Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-poland

Change description : 2025-12-09 13:58:00: Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeGuidance and regulation]

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Guidance

Living in Poland

Information aboutfor movingBritish to,citizens livingmoving to or retiringliving in PolandPoland, – including visas,guidance working,on healthcareresidency, passports and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
12 November 2013
Last updated
911 DecemberOctober 20252024 — See all updates

Getting

This helpguide withsets livingout inessential Poland

Helpinformation fromfor theBritish Polishcitizens government

For any questions about moving to or living in Poland,Poland. youRead mayabout behow ableour to get help from the:

Thedefinitive UKinformation governmentfrom and the BritishPolish Embassyauthorities. inThe WarsawForeign, cannotCommonwealth give& personalisedDevelopment adviceOffice on(FCDO) movingis to,not livingliable orfor retiringany inaccuracies in Poland.this information.

Professional help in Poland

YouSupport canfor alsoBritish getNationals helpAbroad: fromA English-speaking professionalsGuide insets Poland,out including:

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HelpBritish fromnationals thecan UKstay government

Readsafe theabroad traveland advicehow forthe PolandFCDO tocan understandhelp theif risks you maydo faceget ifinto youdifficulty.

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To thestay latestup informationto on:date:

Before you go

ReadSee our guidancetravel onadvice moving,for livingPoland orfor retiringup-to-date abroad.

Getinformation helpon fromentry therequirements, UKlocal governmentlaws abroad,and includingcustoms, insafety anand emergency.emergencies.

Visas,If residencyyou andwere citizenshipliving in Poland before 1 January 2021

MakeSome sureparts youof meetthis theguide entryonly requirementsapply forif you have been living in Poland since before you1 travel.

VisasJanuary and2021. residenceYou permits

Checkshould whichread visathese orin residenceaddition permitto youthe needrest toof livethe guidance in Poland. each section.

You canshould getalso aread visaour orLiving residencein permitEurope to:

Forcitizens’ morerights information,under readthe guidanceWithdrawal on:Agreement.

Youoffices canthat alsodeal readwith theyour Polishbenefits, government’spension frequentlyand askedtax questionsif onyou Polishare visasmoving (inor Polish)retiring abroad. .

Registering as a resident

OnceCheck youthe arrive,entry yourequirements needfor toPoland registerand yourread residencythe inPolish Poland.

Ifgovernment’s youguidance haveon anymoving problemsto orPoland, questionsincluding abouthow registeringto yourget residency,a contact:visa.

Extendingintroduce ora replacingnew yourdigital visaborder or– residencecalled permit

the Entry/Exit System (EES). 

ContactThis thewill Polishrequire Officethird forcountry Foreignersnationals, orincluding visitUK nationals, visiting the MOSEU portalto forcreate informationa ondigital howrecord to:

  • extendand yourprovide visatheir orbiometric residencedata permit
  • replace(fingerprints aand lost,facial damagedimage) orat stolenthe visaborder orwhen residencethey permit

Permanententer residency

the EU’s Schengen Zone. 

YouUK maynationals bewho ableare tobeneficiaries applyof forthe permanentWithdrawal residencyAgreement in(those Polandwho ifwere youlawfully haveresident livedin therethe legallyEU andbefore continuously1 forJanuary at2021) leastwill 5be years.

Toexempt findfrom outregistration ifin you’reEES, eligibleprovided andthey howhold tothe apply,correct readdocumentation. You should check the Polishnew government’sOffice for Foreigners’ guidance for Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries on permanentthe residencenew permitsdigital border rules.

Citizenship

PolandWe recognisesstrongly dualurge citizenshipall withUK thenationals, UK.lawfully Thisresident meansin thatthe youEU dobefore not1 haveJanuary 2021, to giveapply upfor (renounce)the yourDokument Britishpobytowy citizenshipdla tobeneficjenta becomeumowy awystapienia Polish[a citizen.

Toresidence findpermit outcontaining ifan you’reendorsement eligiblereferring forto Polishthe citizenship:

border.  

Help

UK withnationals visa,who residencyhold andother citizenshipresidence applications

Thepermits Britishissued Embassyto inthird Warsawcountry cannotnationals helpunder withthe Polishgeneral visa,system residencyfor orlegal citizenshipresidents applications.

Foralso anyare questionsexempt orfrom issues,EES. contact:

.

Residency

Visas and residency if you movedwere toliving in Poland before 1 January 2021

If you movedhave tolived in Poland since before 1 January 2021, and have been legally living there since then, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Residence

From cards1 ifJanuary 2022 you movedneed to Polandre-register beforeyour 1residency Januaryif 2021

you want to:

If

  • exchange youyour movedresidence topermit Polandfor beforethe 1Dokument Januarypobytowy 2021,dla makebeneficjenta sureumowy youwystapienia haveresidence card, or
  • apply for a ‘DokumentDokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’wystapienia residence card.card

You Thiswill showsneed to prove that you have rightsbeen underliving thein WithdrawalPoland Agreement.since before 1 January 2021.

