Living in Poland

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• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• follow sign theup Britishfor Embassyemail Warsawupdates onfrom Facebookthe andBritish TwitterEmbassy. in Warsaw

IfThe youWithdrawal were living in Poland before 1 January 2021Agreement

SomeIf parts of this guide only apply if you were livinglegally resident in Poland since before 1 January 2021.2021, Theseyour arerights indicatedwill withbe sub-headings.

Youprotected shouldby also read our Living in Europe page for detailed guidance about citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.Agreement.

Coronavirus

You should followcheck thethat adviceyou ofare thecorrectly Polishregistered Government and yourshould localget authority.a Younew canresidence alsodocument readto ourevidence Polandyour travel advice for our latest guidance.rights.

ForYou informationshould onalso gettingread aour COVID-19guidance vaccineon asliving a UK national in Poland see our coronavirus travel adviceEurope.

Visas and residency

If you were legally resident in Poland before 1 January 2021, you should obtain a new residence document from your local Voivodeship Office. This document will evidence your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

You should check the locations of local Voivodeship Offices in Poland.

Read the information and infographic about the process for obtaining the new residency documents on the Polish government’s guidance for UK nationals.

You 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 need additional support to complete your residency application, read the guidance on the UK Nationals Support Fund.

Support

Moving fromto Poland

Check the UKentry Nationalsrequirements Supportfor FundPoland willand endread the Polish government’s guidance on 30moving Septemberto 2021.Poland, including how to get a visa.

Passports and travel

You should contactcarry theyour UKresidence Nationalsdocument, Supportas Fundwell implementingas partneryour beforevalid thispassport datewhen ifyou travel. If you requirehave additionalapplied support.but not yet received your document, carry your certificate of application.

If you arehave alreadynot beingyet assistedapplied byfor oura implementingresidence partner,document, theyyou willshould continuecarry toevidence assistthat you untilare youresident havein madePoland. This could include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your application.name, dating from 2020.

Moving

Read the Polish Border Guards guidance on what documents you should carry when travelling back to Poland

to prove you are a resident (in Polish).

CheckIf you cannot show that you are resident in Poland, you may be asked additional questions at the entryborder requirementsto forenter Polandthe Schengen area, and readyour thepassport Polishmay government’sbe guidancestamped on movingentry toand Poland,exit. includingThis howwill tonot getaffect ayour visa.rights in Poland.

Passports

Check andyour passport is valid for travel

before you book your trip. You can apply for or renew your British passport infrom Poland.Poland.

CheckYou themust travelhave adviceat forleast Poland6 formonths left on an adult or child passport validityto requirements.travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

AlwaysIf carryyou renewed your current passport whenbefore travellingthe withinprevious theone Schengenexpired, area.extra Ifmonths youmay have citizenshipbeen ofadded anto EUits /expiry Europeandate. FreeAny Tradeextra Areamonths (EFTA)on country,your inpassport additionover to10 youryears Britishmay citizenship,not youcount shouldtowards enterthe and6 leavemonths Polandneeded.

Renew usingyour passport before booking your EUtravel /if EFTAyou do not have enough time left on your passport.

IfAs youa staynon-EEA innational, Polanddifferent withborder achecks residencewill permitapply orwhen longtravelling stayto visa,other thisEU doesor notSchengen countarea towardscountries. yourYou 90-daymay visa-freehave limitto foruse theseparate Schengenlanes area.

Readfrom theEU, PolishEEA governmentand guidanceSwiss forcitizens UKwhen nationalsqueueing. comingYou may also need to Polandshow froma 1return Januaryor 2021onward ticket.

Entry requirements

IfYou youwill visitbe able to travel to other Schengen area countries outsidefor Poland,up maketo sure90 youdays doin notany exceed180-day theperiod visa-freewithout a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period.period, Youto arework responsibleor forstudy, countingor howfor longbusiness travel, you staymust undermeet the Schengenentry visarequirements waiver,set andout by the country you mustare complytravelling withto. itsThis conditions.could mean applying for a visa or work permit.

Periods of time authorised by a visa or permit will not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

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.

If

Travel youto werethe livingUK inand PolandIreland beforehas 1not Januarychanged.

Driving 2021

in Poland

WhenUK youdriving travel,licences especiallyare withinvalid in Poland for the Schengenfirst area,6 youmonths shouldof carryresidence withonly. After 6 months, you must exchange your residenceUK documentlicence orfor frontiera workerPolish permitone. issuedYou underdo thenot Withdrawalneed Agreement,to inretake additiona todriving youror validtheory passport.test.

YouRead mustthe proactivelyPolish showgovernment’s yourguidance residenceon document,exchanging ora othernon-EU evidencedriving oflicence residencefor status,a ifPolish youlicence are(in askedPolish).

