Moving to Poland in 2027: What I Wish I’d Known After 15 Years as a Foreigner

I was born in Morocco and moved to Poland 15 years ago. Since then I’ve built a life here, set up my own Polish company, and I now work as Chief Marketing Officer of a boutique IT recruitment company in Warsaw. On Warsaw Confidential, I tell Poles what their country looks like through a foreigner’s eyes, and the videos have passed 100 million views in 3 years.

I learned almost everything the slow way. This guide is what I’d tell a friend who’s moving here, or a Polish friend coming back after years in London, Berlin or Chicago.

Is it worth moving to Poland in 2026?

For most people, yes. Poland has one of the most dynamic economies in the EU, a large international job market (especially in IT, finance and shared services), safe cities, and a cost of living that is still lower than in Western Europe, even if Warsaw is catching up fast. The trade-off is bureaucracy and a set of unwritten rules nobody explains to newcomers. If you prepare for those, Poland is a very good place to build a life and a business.

What should you do first when you move to Poland?

Do things in this order. Most of the expensive mistakes I’ve seen come from doing step 4 before step 1.

1. Settle your legal status. If you’re an EU/EEA citizen, you can live and work here freely, but you must register your stay if you stay longer than 3 months. If you’re from outside the EU, you’ll need a temporary residence permit. Start early: processing times at the voivodeship offices are often long. The official source is the Office for Foreigners (UDSC).
2. Get your PESEL number. It’s the Polish ID number, and almost everything runs on it.
3. Open a Polish bank account and set up a Profil Zaufany or bank login for government services, which lets you handle a lot of paperwork online.
4. Choose an accountant (biuro rachunkowe) before you register a business. They’ll save you from the wrong tax form, which is hard to undo.
5. Then register your company, sign your job contract, or rent long-term.

JDG or sp. z o.o.: which company should a foreigner open in Poland?

A JDG (jednoosobowa działalność gospodarcza) is a sole proprietorship: quick to open online in CEIDG, cheap to run, but you’re personally liable for its debts. A sp. z o.o. is a limited liability company: more paperwork and full accounting, but your liability is limited and there are no nationality restrictions on who can own it.

	JDG (sole proprietorship)	sp. z o.o. (limited company)
Who can open it	Poles, EU/EEA citizens, and non-EU citizens on a specific legal list (e.g. permanent residence, EU long-term resident, Karta Polaka, some temporary permits)	Anyone, including 100% foreign owners and board members
Liability	Unlimited, with your personal assets	Limited to the company (board members can be liable in some cases)
Setup	Online in CEIDG, free	Online via S24 or with a notary; minimum share capital 5,000 PLN
Income tax	PIT: tax scale (12% / 32%), 19% flat rate, or lump-sum (ryczałt)	CIT: 9% for small taxpayers, 19% standard, plus 19% tax on dividends
Social security (ZUS)	You pay contributions yourself; new businesses can get relief at the start	Depends on your role and contract with the company
Accounting	Simplified	Full bookkeeping
Best for	Freelancers, B2B contractors, testing an idea	Non-EU founders, businesses with partners or risk, higher income

My rule of thumb: if you’re from outside the EU and not on the JDG list, the sp. z o.o. is usually your only route. If you can open a JDG, start there unless you have real liability risk or partners. Either way, decide with an accountant, not a forum.

Can a foreigner open a JDG in Poland?

EU and EEA citizens can open a JDG on the same terms as Poles. Non-EU citizens can only do it if they hold one of the statuses listed in the Polish law on entrepreneurs: for example a permanent residence permit, EU long-term resident status, refugee or subsidiary protection, a valid Karta Polaka, certain temporary residence permits (such as for studies or family reunification), or a temporary permit while married to a Polish citizen. A visa alone is not enough. Check your exact case on biznes.gov.pl.

How do Polish companies hire foreigners?

I see this every day from the recruitment side. A few things surprise almost every newcomer:

• LinkedIn matters more than job boards for international roles, especially in IT and finance. Recruiters search there first.
• Your CV needs a GDPR clause (klauzula RODO) at the bottom, giving consent to process your data. Without it, some companies won’t process your application.
• There are several contract types: an employment contract (umowa o pracę), a B2B contract where you invoice through your own JDG or company, or a civil-law contract (umowa zlecenie). B2B is very common in IT and changes your taxes, your holidays and your protection.
• Always ask whether a salary is gross or net, and on which contract. “15,000” can mean very different things.
• Polish isn’t always required, but it’s a real advantage outside international companies, and it changes how quickly you’re trusted.

