[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"advice-en-karta-pobytu-realestate":3},{"slug":4,"title":5,"excerpt":6,"body":7,"datePublished":8,"dateModified":8},"karta-pobytu-realestate","Property purchase by a foreigner and a residence card in Poland","Does buying a flat give you a residence card? When a foreigner needs an MSWiA permit, what the exemptions are, area limits and fees in 2026.","\u003Cp>Buying a flat or a house in Poland does not give a foreigner the right of residence — Polish rules do not provide for a residence card (karta pobytu) \"for an investment in property\". The relationship works the other way round: holding a residence permit is one of the circumstances that help in obtaining an MSWiA permit for the purchase of property, and a longer permanent residence allows you to buy without that permit. We explain how these two procedures link together.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>Property is not a basis for residence\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>The Act on Foreigners contains a closed list of purposes for which the voivode grants a temporary residence permit: work, business activity, studies, family reunification, marriage to a Polish citizen and other circumstances described in the rules. Owning a flat is not among them. Someone who buys an apartment still has to legalise their stay on one of those bases.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Owning your own property can, however, make it easier to meet some requirements. For example, with a temporary residence permit for family reunification, the family member must show that housing in Poland is secured — the notarial deed of purchase is strong evidence here. Ownership also makes it easier to register for residence (meldunek) and to confirm the address in subsequent proceedings.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>When a foreigner needs an MSWiA permit\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>The rule in the Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners is the requirement of a permit from the Minister of the Interior and Administration. An acquisition made contrary to the Act is null and void. There are important exceptions to this rule:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>citizens and entrepreneurs from the European Economic Area and Switzerland\u003C\u002Fstrong> — do not need a permit, regardless of the type and location of the property (subject to reservations for agricultural and forest land following from separate rules);\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>an independent residential unit\u003C\u002Fstrong> within the meaning of the Act on Ownership of Premises, located outside the border zone — can be bought without a permit; the same applies to a garage or parking space linked to housing needs;\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>a holder of a permanent residence permit or EU long-term resident status\u003C\u002Fstrong>, who has been living in Poland continuously for at least 5 years from obtaining it — may buy property outside the border zone without a permit (excluding agricultural land above 1 ha);\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>a spouse of a Polish citizen\u003C\u002Fstrong> with permanent residence or resident status — after 2 years of cohabitation, if the property enters joint marital assets;\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>a statutory heir of the seller\u003C\u002Fstrong>, who was the owner or perpetual usufructuary of the property for at least 5 years.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>In practice, a permit is most often required when buying a house with land, a building plot, commercial premises or an investment property. A permit is also needed for a flat in the border zone — before signing the contract you have to check whether the commune in which the premises are located belongs to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>Residence as a \"tie to Poland\" in the application to MSWiA\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>The Minister issues the permit if the acquisition does not threaten defence, security and public order, and the foreigner shows ties to Poland. Among example circumstances confirming such a tie, MSWiA lists:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>holding a temporary, permanent or EU long-term resident permit (excluding some short-term permits),\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>marriage to a Polish citizen,\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Polish nationality or origin,\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>membership of the management board of a company with its seat in Poland controlled by foreigners,\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>running business or agricultural activity in Poland.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>The order of actions is therefore usually: first legal residence and activity in Poland, then the purchase. Someone who is only planning to move and does not yet have a residence card has a weaker position in an application for the permit.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>Area limits and costs in 2026\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>A property bought for your own living needs cannot exceed 0.5 ha, and in the case of spouses — 1 ha. A larger area is permitted only for business or agricultural activity and must be justified by its actual needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ctable>\u003Cthead>\u003Ctr>\u003Cth>Activity\u003C\u002Fth>\u003Cth>Stamp duty\u003C\u002Fth>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Fthead>\u003Ctbody>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Permit to acquire property, shares or stocks\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>PLN 1,570\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Promise (undertaking to issue the permit)\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>PLN 98\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Power of attorney\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>PLN 17\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\u003Cp>In the case of co-ownership, each foreigner files a separate application and pays a separate fee. The promise is valid for one year from issue, and during that time the permit cannot be refused unless the facts change — so it is worth reaching for it when the preliminary agreement is already being negotiated and there are several months left until the final one.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>Step by step: a house purchase by a person holding a residence card\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Col>\u003Cli>Checking whether in the given case one of the exceptions applies (type of property, border zone, length of permanent residence).\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Gathering documents: a copy of the residence card and passport, documents on the property (an extract from the land register, an extract from the land registry, a drawing from the cadastral map), evidence of the source of financing (tax returns, loan agreement or bank promise).\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>Application for a promise or permit to MSWiA — electronically via ePUAP or e-Doręczenia (e-Delivery), or in paper form, with proof of payment of stamp duty.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>A preliminary contract with a condition of obtaining the permit.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>The notarial deed after the permit is received — the notary will not draw up the contract without being shown it.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Fol>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Example.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Mr Arman, a citizen of Kazakhstan, has been running a company in Poland for two years and holds a temporary residence permit. He can buy a flat in Kraków without a permit, because it is an independent unit outside the border zone. However, when he wants to buy a house with land outside the city, he needs an MSWiA permit — and his residence card and the company's activity will be evidence of his ties to Poland. The purchase of the house itself will not, however, extend his stay: he will still apply for the next permit on the basis of business activity.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>The most common misunderstandings\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\"I'll buy a flat, so I'll get a residence card\" — there is no such legal basis.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\"A flat is always without a permit\" — not in the border zone.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\"A sp. z o.o. (limited liability company) will get around the rules\" — a company controlled by foreigners is also treated as a foreigner within the meaning of the Act.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\"Permanent residence immediately exempts you from the permit\" — 5 years of cohabitation from obtaining that status are required.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>More on legalising residence when moving is described in our guide \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fadvice\u002Frelocation-to-poland\">on relocation to Poland\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2>How Good Balance can help\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>We help you handle both matters in the right order: first legal residence, then a safe purchase. We handle applications for a \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fservices\u002Flegalization\u002Fpermanent-residence-permit\">permanent residence permit\u003C\u002Fa>, and we help entrepreneurs obtain a \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fen\u002Fservices\u002Flegalization\u002Fresidence-permit-business\">residence card based on business activity\u003C\u002Fa>, which is also evidence of ties to Poland in the application to MSWiA.\u003C\u002Fp>","2026-10-09"]