Living in Poland

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens about moving to or living in Poland. Read about how our embassy in Warsaw can help.

This information is provided as a guide only. You should obtainget definitive information from the Polish authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date:

• sign up for email alerts
• follow the British Embassy Warsaw on Facebook and Twitter.

If you were living in Poland before 1 January 2021

Some parts of this guide only apply if you werehave been living in Poland since before 1 January 2021. TheseYou areshould indicatedread withthese sub-headings.in addition to the rest of the guidance in each section.

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

Coronavirus

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

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

Visas and residency

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

Check the entry requirements for Poland and read the Polish government’s guidance on moving to Poland, including how to get a visa.

Visas and residency if you were legallyliving residentin Poland before 1 January 2021

If you have lived in Poland since before 1 January 2021, you shouldand obtainyour afamily newmembers residencehave documentrights fromunder yourthe localWithdrawal VoivodeshipAgreement.

From Office.1 ThisJanuary document2022 willyou evidenceneed to re-register your rightsresidency underif you want to:

• exchange your residence permit for the WithdrawalDokument Agreement.pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia residence card, or
• apply for a Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia residence card

You shouldwill checkneed theto locationsprove ofthat localyou Voivodeshiphave Officesbeen living in Poland. since before 1 January 2021.

Read the informationPolish andgovernment: infographicguidance abouton theapplying process for obtaininga theDokument newpobytowy residencydla documentsbeneficjenta onumowy wystapienia residence card.

Get your Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia from your local voivodeship office. Read the Polish Government’sgovernment’s guidance on how to apply for UKthe nationalsDokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia.

YouIf shouldyou alsoneed readfurther information on how to secure your residency, you may find the PolishInternational Government’sOrganization residencyfor Migration’s guidance foron UKresidency nationalsin Poland anduseful.

If theiryou frequentlyhave askeda questions.health condition or mobility difficulties you can ask someone else to apply on your behalf. Contact your voivodeship office to find out how they can help you.

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

Your support

rights under the Withdrawal Agreement will not be affected if you did not apply by the 31 December 2021 deadline. However, we strongly recommend that you obtain your Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia as soon as possible. This card shows your right to enter Poland, and exempts you from the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and visa requirements.

If you needdo additionalnot supporthave a Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia to completeprove your residencyrights, application,you readmay theexperience guidancedelays onin, theor UKbe Nationalsrefused, Supportgovernment Fundservices. Travel within the Schengen area. will also be more difficult.

Appeal process

SupportIf fromyour request for the UKDokument Nationalspobytowy Supportdla Fundbeneficjenta willumowy endwystapienia residence card is refused, you have 14 days to appeal from when you receive your notice. Read the Polish government guidance on 30the Septemberappeal 2021.process You(in shouldPolish). contactIf your appeal is rejected, you can appeal to the UKAdministrative NationalsCourt. SupportThere Fundis implementingno partnerlegal beforeaid thisin datePoland ifso you requirewill additionalhave support.to pay for your legal costs.

If you have a child in Poland, or are alreadymarried beingto assisteda byPolish ournational, implementingyou partner,may theybe willeligible continuefor residence for these reasons. Read pages 17 to assist19 youof untilthe youPolish havegovernment’s madeinformation youron application.residence permits for foreigners (in Polish).

MovingFamily to Polandmembers

CheckYour theclose entryfamily requirementsmembers forcontinue Polandto be able to join you and readsettle in Poland at any point in the Polishfuture. government’sRead guidancemore information on movingwho this applies to Polandin the Living in Europe guidance,.

They includingmust howtravel to getPoland and then apply as your family member. Nationals of certain non-EU countries may need a visa.visa before travel. The Polish authorities should issue family reunion visas free of charge.

Passports and travel

Coronavirus travel restrictions may affect travel to and from Poland.

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

Check thethe:

• Poland travel advice for Poland for passport validity requirements.
  requirements
• Polish government guidance on visa and passport requirements

Always carry your passport when travelling within the Schengen area. If you have citizenship of an EU /or European Free Trade AreaAssociation (EFTA) country, in addition to your British citizenship, you should enter and leave Poland using your EU /or EFTA passport.

If you stay in Poland with a Polish residence permit or long stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

Read the Polish government guidance for UK nationals coming to Poland from 1 January 2021

If you visit other Schengen area countries outside Poland, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

Different rules apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area.

Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

If you were living in Poland before 1 January 2021

When you travel, especiallycarry withinyour theDokument Schengenpobytowy area,dla youbeneficjenta shouldumowy carrywystapienia with you your residence documentcard or frontier worker permit issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence document, or other evidence of residence status, if you are asked to show your passport at border control. Other evidence may be your tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020. If you have applied for, but not yet received, your residence document, carryshow your certificate of registration.

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).

If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Poland, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the SchengenEU. area,Your and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Poland.the country or countries where you live or work. If a passport is stamped, the stamp is considered null and void when you can show evidence of lawful residence.

If you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement, you can enter and exit Poland with a valid passport. You do not need any extraadditional monthsvalidity on yourthe passport tobeyond enterthe ordates exiton EUwhich countries.you are travelling.

Healthcare

Read our guidance on healthcare in Poland and make sure you are correctly registered for your circumstances.

ReadTravel theinsurance Polishis governmentnot guidanceintended onto maintainingcover your healthcare rightscosts inif Polandyou (inlive Polish).overseas.

