2020 yourand valid passport when you travel.do Ifnot you have appliedany butresidency notrights yetunder receivedthe yourWithdrawal document,Agreement, carrydifferent yourimmigration certificaterules ofwill application.apply.

UK Nationals Support Fund

IfThe yougovernment has announced funding for organisations to provide practical support to UK nationals who may have notdifficulty yetcompleting appliedtheir forresidency aapplication residenceor document,registration. 

This yousupport shouldis carryavailable evidenceonly thatto youthose arewho residentneed inadditional Poland.help. This couldmay include apensioners, tenancydisabled agreementpeople, orpeople aliving utilityin billremote inareas youror name,who datinghave frommobility 2020.difficulties.

ReadThe theservices Polishavailable Borderfor Guardspeople guidancewho onneed whatthis additional support include:

• answering questions about residency applications, such as the documents yourequired shouldand carryapplication whenprocedure
• guiding travellingindividuals backthrough tothe Polandprocess, toif provenecessary
• supporting youpeople arefacing alanguage residentbarriers (inor Polish).
  difficulty accessing technology

In Poland, this support is being provided by The International Organisation for Migration. If you cannotor showsomeone that you areknow residentmay inhave Poland,difficulty completing the paperwork, you can contact them using the details below to discuss how they may be askedable additionalto questionshelp atyou.

The theInternational borderOrganisation for Migration (IOM)

Infoline: 224902044, available Monday to enterFriday the9am Schengento area,5pm

Email: UKnationalsPL@iom.int

Passports and yourtravel

The passportrules mayon betravel stampedwill stay the same until the transition period ends on entry31 andDecember exit.2020. ThisDuring willthis nottime affectyou yourcan rightscontinue to travel to countries in Poland.the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.

Passports

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Poland.

Passports from Poland.1 January 2021

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

YouFrom 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Poland, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

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 will need to Renewrenew your passport before bookingtravelling your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. YouYour passport may alsobe needstamped tofor showvisits ato returnthese or onward ticket.countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom 1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longeris thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To anystay 180-dayfor period,longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of timestay authorised byunder a visa or permit will not count towardsagainst yourthe 90-day visa-free limit. Travel to the UK and Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area.Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Driving in Poland

TravelDriving tolicence therules UKwill andstay Irelandthe hassame notuntil changed.

Driving31 inDecember Poland

2020.

UK driving licences are only valid in Poland for the first 6 months of residenceresidence. only. After 6 months, you must exchange your UKdriving licence for a Polish one.licence. You do not need to retake a driving or theory test.

Readtest theto Polish government’s guidance on exchanging a non-EU driving licence for a Polish licence (in Polish).

To exchange your UK licence, the Polish authorities may ask you to provide:licence.

• a sworn translation of your UK driving licence (see our list of translators in Poland)
• proof of address in Poland

For information on driving in Poland, read the information on:

• driving licence renewal and exchange
• road travel in Poland
• what you need to drive abroad

When driving, you should always have your:

• driving licence
• ID
• car registration papers
• insurance papers

Driving in the UK with a Polish licence

You can use your Polish licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Poland

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.

Healthcare

If you are living in Poland or move there permanently before 31 December 2020, you’ll have life-long healthcare rights in Poland as you do now, provided you remain resident.

You must be registered for healthcare as a resident in Poland, and if necessary, with healthcare insurance.

YouRead should:

• read the Polish Ministry of Health guidance about the transition period and your healthcare rights in Poland (in Polish)
• readPolish).

  Read our guidance on who can access healthcare in Poland and makehow sureto you are correctly registered for your circumstances

register.

State healthcare: S1

YouIf may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if you live in Poland and you:

• arereceive receivingan aexportable UK Statepension, Pension
• arecontribution-based receivingEmployment someSupport otherAllowance ‘exportableor benefits’
• areanother aexportable frontierbenefit, workeryou whomay livescurrently inbe Polandentitled andto commutesstate tohealthcare workpaid infor by the UK
• have. beenYou sentwill need to Polandapply temporarilyfor bya yourcertificate UKof employer

entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

Read our guidance on usinghow to get an S1 form in Poland to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare..

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

If you are resident in Poland, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC orfrom GHICthe forUK to access healthcare in Poland,Poland.

When unless you aretravel afrom studentPoland orfor a detachedtemporary (posted)stay worker.in Currentanother EHICsEuropean willEconomic remainArea valid(EEA) untilcountry theor expirySwitzerland, date on the card.

If you arecan livinguse inan PolandEHIC youto mayaccess bestate-provided eligiblehealthcare forin athat newcountry. UK-issuedDuring EHICthat orshort GHIC if you’re:stay:

• athe UKEHIC studentcovers intreatment Poland
• athat UKis Statemedically Pensionernecessary withuntil ayour registeredplanned S1return home
• aan frontierEHIC workeris withnot a registeredreplacement S1

Thefor cardcomprehensive youtravel receiveinsurance

for willmore dependinformation on when you movedcan toread Poland.

Applyour nowtravel foradvice apages newand UKadvice EHICon orforeign GHICtravel insurance.

AnThere EHICwill orbe GHIC isno notchanges ato replacementyour forhealthcare comprehensiveaccess travelbefore insurance.

For31 moreDecember information2020. readYou ourcan guidancealso oncontinue healthcareto whenuse travellingyour inEHIC, Europeas andyou advicedid onbefore, foreignduring travelthis insurance.time.

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad
• finding an English-speaking doctor in Poland
• checking your prescriptions are legal

Working in Poland

If you were legally resident in Poland before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.