UnderRead the newPolish digitalgovernment: Entry/Exitguidance Systemon (EES),applying you’llfor need a ‘DokumentDokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’wystapienia residence card.

Get whenyour enteringDokument orpobytowy leavingdla Poland.beneficjenta Ifumowy youwystapienia havefrom one,your local voivodeship office. Read the Polish government’s guidance on how to apply for the Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia.

If you willneed notfurther haveinformation on how to registersecure withyour residency, read the EESInternational whenOrganization entering,for leavingMigration’s orguidance travellingon withinresidency the Schengenin areaPoland.

If Withoutyou it,have a health condition or mobility difficulties you maycan beask wronglysomeone identifiedelse asto overstayingapply inon theyour Schengenbehalf. areaContact andyour deniedvoivodeship entryoffice to Polandfind orout otherhow Schengenthey countries.can help you.

If the authorities think you domay notbe a Polish national, for example if you have aPolish residenceparents, card

grandparents or great grandparents, they might research your family history. Your application may take longer than usual to process.

IfYour yourights wereunder livingthe inWithdrawal PolandAgreement beforewill 1not Januarybe 2021,affected butif doyou did not haveapply aby ‘Dokumentthe 31 December 2021 deadline. However, we strongly recommend that you obtain your Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’wystapienia residenceas card,soon youas mustpossible. registerThis forcard residency.shows You’llyour needright to submitenter evidencePoland, toand proveexempts that you metfrom the residencyEuropean criteriaTravel atInformation theand time.

ReadAuthorisation theSystem Polish(ETIAS) government’sand guidancevisa onrequirements.

If applyingyou fordo not have a ‘DokumentDokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’wystapienia residenceto card.prove Youyour willrights, needyou tomay completeexperience andelays applicationin, formor andbe providerefused, government services. Travel within the requiredSchengen documents.area will also be more difficult.

Appeal process

If your applicationrequest isfor successful,the you’llDokument get a biometric ‘Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’wystapienia residence card.

Ifcard your application is unsuccessful,refused, you mayhave be14 abledays to appeal.appeal from when you receive your notice. Read the Polish government’sgovernment guidance on the appeal process. ConsiderIf gettingyour legalappeal adviceis fromrejected, anyou English-speakingcan lawyerappeal to the Administrative Court. There is no legal aid in Poland.

For moreso informationyou onwill howhave to applypay orfor appeal,your read:legal costs.

RenewingRead yourpages residence17 cardto if19 youof movedthe toPolish Polandgovernment’s information beforeon 1residence Januarypermit 2021for foreigners.

Family members

You’llYour needclose family members continue to renewbe yourable residenceto cardjoin atyou leastand 30settle daysin beforePoland itat expires.

Contactany yourtime localin voivodeshipthe office forfuture. Read more information on howwho this applies to renewin orthe replaceLiving yourin residenceEurope card.guidance.

Bringing

They familymust memberstravel to Poland ifand youthen movedapply thereas beforeyour 1family Januarymember. 2021

TheNationals Polishof government’scertain informationnon-EU oncountries residencemay rightsneed ofa UKvisa withdrawalbefore agreementtravel. beneficiariesThe andPolish theirauthorities familiesshould explains:issue family reunion visas free of charge.

  • which

    Certificate familyof membersclear criminal record

    You can joinget youa incertificate Poland

  • howof andclear whencriminal theyrecord, shouldalso applyknow foras theira residencegood document
  • feesconduct andcertificate processing(zaświadczenie times
o niekaralności) from the National Criminal Register.

Passports and travel

ReadYou ourcan guidanceapply onfor moving, living or retiringrenew abroad.your ThisBritish coverspassport howfrom to:Poland.

Read:

Always carry your passport when travelling within the Schengen area. If you have citizenship of an EU or European Free Trade Association (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, thethis time you spend in Poland does not count towards theyour 90-day visa-free periodlimit for the Schengen area.

If you canvisit spendother Schengen area countries outside Poland, make sure you do not exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies even if you have a Polish residence permit. You are responsible for counting how long you stay under the Schengen area.visa waiver, and you must comply with its conditions.

AlwaysDifferent carryrules yourapply passportif you are travelling to other EU and residenceSchengen documentcountries whenas entering,a leavingresident orof travellingPoland. withinCheck the Schengeneach areacountry’s travel advice page. for information on entry requirements.

If you’reyou askedwere toliving showin Poland before 1 January 2021

When you travel, carry your passportDokument atpobytowy borderdla control,beneficjenta makeumowy surewystapienia youresidence alsocard or frontier worker permit issued under the Withdrawal Agreement, in addition to your valid passport.

You must proactively show your residence documentdocument, or other evidence of residence status.status, Yourif you are asked to show your passport at border control. Other evidence may be stampedyour iftenancy youagreement door not.

a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020. If you have dualapplied citizenshipfor, withbut an EU ornot Europeanyet Freereceived, Tradeyour Associationresidence (EFTA)document, country,show your certificate of registration.

