Guidance

Living in Poland

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Poland – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
12 November 2013
Last updated
911 December 2025 — See all updates

Getting help with living in Poland

Help from the Polish government

For any questions about moving to or living in Poland, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British Embassy in Warsaw cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Poland.

Professional help in Poland

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Poland, including:

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • notaries
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Poland to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Poland. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Poland before you travel.

Visas and residence permits

Check which visa or residence permit you need to live in Poland. 

You can get a visa or residence permit to:

  • work
  • study
  • live with family in Poland
  • volunteer
  • do research

For more information, read guidance on:

You can also read the Polish government’s frequently asked questions on Polish visas (in Polish). 

Registering as a resident

Once you arrive, you need to register your residency in Poland.

If you have any problems or questions about registering your residency, contact:

Extending or replacing your visa or residence permit

Contact the Polish Office for Foreigners or visit the MOS portal for information on how to:

  • extend your visa or residence permit
  • replace a lost, damaged or stolen visa or residence permit

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Poland if you have lived there legally and continuously for at least 5 years.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Polish government’s guidance on permanent residence permits.

Citizenship

Poland recognises dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Polish citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for Polish citizenship:

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British Embassy in Warsaw cannot help with Polish visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

Residency if you moved to Poland before 1 January 2021

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

Residence cards if you moved to Poland before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Poland before 1 January 2021, make sure you have a ‘Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’ residence card. This shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES), you’ll need a ‘Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’ residence card when entering or leaving Poland. If you have one, you will not have to register with the EES when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Without it, you may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and denied entry to Poland or other Schengen countries.

If you do not have a residence card

If you were living in Poland before 1 January 2021, but do not have a ‘Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’ residence card, you must register for residency. You’ll need to submit evidence to prove that you met the residency criteria at the time.

Read the Polish government’s guidance on applying for a ‘Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’ residence card. You will need to complete an application form and provide the required documents.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a biometric ‘Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy wystapienia’ residence card.

If your application is unsuccessful, you may be able to appeal. Read the Polish government’s guidance on the appeal process. Consider getting legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Poland.

For more information on how to apply or appeal, read:

Renewing your residence card if you moved to Poland before 1 January 2021

You’ll need to renew your residence card at least 30 days before it expires.

Contact your local voivodeship office for information on how to renew or replace your residence card.

Bringing family members to Poland if you moved there before 1 January 2021

The Polish government’s information on residence rights of UK withdrawal agreement beneficiaries and their families explains:

  • which family members can join you in Poland
  • how and when they should apply for their residence document
  • fees and processing times

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

If you have a Polish residence permit or long stay visa, the time you spend in Poland does not count towards the 90-day visa-free period you can spend in the Schengen area.

Always carry your passport and residence document when entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. If you’re asked to show your passport at border control, make sure you also show your residence document or other evidence of residence status. Your passport may be stamped if you do not.

If you have dual citizenship with an EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country, you should enter and leave Poland using your EU or EFTA passport.

Dual citizens travelling to the UK 

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

European Entry/Exit System (EES)

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) there are new rules for entering, leaving or travelling within the Schengen area. Non-EU nationals will need to have their photo and fingerprints taken or verified at the border. This data will be stored in a digital record and used to monitor how long visitors have spent in the Schengen area.

British nationals legally resident in Poland, and who have a valid biometric residence permit or residence card, do not need to register with the EES.

If you’re legally resident in Poland but do not have a biometric residence permit or residence card, contact your local voivodeship office for information on how to get one.

For more information about the EES, read:

Healthcare in Poland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Poland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Poland, you may need a work permit or work visa. Our guidance on travelling to Poland for work explains the different work permits and visas available to you. You can also read the Polish government’s guidance on working in Poland.

You do not need a work permit or visa if you have been living in Poland legally since before 1 January 2021 and have a ‘Dokument pobytowy dla beneficjenta umowy 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 or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country before 1 January 2021, read guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Poland, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised.

Driving in Poland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

The Polish Ministry of Infrastructure provides information on driving in Poland, including how to:

For more information read guidance on:

Driving in Poland using a foreign driving licence

You can drive in Poland for up to 6 months using a driving licence issued in:

  • the UK
  • Gibraltar
  • Jersey
  • Guernsey
  • the Isle of Man

If you have a valid UK driving licence issued before 31 December 2020, there is no time limit on how long you can use it to drive in Poland.

You cannot replace or renew any of these licences if you live in Poland. 

Exchanging a UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence

To continue driving after 6 months, you must exchange your driving licence (in Polish) unless it was issued in the UK before 1 January 2021. You will not need to take a driving test.