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

• a sworn translation of your passportUK atdriving borderlicence control.(see Otherour evidencelist mayof betranslators yourin tenancyPoland)
• proof agreementof oraddress ain utilityPoland

For billinformation on driving in yourPoland, name,read datingthe frominformation 2020.on:

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

When driving, you should always have appliedyour:

• driving for,licence
• ID
• car butregistration notpapers
• insurance yetpapers

Driving received,in yourthe residenceUK document,with carrya Polish licence

You can use your certificatePolish oflicence registration.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 PolishUK.

You Bordershould Guardsread the European Union’s guidance on whatcar documentsregistration youand shouldtaxes carryin whenPoland. travellingYou backmay tobe Polandexempt tofrom provesome of these taxes. If so, you arewill aneed residentcertificates (inof Polish).exemption.

Healthcare

IfYou youmust cannotbe proveregistered thatfor youhealthcare areas a resident in Poland, youand mayif benecessary, askedwith additionalhealthcare questionsinsurance.

You atshould:

• read the borderPolish toMinistry enterof Health guidance about the Schengentransition area,period and your passporthealthcare mayrights bein stampedPoland (in Polish)
• read our guidance on entryhealthcare in Poland and exit.make Thissure willyou notare affectcorrectly registered for your rightscircumstances

State inhealthcare: Poland.

S1

IfYou youmay havebe rightsentitled underto state healthcare paid for by the WithdrawalUK Agreement,if you dolive notin needPoland anyand extrayou:

• are monthsreceiving ona yourUK passportState Pension
• are receiving some other ‘exportable benefits’
• are a frontier worker who lives in Poland and commutes to enterwork orin exitthe EUUK
• have countries.
  been sent to Poland temporarily by your UK employer

Healthcare

Read our guidance on healthcareusing an S1 form in Poland andto makeensure sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.healthcare.

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

ReadIf theyou Polishare governmentresident guidancein onPoland, maintainingyou must not use your healthcareUK-issued rightsEHIC or GHIC for healthcare in PolandPoland, (inunless Polish).you are a student or a detached (posted) worker. Current EHICs will remain valid until the expiry date on the card.

If you’reyou leavingare theliving in Poland you may be eligible for a new UK-issued withEHIC medicineor thatGHIC containsif you’re:

• a controlledUK drug,student checkin Poland
• a UK State Pensioner with thea embassyregistered aboutS1
• a thefrontier rulesworker forwith thea countryregistered you’reS1

The goingcard toyou beforereceive will depend on when you travelmoved andto thePoland.

Apply NaTHNaCnow guidancefor ona travellingnew withUK medicinesEHIC or GHIC.

YouAn shouldEHIC alsoor readGHIC is ournot guidancea on:replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

• finding

  For anmore English-speakinginformation doctorread inour Poland

• guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe
• and advice on foreign travel insurance
.

You should also read guidance on:

• bringingfinding medicinean containingEnglish-speaking adoctor controlledin drugPoland
• checking intoyour theprescriptions UKare legal

Working in Poland

If you arewere planninglegally toresident movein to Poland andbefore work,1 January 2021, you mayhave needthe aright visa.to work, as long as you remain legally resident.

Read the PolishDepartment government’sfor International Trade’s guidance on working inor Polandproviding asservices ain foreign nationalPoland and how tosign getup afor visa.their updates.

ToRead applythe forPolish agovernment’s jobguidance youon working in Poland, which includes information on self-employed workers, frontier workers and posted workers.

You may need to provideapply for a UK police certificate.

ReadIf theyou guidanceare on:

• workingplanning orto providingcome servicesto in Poland
• EU guidanceto onwork, working in an EU country

If you weremay livingneed ina Polandwork beforepermit. 1Read January 2021

You have the rightPolish togovernment’s workguidance underon themoving Withdrawalto Agreement.Poland.

Frontier workers

If you live in Poland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA Polandcountry, before 1 January 2021,2021 readyou ourmay guidanceneed fora permit to prove that you are a frontier workers.

Professionalworker. qualifications

YouWe maywill needupdate tothis getguidance yourwhen professionalmore qualificationinformation recognisedis ifavailable.

If you wantcommute to work in aPoland professionwhile thatliving isin regulatedanother inEU Poland.

Readcountry guidanceor on:

• recognitionthe ofUK, professionalyou qualifications
• howmust toapply getfor youra qualificationFrontier recognisedWorkers inpermit Poland

Iffrom you1 wereJanuary living2021. inYou Polandwill beforehave 1time Januaryto 2021

do that until 31 December 2021.

