Warsaw is home to a large international community - people who have moved here for work, families planning to settle for the long term, and investors. Buying property in Poland is safe and well regulated, but the process has its own rules. Here is what you need to know before you start.

Do you need a permit?

It depends on your citizenship and on the type of property.

  • Citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland can buy property in Poland on the same terms as Polish citizens - no permit is needed.
  • Citizens of other countries generally need a permit from the Polish Minister of the Interior and Administration. However, buying a separate apartment - an apartment with its own land and mortgage register - does not require one, and this covers most apartments in Warsaw. Buying a garage unit for housing needs is also exempt. These exemptions do not apply in the border zone, which does not affect Warsaw. Buying a house with land, or a plot, usually does require a permit.
  • Exemptions also apply, among others, to people who have lived in Poland for at least five years since obtaining a permanent residence permit or EU long-term resident status, and to spouses of Polish citizens who have lived in Poland for at least two years since obtaining such a permit - provided the property becomes part of the couple’s joint marital property.

The rules can change and individual situations differ, so it is worth confirming your case with the notary or a lawyer before you sign anything.

How the purchase works

  1. Choosing and checking the property - the land and mortgage register (księga wieczysta) shows the owner, mortgages and other encumbrances, and can be viewed online. We check the documents before you commit.
  2. Preliminary agreement - the parties agree the price, the deposit and the date of the notarial deed. It can be signed in writing or as a notarial deed.
  3. Notarial deed - the sale itself must be concluded before a Polish notary. The notary reads the deed aloud, collects the taxes and fees and files the application with the land register.
  4. Handover - you receive the keys, and the meter readings and the condition of the property are recorded in a handover protocol.

If you do not speak Polish

The notarial deed is drawn up in Polish. If you do not speak Polish, it will be translated for you by a sworn translator present at the signing (or by a notary who is personally certified as a translator of that language). You can also act through a proxy - a power of attorney to buy property must be granted in the form of a notarial deed. If you grant it abroad, agree in advance with the Polish notary which form they will accept (for example before a Polish consul or before a local notary with an apostille).

Costs to plan for

  • Tax on civil law transactions (PCC) - 2% of the market value when buying on the secondary market, collected by the notary. On the primary market, from a developer, VAT is included in the price instead.
  • Notary’s fee - depends on the value of the property and is capped by regulation; VAT is added.
  • Court fees for entries in the land and mortgage register.
  • Agency commission and the sworn translator’s fee, where applicable.

Getting a mortgage as a foreigner

Polish banks do lend to foreigners, but the requirements are stricter - most often a residence permit, income earned in Poland and a credit history are needed. If you plan to finance the purchase with a mortgage, talk to a bank or a mortgage broker before you start viewing properties.

Where to buy in Warsaw

Each district has its own character. Śródmieście offers pre-war tenement buildings and life in the very centre, Mokotów combines greenery, villas and good connections, Żoliborz is intimate and green, Wilanów is modern and family-friendly, and Konstancin, just outside the city, offers villas among the forests. Our district pages describe each of them in more detail.

In English, from start to finish

Our whole website is available in English, and we can handle viewings, negotiations and the transaction in English. Get in touch or browse our current properties.

This article is for information only and does not constitute legal advice.