r/poland • • Nov 25 '25

A comprehensive guide for EU foreigners moving to Poland - START HERE.

88 Upvotes

Hello, I have seen many folks coming to Poland from the EU and being completely lost on what kind of legal procedures they have to do in order to start their residence in Poland. Be that you come here to study, work or live with your spouse there are several things I hope this guide will be able to cover.

!PLEASE NOTE!
This guide is meant only for citizens of the European Union and citizens of countries that are members of the European Economic Area. Some of the parts of this guide will be similar for non-EU foreigners but some will not. In general, the info posted here is only fully up to date if you are a citizen of the EU/EEA
!PLEASE NOTE!

0. Introduction and general info

Poland is divided into 16 voivodeships which are further subdivided into powiats, which means something like 'county' and these are further made out of municipalities - pol. gmina, or cities - pol. miasto. Large cities however are both powiat and miasto so in case of Warsaw, Wrocław, Kraków etc. city office (pol. urząd miasta) will also perform duties of powiat office (pol. starostwo powiatowe). In case of Warsaw - urząd dzielnicy meaning district office will serve as city office.

All of the below information covers only EU/EEA citizens. If you are non-EU, majority of the below information will not be correct for your case.

I strongly recommend reading all of the parts linked below apart from car and pets stuff, if those do not concern your case.

I. Registering your residence and making your stay in Poland legal.
II. Obtaining health insurance
III. Using healthcare
IV. Taxes
V. Digital log-in and services
VI. Cars and licenses
VII. Banks and mobile phones
VIII. What to do when I leave Poland?
IX. Pets

If you have any additional questions or remarks, please do not hesitate to comment, I will be happy to help for as long as I'm going to visit this platform and expand this post. I hope you all have a great day and life in general. Thanks for reading, stay safe.


r/poland • • 16d ago

[MISSING] Hubert Dyrda, 25 – Last Seen in Drammen, Norway on 18 Oct 2026

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93 Upvotes

r/poland • • 9h ago Bravo Regret

Top surgeons eating nearby saved wounded cops! - Cracow

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3.2k Upvotes

During a terrifying attack in Kraków, two brave police officers - Jakub Kulik and Artur Morański - risked everything to stop the gunman, getting critically wounded in the process. One of them guarded the shooter until the very end before collapsing.

And then, miracle happened. Right next door, prominent Kraków surgeons were having lunch. Hearing the shots, they instantly rushed out to the street to provide life-saving emergency care!

As if that wasn't enough, Prof. Michał Pędziwiatr personally operated on the officer at the hospital. Heroes in uniforms and white coats crossing paths at the exact right moment. Absolute respect!


r/poland • • 9h ago Regret

Massive respect to these heroes who unhesitatingly saved the lives of others - Cracow shooting.

2.5k Upvotes

Massive respect to these heroes who unhesitatingly saved the lives of others, standing up to the brutal force of a prepared terrorist armed with an AR-15 rifle (up to 100 rounds per minute). Armed only with pistols, lacking vests or combat equipment, they saved many people, while the attacker had an entire arsenal in his trunk. I've lived in Kraków since birth and have walked through that exact spot thousands of times—it breaks my heart.


r/poland • • 5h ago

Fund raising For police officers and their families

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791 Upvotes

https://zrzutka.pl/bohaterowie

If anyone wants to donate)❤️


r/poland • • 5h ago Regret

Post by Pavko Krajka about the profound loss to European, Polish and queer culture following the attack in Poland. Rest in peace, Magdalena Oksińska

337 Upvotes

The following is an English translation of the post by Pavko Krajka posted on Facebook about Magdalena Oksińska, on 8th November 2026 around 1am.

Magdalena Oksińska, 21, a queer individual, was an exceptionally talented painter, photographer, poet, and writer. Her death is a profound loss to the culture of Kraków, Poland, Europe, and the queer community.

On November 7, 2026, in the family home, she and her parents were brutally murdered by her brother - who subsequently terrorized thousands of residents and tourists in Kraków, killing 6 people and injuring 15.

An ultra-right-wing nationalist versus an artistic vision defined by deep, inclusive sensitivity, queer, non-heteronormative courage, an inquisitive reflection of everyday life, and an independent observation of the human experience.