You may need to provide:

You should apply for the exchange before the 6 months is over. Applications may take time to process, and you’ll need your Polish licence to drive legally. 

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for an EU parking card for people with disabilities or Polish parking card (in Polish).

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Poland, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance. 

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Poland so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the Polish Ministry of Finance for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Poland. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Poland.

National Insurance

Check if you need to pay National Insurance if you’re going to work in the EU, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Your UK state pension is calculated differently if you’ve previously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and now live in the EU.

Claiming a Polish pension

Contact the Polish Social Insurance Institution to find out whether you can claim an old-age pension in Poland.

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit. 

You can also read guidance on benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Claiming Polish benefits

You may be entitled to some Polish benefits.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim, read:

Buying and renting property in Poland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad. 

To buy property, you may need to apply for a permit from the minister responsible for home affairs. For more information, read guidance on buying property as a foreigner in Poland (in Polish).

Contact an English-speaking lawyer in Poland if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Poland

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Polish elections

If you’re resident in Poland, you may be eligible to vote or stand in local elections. You must register on your local municipal register (‘spis wyborców’) (in Polish). You can apply online or in person at your local office.

You cannot vote in general or regional elections in Poland unless you hold Polish citizenship.

You also cannot vote in European elections unless you hold citizenship of an EU country.

Studying in Poland

If you plan to study in Poland, you must meet all visa and residence requirements.

You do not need a student visa if you have been living in Poland legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

For more information, read guidance on:

You can also contact:

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The European Commission provides information about the school system in Poland.

All children aged 6 to 18 must attend school or home school in Poland.

For more information, read the Polish government’s guidance on:

Childcare

The Polish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is responsible for childcare services in Poland.

Read guidance on:

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Poland, register the birth with the Polish authorities.

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Poland, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or form a civil partnership abroad. 

The Polish government provides information on how to get married in a civil ceremony in Poland.

Poland does not legally recognise same-sex marriages or civil partnerships.

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

The European e-justice portal offers guidance on divorce in Poland.

Consider taking legal advice from an English-speaking lawyer in Poland.

Documents for British people in Poland

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Certificate of clear criminal record

You may need a certificate of clear criminal record for job, visa or residency applications. This is also known as a good conduct certificate (‘zaświadczenie o niekaralności’).

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Poland, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Poland, read guidance on:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

If the NHS funds your healthcare in Poland through the S1 form, contact the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team to cancel it.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Polish authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 12 November 2013
Last updated 911 December 2025 + show all updates

  1. Added new information for dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).

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

  3. Added information on getting a certificate of clear criminal record.

  4. Added information regarding the EES in Visas and Residency part

  5. Added new guidance to the visas and voting sections. Polish government guidance added for crossing the border if you are a UK national.

  6. Guidance has been reviewed and updated.

  7. 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.

  8. Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. Guidance reviewed for passports and travel, healthcare, working and studying in Poland and returning to the UK sections.

  12. Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Poland after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021.

  13. Working in Poland section updated: new guidance for frontier workers

  14. Updated guidance on how to exchange your UK driving licence for a Polish one.

  15. Additional support section updated with link to guidance on UK Nationals Support Fund, healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in Poland section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services, education section updated with link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications

  16. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines

  17. Passport and travel section updated with a new link on proof of residency when travelling back to Poland.

  18. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on residency, pet travel and moving to Poland

  19. Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling

  20. Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.

  21. Visas and Residency section updated with information on the new residency system and a link to new Polish government guidance.

  22. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

  23. 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.

  24. A new link to the Polish Office for Foreigners' FAQs on residency rights and an updated link to Polish government guidance on healthcare.

  25. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  26. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

  27. Brexit update: List of outreach events for UK nationals in Poland updated.

  28. Brexit Update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

  29. Brexit: We have added new information on residency, recognition of professional qualification, pensions and benefits.

  30. EU Exit update: We have added new information in the "Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU section"

  31. We've updated information on voting in the European Parliament elections.

  32. 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.

  33. EU Exit update: updated information on healthcare, visas and residency, driving licences and voting.

  34. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  35. The Polish Office for Foreigners has published a brochure on Polish residency provisions for UK nationals living in Poland after the UK leaves the EU. We have added a link to the brochure.

  36. We have added information on upcoming community outreach events.

  37. The Polish Office for Foreigners has published an update for UK Nationals in Poland - we have added it to the guide.

  38. Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip

  39. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare

  40. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving.

  41. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in Pets section.

  42. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

  43. First published.

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