IfRead you’re leaving the UKPolish withgovernment medicineguidance thaton containsmaintaining ayour controlledhealthcare drug,rights checkin with the embassyPoland about(in the rules for the country you’re going to before you travel and the NaTHNaC guidance on travelling with medicines.Polish).

You should also read our guidance on:

• finding an English-speaking doctor in Poland
• healthcare when travelling inwith Europemedicines
• advice on foreign travel insurance
• bringing medicine containing a controlled drug into the UK

Working in Poland

If you are planning to move to Poland and work, you may need a visa. Read the Polish government’s guidance on working in Poland as a foreign national and how to get a visa.

To apply for a job you need to provide a UK police certificate.

Read the guidance on:

• working or providing services in Poland
• working in an EU country
• EU guidance on working in an EU country

If you were living in Poland before 1 January 2021

You have the right to work under the Withdrawal Agreement.Agreement if you have a Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia residence card, or have applied for one.

If you live in Poland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA Polandcountry before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Professional qualifications

You may need to get your professional qualification recognised if you want to work in a profession that is regulated in Poland.

Read guidance on:

• recognition of professional qualifications
• how to get your qualification recognised in Poland

If you were living in Poland before 1 January 2021

If the relevant regulator in Poland officially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision. SeekYou should get advice from the regulatorrelevant if needed.regulator.

Studying in Poland

If you plan to study in Poland, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel.

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

Read guidance on:

• continuing your studies in the EU
• studying in the European Union
• healthcare for students in Poland

If you were living in Poland before 1 January 2021

The studying in the European Union guidance includes specific information forif thoseyou who were already living in Poland before 1 January 2021.

Money, tax and bankingTax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Poland toso ensurethat you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Poland. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Poland. Read guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad

• tax on your UK income if you live abroad

• paying income tax inif Poland

• EUyou guidanceget ona taxpension and customs,live including online shopping from the UKabroad

• EUpaying guidanceincome ontax customsin including preferential originPoland

• EU guidancefactsheet on excisebuying dutiesgoods online from UK websites

National Insurance

and social security contributions

National Insurance-type contributions (NIC) are called ‘social security contributions’ (SSC) in Poland. Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Poland.

UK banking

WhetherYou UKcan banksrequest canproof providefrom servicesHMRC toof customersthe livingtime you’ve worked in the EEAUK dependsand onyour localUK lawsNational andInsurance regulation. record.

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PensionsBenefits

UK benefits

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

IfCheck youwhich areUK movingbenefits oryou retiringcan claim while abroad, and how to claim them.

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Polish benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Polish social security benefits. To find out if you mustare tellentitled to Polish benefits and how to claim, read the UKEU’s governmentguidance officeson thatclaiming dealbenefits within yourPoland.

Pensions

Read benefits,guidance pensionon entitlement to UK benefits and tax.pensions while you are living in Poland.

Read our State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.

If you retire in Poland, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre tofor claimfurther information
• pensions 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

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes 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 must respond as soon as possiblepossible. -Your your payments may be suspended if you do not.

BenefitsMoney and banking

ReadWhether our guidance on entitlement to UK benefitsbanks andcan pensionsprovide whileservices youto arecustomers living in Poland.

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Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.on:

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Drivingresident in Poland

UKPoland, your driving licenceslicence areis 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). You do not need to take a driving test to exchange your licence. You cannot use an International Driving Permit (IDP) instead of exchanging your licence.

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)Poland)
• proof of address in Poland

Disabled drivers

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  Bringing licence

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to Poland

Driving

Read inour guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK. Read the Polish government’s guidelines on car registration.

Driving outside Poland with a Polish licence

You can use your Polish licence inwhen visiting the UK. forKeep shortup-to-date visits,with orthe UK Highway Code.

If you go to live in the UK, you can exchange ityour Polish licence for a UK licenceone without taking a test.

Bringing

To adrive UK-registeredin vehicleanother country, in addition to Poland

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  EU

Voting

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

The UK is working with the Polish government to exploreenable 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

Births, deaths, marriagesmarriage and civil partnerships

If your child is born in Poland, you willcan register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth abroadwith the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

If someone dies in Poland read our guidance on:

• what to do after someone dies abroad

• read our guidance for UK nationals on bereavement in Poland

• find a list of finding 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

• consult English-speaking lawyers in Poland

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. Ensure that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up-to date before you travel. Vets in Great Britain cannot enter rabies vaccination details in non-UK issued pet passports.

A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. YouSpeak should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’reyou compliantcomply with the EU Petpet Traveltravel Regulationsregulations.

Read guidance on:

• bringing your pet to GB
• travelling withto yourNorthern petIreland inwith theyour EUpet
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet
• travelling with your pet in the EU

CheckBefore you travel, check the rules offor the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.requirements.

Emergencies

YouDial can dial the European emergency number 112 in Poland for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or dial:

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

Dial the EU 116 000 hotline to report a missing child in the EU country where you live or in another EU country.

If you need guidance on child abduction, read the guidance on international parental child abduction; the EU guidance on child abduction and EU guidance on child abduction to another EU country.

If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisiscrisis, 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, bringing family members, tax and access to services.

If you return to the UK permanently and meet the ordinarily resident test, you’ll be able to access NHS care without charge.

Useful information

Support for British Nationalsnationals abroad: a Guideguide sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the Foreign,FCDO Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can support you if you get into difficulty.