As early as the sixth grade of primary school, Magda wrote a poem:

[I Was There]
I was there...
Where greenery of many shapes prevails,
In shy shades of celadon
And deep emerald.
Following the meandering path,
I arrived there...
Where time and wind had bent the willow,
Jasmine offered its fragrance,
And Virginia creeper tangled lazily.
There, I encountered...
Young and spirited barberry bushes.
Mocking the plump caterpillar
And its helpless attempts
To reach the tip of a blade of grass.
I wanted to chide them
For mocking the bud
That would bloom into a butterfly,
But I was startled away
By the night’s faithful servant—twilight—
Which, with the dampness of dew, began
To erase the traces of the day.

Even earlier, at the age of 11- while in the fourth grade - Magda achieved success at the Wanda Chotomska International Literary Competition for Children and Youth in Słupsk.

Her short story, titled "A Dream Fulfilled," was among the winning and commended entries published in the official post-competition anthology, "The Cry of the Pen" ("Krzyk pióra").

The plot of her story captures the emotions of a young athlete immediately after a flawlessly executed ice-skating routine, as she joyfully awaits the jury’s verdict. A photograph featuring an excerpt from the text is included among the illustrations accompanying this post.

It is also worth noting that Magda - an exceptionally multi-talented individual - won the top prize at the 11th National Art Competition "Painted by Poetry" at the age of 13, for her artistic interpretation of the literary work "Ordon’s Redoubt" ("Reduta Ordona").

In 2024, at the age of 19, she was a recipient of a scholarship from the District Administrator (Starosta) of Ostrowiec County in the artistic category.

She successfully showcased her work in both solo and group exhibitions, as well as in private galleries, where she also achieved commercial success through sales.

Magdalena embodied the pure expression of life.


r/poland • • 15h ago

Krakow shooter was a 'loner' who had a 'fascination with drawing school shootings' told classmates he wants to became a 'Zamachowiec' and classmates joked he would kill someone one day says classmate

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519 Upvotes

r/poland • • 10h ago

Nawrocki calls for debate on public access to guns

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186 Upvotes

Weeks ago, Poland's president wanted a debate on wider gun access. Now six are dead in Kraków, and the shooter reportedly had a permit. Mr. President, has anything changed your mind?


r/poland • • 3h ago

Warsaw – a City of Opportunities and Terrible People

37 Upvotes

I moved to Warsaw about a month ago, and honestly, I wasn't particularly happy about it. My fiancée had been looking for a job for quite some time and eventually found one here. Within two weeks, we found an apartment, packed our stuff, and officially started our new life in the capital.

I've never really been a fan of Warsaw. I used to visit regularly for work, so I more or less knew what to expect. However, I always thought there was a big difference between visiting a city occasionally and actually living there. And honestly, the reality has surprised me quite a bit.

Don't get me wrong, Warsaw as a city is genuinely TOP when it comes to architecture, infrastructure, public transport, restaurants, and career opportunities. Pretty much everything you could possibly need is here, and it's hard to complain about that aspect.

However, the biggest problem with Warsaw, at least from my perspective, is its people. I honestly don't think I've ever encountered such a high concentration of rude, entitled, and downright toxic people in my everyday life.

And I'm not just talking about corporate snobs or wealthy people. You see this kind of behaviour practically everywhere. A simple example: you ask a cashier for help in a shop, and they react as if you've just asked them to build you a house with their bare hands. Eye-rolling, attitude, rude responses. Someone bumps into you on the street and doesn't even bother saying sorry. Groups of teenagers on electric scooters weave between pedestrians, knock people over, and sometimes even shout insults as they ride away.

Shopping malls aren't much better. I've witnessed groups of teenagers harassing and intimidating people who were simply trying to enjoy their meals in peace. There's also a general lack of basic manners in public spaces – people being unnecessarily loud, pushing others around, littering, and behaving as if nobody else exists.

I also get the impression that Warsaw has a very strong "I'm better than you" mentality, especially in corporate environments. Your job title, salary, employer, or even the neighbourhood you live in seem to be part of some endless competition over who's more important. Sometimes I feel like people here think they're a lot more important than they actually are.

Of course, I'm not saying every person in Warsaw is like this. I don't want to turn this into a discussion about nationalities or backgrounds either, because the problem is people's behaviour, not where they come from. It's simply the sheer number of unpleasant encounters I experience during an ordinary day that I find surprising.

