Key facts
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens buy property in Poland on the same terms as Poles.
- A non-EU citizen (e.g. from Ukraine or Belarus) can buy a separate flat without a permit — outside the border zone.
- A house with land, a plot or commercial premises requires an MSWiA permit unless you have held a permanent residence or EU resident card for 5 years.
- If your Polish is limited, the notary requires a sworn translator.
What a foreigner can buy without a permit
- A separate flat with its own land register (Art. 8(1)(1) of the Act).
- A garage or parking space if it serves your housing needs.
- Any property — 5 years after receiving a permanent residence or EU long-term resident card.
- Property bought as joint property with a Polish spouse — 2 years after receiving such a card.
The exemptions do not apply in the border zone or to farmland over 1 ha.
Documents you need
- Passport (the notary verifies identity).
- PESEL — not formally required, but it simplifies the deed, the bank and the tax office.
- Residence card, visa or UKR status — a copy for the bank and notary.
- Funds in a Polish account and proof of their source — notaries and banks apply AML rules.
- MSWiA permit or promise — if you are buying a house or plot.
Mortgages for foreigners
Banks lend to residence card holders, and some also to visa holders or people with UKR status; they usually require a Polish employment contract or a stable business. Mortgages are handled by our HipoCenter team, which compares 15 banks.
We check borrowing capacity first and look for a flat second — that keeps your deposit safe.
Russian and Belarusian citizens
The statutory rules are the same, but when issuing permits MSWiA assesses state security. According to the MSWiA report for 2025 (as cited by Bankier.pl), Russian citizens received no permits and Belarusian citizens about 475. Buying a separate flat does not require a permit.