Moving back to Poland: what is the “ulga na powrót”?

The ulga na powrót (return relief) is a Polish tax break for people who move their tax residence back to Poland. If you qualify, income up to 85,528 PLN per year is exempt from PIT for four consecutive tax years. It covers employment income and some business income, but not management contracts.

The main conditions: you weren’t a Polish tax resident for at least the three calendar years before your move, you moved after 31 December 2021, and you can prove your residence abroad (for example with a certificate of residence). There are extra conditions, and the 85,528 PLN limit is shared with other reliefs, so check the details on the official podatki.gov.pl page or with an accountant before you rely on it.

If you’ve been away for years, expect a different country from the one you left: higher prices, more digital government services, and a job market with many more international employers.

Which Polish city should you move to?

• Warsaw: the most jobs, the highest salaries and the most international, but also the most expensive.
• Kraków: a big IT and shared-services hub, beautiful, and full of students and tourists.
• Wrocław: tech jobs, a younger feel, and a strong international community.
• Tricity (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot): the sea, a good balance of work and life, and a growing tech scene.
• Poznań: business-minded and well connected to Germany, with more affordable housing.

The unwritten rules of living in Poland

These are the things nobody writes in the official guides:

• Directness isn’t rudeness. Poles often say exactly what they think. Don’t take a “no” or a critique personally.
• Formality matters at first. Use Pan / Pani (Sir / Madam) until you’re invited to switch to first names.
• Most shops are closed on Sundays. Plan your shopping, and don’t be surprised by the queues on Saturday.
• Trust is built slowly, then it’s strong. It takes time to be invited into someone’s home. Once you are, you’re family.
• Paperwork needs patience, and stamps, copies and the right form. Ask your accountant or a Polish friend before you queue.

The 5 mistakes I see most often

1. Registering a business before choosing an accountant.
2. Picking a company form because a forum said so.
3. Comparing salaries without checking gross vs net and the contract type.
4. Starting the residence permit process too late.
5. Trying to do everything alone, in a country you don’t fully understand yet.

Frequently asked questions about moving to Poland

Do I need to speak Polish to live in Poland?

Not to start. You can live and work in English in Warsaw, Kraków or Wrocław, especially in IT and international companies. But Polish makes everyday life, paperwork and friendships much easier, and it’s a real advantage in the job market.

How long does a residence permit take in Poland?

It varies a lot by voivodeship and by year, and it’s often many months. Apply as early as the rules allow and keep proof that you applied. Check the current situation with the Office for Foreigners (UDSC) or your voivodeship office.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a Polish company?

Yes. There’s no nationality restriction on the shareholders or board members of a sp. z o.o. The company just needs a registered seat in Poland.

What is the cheapest way to start a business in Poland?

A JDG, if you’re eligible: registration in CEIDG is free and accounting is simpler. Non-EU citizens who aren’t on the eligible list usually need a sp. z o.o., with a minimum share capital of 5,000 PLN.

What is the ulga na powrót?

It’s a Polish tax relief for people who move back to Poland: up to 85,528 PLN of income a year can be exempt from PIT for four years, if you weren’t a Polish tax resident for the three years before your move and meet the other conditions.

Is Warsaw a good city for foreigners?

Yes. It’s Poland’s most international city, with the most jobs and the highest salaries. It’s also the most expensive, so compare it with Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk before you decide.

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About the author. Kamal Jahid is a Moroccan-born entrepreneur who has lived in Poland for 15 years. He runs his own Polish company, is Chief Marketing Officer of a boutique IT recruitment company in Warsaw, and has 20 years of experience in marketing. He’s the creator of Warsaw Confidential (100M+ views in 3 years) and has been featured in Forbes, GQ and Vanity Fair.

This article shares personal and professional experience. It isn’t legal, tax or immigration advice. Polish rules change, so always check the official sources (gov.pl, podatki.gov.pl, biznes.gov.pl) or ask an accountant or lawyer for your case.