IfRead the relevantinformation regulatorfor infrontier Polandworkers officiallyon recognisedthe yourPolish professionalgovernment’s qualificationguidance beforefor 1UK Januarynationals.

Education 2021,and orprofessional youqualifications

You startedwill be eligible for broadly the recognitionsame processsupport byas thisPolish date,nationals, makeas surelong as you understandwere thelegally termsresident ofin yourPoland recognitionbefore decision.1 SeekJanuary advice2021. fromYou themust regulatorapply iffor needed.a residence permit in Poland.

Studying

Moving into Poland

to study 

If you planare planning to study inin Poland, make Poland,sure you must meet all visa requirementsrequirements before before you travel.

Contact the relevant higher education provider inin Poland Polandto check to check what fees you may have to pay.pay.  

ReadFor guidancemore on:information read studying in the European Union. 

• continuing

  Professional qualifications

  You may need to get your studiesprofessional inqualification therecognised EU

• studyingif you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Poland. When doing this, you will be subject to the Europeanthird Union
• healthcarecountry regulations.

  Read the Department for studentsInternational inTrade’s Poland

Ifguidance youon werehow livingto get your qualification recognised in Poland beforeand 1sign Januaryup 2021

for their updates.

TheGet studyingyour UK professional qualifications recognised in Poland.

Read the EuropeanPolish Uniongovernment website about professional qualifications (in Polish) and the guidance about professional qualifications includesissued specificby informationthe forMinistry thoseof whoScience wereand alreadyHigher livingEducation.

If your qualification was officially recognised by the relevant regulator in Poland before 1 January 2021.2021, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision by checking with that regulator.

Money,Money tax and bankingtax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Poland to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. AskYou theshould relevantdirect taxindividual authoritytaxpayer your questions about double taxation relief.to the relevant tax authority.

YouExisting shoulddouble gettaxation professionalarrangements advicefor onUK payingnationals taxliving in Poland.Poland Findhave annot English-speakingchanged.

You lawyershould inread Poland. Readthe 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

EUWe guidancerecommend onyou taxget andprofessional customs,advice including online shopping from the UK

• EU guidance on customspaying includingtax preferentialin originPoland.

• EUFind guidanceEnglish-speaking onlawyers excisein dutiesPoland.

National Insurance

Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Poland.

UK bankingBanking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA dependsis ona matter of local lawslaw and regulation. 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’sService MoneyHelper 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.

IfYou youwill areneed movingto or retiring abroad, you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax.

Readtax our State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claimingmoving or waitingretiring to claim your UK State Pension.abroad.

If you retire in Poland, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• pensionsplease if you’ve worked in other EU countries
• 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

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes after 31 December 2020 for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service , you mustneed to respond as soon as possiblepossible. -Your your payments may be suspended if you do not.don´t.

Benefits

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

IfYou youwill areneed movingto or retiring abroad, you must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax.tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them. Many

If income-relatedyou’re benefitsabroad suchfor asmore Pensionthan Credit4 andweeks, Housingmany Benefitincome-related cannotbenefits besuch paidas ifpension you’recredit abroadand forhousing morebenefit thancan’t 4be weeks. paid.

You can request proof from HMRC of the time you’ve worked in the UK andfrom ofHMRC yourif UKyou Nationalare Insuranceasked record.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.

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).

Driving in Poland

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

Read the 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:

• 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.

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,deaths marriages and civilgetting partnershipsmarried

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

If someone dies in Poland readyou our guidance on:can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad

• read our guidance for UK nationals on bereavementbereavements in Poland

• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Poland

Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You may also need to:

• Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Poland.

• ConsultYou 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

If you have a pet passport issued by Poland or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.

A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.

Read guidance on:

• bringing your pet to GB
• travelling with your pet in the EU
• 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

YouAs canwell dialas the European emergency number 112112, in Poland foralso the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or dial:has:

• 997 for– police
• 998 for– fire brigade
• 999 for– ambulance
• 116

See 000Poland hotline– toemergency report a missing childnumbers .

If you’reyou theneed victimurgent ofhelp, a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British embassyEmbassy Warsaw.

Returning to the UK

Check the COVID-19 travel guidance for entering 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, bringingtax, familyaccess members,to taxservices and bringing accessfamily to services.members.

Disclaimer

IfPlease younote returnthat tothis the UK permanently and meet the ordinarily resident test, you’ll be able to access NHS care without charge.

Useful information

Support foris Britishprovided Nationalsas abroad: a Guide setsguide outonly. howDefinitive toinformation stayshould safebe abroad,obtained andfrom explainsthe howPolish theauthorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)will cannot supportbe youliable iffor youany getinaccuracies intoin difficulty.this information.