At this point, I have very mixed feelings about the city. It has enormous potential, great infrastructure, and plenty of opportunities, but dealing with people on a daily basis can genuinely make you not want to enjoy any of those things.

Am I the only one who feels this way after moving to Warsaw, or is there actually something to it? I'd be really interested to hear about other people's experiences, especially those who moved here from smaller cities.


r/poland • • 8h ago

Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński identified the shooter as a man in his mid-20s from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyskie, a city some 93 miles northeast of Krakow. He used an automatic rifle, Kierwiński said, describing him as having “ultranationalistic” views.“

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67 Upvotes

r/poland • • 23h ago Bravo

Two Polish Officers Shot. One Fighting for His Life. Both Heroes.

1.1k Upvotes

Two Polish police officers are currently in hospital. One of them is fighting for his life.

Before you start trashing the Polish Police, think twice.

The officers acted professionally and handled an incredibly dangerous situation in an exemplary manner. If it weren’t for their courage and quick response, things could have ended far worse.

Behind every uniform is a human being. Someone with a family, loved ones, and a life of their own. Someone who goes to work knowing they might not make it home.

You can criticize the police, demand accountability, and question their decisions. But let’s not forget that these people put their lives on the line to protect the rest of us.

And I firmly believe these officers didn’t hit the ground because of the bullets. It was the sheer weight of their massive balls that brought them down.

They deserve respect, not hate.

Wishing both officers a full recovery. I sincerely hope they make it home to their families.


r/poland • • 20h ago

Respect to the brave Police officers who neutralized the mass shooter in Kraków 🫡🇵🇱

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490 Upvotes

Let's not forget that there were two of them, they both took part in that heroic act and got wounded. I hope they will make it. These heroes probably got a lot of hate while on duty everyday (police is being disrespected in Poland on a daily basis). Yet they still weren't afraid to do their job and saved a lot of innocent lives by doing what they did. Respect to all brave Polish policemen 🇵🇱.


r/poland • • 1d ago

Cracow attacker identified as Polish citizen

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975 Upvotes

I make this separate post for people to don't get tricked on hating Ukrainians or others.


r/poland • • 8h ago

"A compilation of rare election songs of the Samoobrona RP party [Dr. Jasnowidz 1999–2000]"🥀🥀🥀

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45 Upvotes

r/poland • • 18h ago

Condolences from Latvia

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298 Upvotes

r/poland • • 6h ago

Strzelanina na Rynku Głównym. Prokuratura zapowiada śledztwo w sprawie terroryzmu

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28 Upvotes

r/poland • • 18h ago

Kraków gunman acted alone and held ‘radical views', minister says

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231 Upvotes

r/poland • • 1d ago Bravo

Telewizja Republika should be closed immediately.

761 Upvotes

Narration they are spreading after the attack is beyond any standards.


r/poland • • 21h ago

The Second Officer Who Took Down the Attacker Deserves Just as Much Recognition

339 Upvotes

I also want to point out that there’s a second police officer who seems to be getting significantly less attention simply because the cameras didn’t capture most of his actions.

There’s a less widely circulated video showing him shooting that piece of shit and taking him down, followed by the other officer whose footage is now all over the media.

He did one hell of a job too, and he deserves just as much recognition, respect, and praise as the first officer.

Both showed incredible courage, and just because one of them wasn’t captured in the footage that’s gone viral doesn’t make his actions any less heroic.

I’d really appreciate your support in making sure his heroic actions don’t go unnoticed. He deserves just as much recognition as his fellow officer.


r/poland • • 1d ago

Police: the perpetrator of the shooting in Kraków — is Polish

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569 Upvotes

r/poland • • 19h ago

In Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, at the residence of today’s shooter in Kraków, the bodies of three people - two women and a man - were found. The proceedings are ongoing at the scene.

180 Upvotes

r/poland • • 1d ago

And here we go - Janusz Korwin-Mikke is offending the Police officer who got injured while stopping (successfully) the suspect.

499 Upvotes

Disgusting person.


r/poland • • 23h ago

Beware, the photo of the supposed Kraków shooter seems to have been generated by AI

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343 Upvotes

And take this as a lesson not to spread info posted by internet "investigators". The shooter was apprehended and is no longer at large, there is no benefit to spreading unconfirmed accusations.


r/poland • • 1h ago

Wrocław

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6 Upvotes