Read the Polish Border Guards guidance on what documents you should entercarry andwhen leavetravelling back to Poland usingto your EU orprove EFTAyou passport.are a resident

European

If Entry/Exityou Systemcannot (EES)

Underprove thethat newyou digitalare Entry/Exita Systemresident (EES)in therePoland, areyou newmay rulesbe forasked entering,additional leavingquestions orat travellingthe withinborder the Schengento area.enter Non-EUthe nationalsEU. willYour needpassport tomay havebe theirstamped photoon entry and fingerprintsexit. takenThis orwill verifiednot ataffect your rights in the border.country Thisor datacountries willwhere beyou storedlive inor work. If a digitalpassport recordis stamped, the stamp is considered null and usedvoid towhen monitoryou howcan longshow visitorsevidence haveof spentlawful inresidence. Read EU guidance for UK nationals on entering and leaving the Schengen area.

BritishIf nationalsyou legallyhave residentrights inunder Poland,the andWithdrawal whoAgreement, haveyou acan validenter biometricand residenceexit permitPoland orwith residencea card,valid passport. You do not need toany registeradditional withvalidity on the EES.

Ifpassport you’rebeyond legallythe residentdates inon Polandwhich butyou doare nottravelling.

Healthcare

You havemust aregister biometricfor residencehealthcare permitas ora residenceresident card,in contactPoland. yourSee localguidance voivodeshipon officehealthcare for informationUK onnationals howliving toin get one.Poland.

ForIf moreyou informationcannot aboutregister thefor EES,healthcare, read:

HealthcareTravel ininsurance Poland

providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.

Read ourthe Polish government guidance on moving,maintaining livingyour orhealthcare retiringrights abroadin Poland. (in ThisPolish).

You coversshould howalso to:read guidance on:

Medicine

ToIf findyou outare howon toa getprescription medicalfor treatment:

WorkingPoland. inCertain Poland

Readmedicines ourmay guidancenot onbe moving,available livingin orPoland retiring(including abroad.major Thisbrands coversreadily workingavailable abroad,in includingthe documentsUK), and you may needbe prohibited from taking them into the UKcountry. government.

ToYou workshould inconsult Poland,your youGP maybefore needtravelling ato workPoland permitto orfind workout visa.about Ourany alternative medication.

Read the guidance onif travellingyou need to travel with medicines

Working in Poland

If foryou workare explainsplanning theto differentmove workto permitsPoland and visaswork, availableyou tomay you.need Youa canvisa. alsoRead read the Polish government’s guidance on working in Poland as a foreign national and how to get a visa. The pop up notices direct you to a website that is not yet live. These are being amended.

YouIf doyou notwork needin aPoland, even if you work permitfor ora visaUK-based ifcompany, this may affect where you havepay beenNational Insurance-type contributions. Read the National insurance and social security contributions section for more information.

If you were living in Poland legally since before 1 January 2021

You andhave the right to work under the Withdrawal Agreement if you have a ‘DokumentDokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’wystapienia residence card, or have applied for one. This is because you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you live in Poland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU oranother EuropeanEU Freeor Trade Association (EFTA) country before 1 January 2021, read our guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition

Professional of qualifications

IfYou you want to work in Poland, you may need to get your foreignprofessional qualificationsqualification recognised.

Driving inif Poland

Readyou ourwant guidanceto onwork moving,in livinga orprofession retiringthat abroad.is Thisregulated coversin howPoland.

Read to:guidance on:

The

If Polishyou Ministrywere ofliving Infrastructurein providesPoland informationbefore on1 drivingJanuary 2021

If the relevant regulator in Poland,Poland includingofficially howrecognised to:

Forrecognition moreprocess informationby readthis guidancedate, on:

Driving

If you plan to study in PolandPoland, usingyou amust foreignmeet drivingall licence

visa requirements before you travel.

YouContact canthe driverelevant higher education provider in Poland forto upcheck towhat 6fees monthsyou usingmay ahave drivingto licencepay.

Read issuedguidance in:on:

If you havewere aliving validin UKPoland drivingbefore licence1 issuedJanuary before2021

The 31studying Decemberin 2020,the thereEuropean isUnion noguidance timeincludes limitinformation onif howyou longwere youalready canliving usein itPoland tobefore drive1 inJanuary Poland.2021.

Tax

YouThe cannotUK replacehas ora renewdouble anytaxation ofagreement thesewith licencesPoland ifso that you livedo innot Poland. 

Exchangingpay atax UK,on Gibraltar,the Jersey,same Guernseyincome orin Isleboth ofcountries. ManAsk drivingthe licence

Torelevant continuetax drivingauthority afteryour 6questions months,about youdouble musttaxation exchangerelief.

You yourshould drivingget licenceprofessional (inadvice Polish)on unlesspaying ittax wasin issuedPoland. inFind thean UKEnglish-speaking beforelawyer 1in JanuaryPoland. Read 2021.guidance Youon:

Updates to this page

Published 12 November 2013

Last updated 911 DecemberOctober 2025 + show hide all updates" href="#full-history">+ show all updates

    2. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

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Contents

Update history

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.