Visa & Registration Requirements Quiz

What Visa and Registration Do You Need for Poland?

Poland's visa and registration requirements vary dramatically depending on your nationality, purpose of stay, and employment situation. EU citizens can live and work freely but still need to register after 3 months. Non-EU citizens face a more complex process involving work permits, residence visas, and multiple government registrations. This quiz asks 8 targeted questions to give you a personalized step-by-step guide based on your specific situation — no more sifting through generic immigration websites.

The most common registration tasks for anyone moving to Poland include obtaining a PESEL number (universal identification number), completing zameldowanie (address registration), and setting up Profil Zaufany (trusted profile for online government services). For workers, there is also NIP (tax identification) and ZUS (social insurance) registration. For B2B contractors, CEIDG business registration and VAT decisions add further complexity. This quiz cuts through the confusion by telling you exactly which of these apply to your situation.

Timing and sequencing matter when navigating Polish bureaucracy. You cannot open a bank account without a PESEL. You cannot get a PESEL without a passport and a reason for registration. Non-EU citizens must apply for their residence permit within specific timeframes after arrival. Missing these windows can complicate your legal status. The personalized action plan from this quiz orders every step in the correct sequence, with realistic timelines for each government office visit.

• Apply for your PESEL number at the nearest Urzad Gminy (municipal office) within your first few days — you need it for almost every other administrative task.
• Set up Profil Zaufany (trusted profile) at pz.gov.pl immediately after getting your PESEL — it lets you handle most government paperwork online instead of queuing at offices.
• Non-EU citizens should apply for their temporary residence permit (karta pobytu) within 45 days of arrival — do not wait until your visa is about to expire.
• Bring a Polish-speaking friend or hire a sworn translator (tlumacz przysiegly) for your first government office visit — many urzad officials have limited English.
• Keep digital and physical copies of every document you receive from Polish government offices — replacements can take weeks to obtain.