Read theour Department for International Trade’s guidance on working or providing services in Polandan andEU sign up for their updates.

Read the Polish government’s guidance on working in Polandcountry, which includes information on self-employed workers, frontier workers and posted workers..

You may need to apply for a UK police certificate.

If you are planningresident toin come to Poland to work, you may need a work permit. Read the Polish government’s guidance on movingor tobefore Poland.

Frontier31 workers

IfDecember you2020, liveyour inright Poland and were regularly commuting to work inwill anotherstay EUthe orsame, EFTAas country,long beforeas 1 January 2021 you mayremain needresident ain permit to prove that you are a frontier worker. We will update this guidance when more information is available.Poland.

Frontier Workers

If you commute to work in Poland while living in another EU country or the UK, you mustmay applyneed for a Frontier Workers permit from 1 January 2021. You will have time to do that until 31 December 2021.

Read the information for frontier workers on the Polish government’s guidance for UK nationals.

Education and professional qualifications

YouIf will be eligible for broadly the same support as Polish nationals, as long as you wereare legally resident in Poland beforeon 1or Januarybefore 2021.31 YouDecember must2020, applyyour forright a residence permit in Poland.

Moving to Polandstudy towill study 

Ifstay youthe aresame, planningas tolong studyas in Poland, make sure you meetremain allresident visain requirements before you travel.Poland.

ContactRead the relevantPolish highergovernment’s educationinformation providerabout in Polandaccess to checkto whateducation feesin youPoland mayfor havechildren toof pay.  

ForUK morenationals information(in read studying in the European UnionPolish). .

Professional qualifications

You may needGet to get your UK professional qualificationqualifications recognised ifin youPoland.

Recognition wantdecisions tomade workon inqualifications aobtained professionin thatthe isUK regulatedor in Poland. Whenthe doingEU this,before you31 willDecember be2020 subjectare tonot the third country regulations.affected.

ReadIf theyou Departmenthave fornot Internationalhad Trade’s guidance on how to get your qualificationprofessional recognisedqualifications inrecognised, Polandyou andwill signhave upuntil for31 theirDecember updates.

Get2020 yourto UKsubmit professionalan qualificationsapplication recognisedunder inthe Poland.current rules.

Read the Polish government website about professional qualifications (in Polish) and the guidance about professional qualifications issued by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

If your qualification was officially recognised by the relevant regulator in Poland before 1 January 2021, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision by checking with that regulator.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Poland to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. You should direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Poland have not changed.

You should read the guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Poland

We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Poland.

Find English-speaking lawyers in Poland.

National Insurance

FindYou outmay ifbe youable need to pay National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

If you are employed or self-employed in the UKEU or socialEEA securityand contributionsyou inhave Poland.

Banking

Whethera UK-issued banksA1/E101 canform, provideyou serviceswill remain subject to customersUK legislation until the end date on the form.

Banking

Most people living in theEurope EEAshould isnot asee matterany ofchange localto lawtheir andbanking regulation.after 31 December 2020. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Poland.

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:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension.
• please contact the International Pensions Centre to claim your Polish pension from the Polish Social Insurance Institution, if you have worked in Poland
• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

ReadIf theyou Moneyget anda ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, guidanceyou onneed pensionto andrespond retirementas changessoon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don´t.

Pensions after 31 December 2020

There forwill morebe informationno onchanges cross-borderbefore pensions.

Life31 certificatesDecember for2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pensions

Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you getare aliving ‘lifein certificate’the fromEU, theEEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension Service,uprated every year for as long as you needcontinue to respondlive there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as soonlong as possible.you Yourmeet paymentsthe mayqualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.

If you are living in Poland by 31 December 2020, you will be suspendedable to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If 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 don´t.claim your pension after 31 December 2020.

Benefits

ReadIf you are considering moving to Poland on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on entitlementbenefits and pensions in the EU.

You can continue to receive your UK benefitsState andPension pensionsif whileyou live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you arecan livingstill inclaim Poland.your UK State Pension.

Benefits

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

CheckYou whichmay still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Poland. You can:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim whileif you live abroad
• use andour howtool to check which benefits you can claim them.
  while you’re abroad

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.

Polish benefits

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.

Benefits after 31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If 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 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to Poland on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Voting

You cannot vote in local municipal elections in Poland or European Parliament elections.

The UK is working with the Polish government to explore whether any solution can be found for UK nationals to vote in future local elections. We will update this guidance when more information is available.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Poland, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Poland you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• read our guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Poland
• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Poland

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.

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

You may need to get a permit from the Minister responsible for home affairs to buy property. Read the Polish government’s guidance on purchasing property as a third country national (in Polish).

Pets

IfCurrent you have a pet passport issued by Poland or another EU member state, you can use it to travel withrules yourwill petstay tothe Greatsame Britainuntil and31 elsewhereDecember in the EU.2020.

AIf GB-issuedyou’re EUtravelling petwith passportyour ispet not valid for travel to the EUfirst ortime Northernyou Ireland.must Youvisit should speak to your vet before you travel to get thea necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.passport.

Read guidance on:

• bringingon your pet totravel GB
• travellingafter with1 yourJanuary pet in the EU2021
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel..

Emergencies

As well as the European emergency number 112, Poland also has:

• 997 – police
• 998 – fire brigade
• 999 – ambulance

See Poland – emergency numbers.

If you need urgent help, contact the British Embassy Warsaw.

Returning to the UK

Tell the Polish and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

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.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Polish authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.