In short
A foreigner can buy a flat in Poland without a permit. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can also buy a house without one. Other foreigners usually need a permit from the Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA) to buy a house with land or a building plot, unless they have lived in Poland for at least 5 years since getting permanent residence or EU long-term resident status. A permit costs 1,570 zł and usually takes a few months.
Polish law limits the purchase of real estate by foreigners, but the limits matter less than many people think. Most foreigners buying a flat need no permit at all. The rules come from the Act on the acquisition of real estate by foreigners of 1920, amended many times.
Who counts as a foreigner
For this law, a foreigner is a person without Polish citizenship, and also a company based abroad or a Polish company controlled by foreigners. If you hold Polish citizenship together with another one, you are not a foreigner for this law.
No permit needed
- A flat (a separate residential unit, samodzielny lokal mieszkalny), bought by a foreigner from any country.
- A garage or a parking space as a separate unit or a share in one, if it serves your housing needs.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens buying a house or a building plot. Separate rules apply to agricultural and forest land.
- After 5 years in Poland since getting a permanent residence permit or EU long-term resident status.
- The spouse of a Polish citizen who has lived in Poland for at least 2 years since getting permanent residence or EU long-term resident status, if the property becomes joint marital property.
Permit usually needed
- A house with land or a building plot, if you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and none of the exceptions above applies.
- Property in the border zone and agricultural land over 1 hectare. Here the exceptions for long-term residents and spouses do not apply.
- Some parking spaces with their own land and mortgage register, which count as a share in a separate property.
The notary checks whether you need a permit before the deed. Buying without a required permit makes the purchase invalid, so this is not a formality to skip.
How to get a permit
You apply to the Minister of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA). The application describes the property and shows your ties to Poland, for example residence, work, business or family. The stamp duty is 1,570 zł. A promise of a permit (promesa), useful when the seller wants certainty, costs 98 zł and is valid for a year. The permit itself is valid for 2 years.
The procedure usually takes 2 to 4 months, sometimes longer, because MSWiA asks other authorities for opinions. If you buy a house with a mortgage, plan for this time in the preliminary agreement with the seller.
Mortgage and permit
A bank will not pay out a mortgage for a house before you have the permit, because without it the deed cannot be signed. You can apply for the mortgage in parallel, but the bank decision is valid only for a limited time. We plan the dates so that the permit, the bank decision and the deed fit together.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy a flat in Poland?
Yes. A foreigner from any country can buy a separate residential unit without a permit. A mortgage is a separate question and depends on your residence and income.
Can a foreigner buy a house in Poland?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can buy a house without a permit. Other foreigners usually need a permit from the Ministry of the Interior, unless they have lived in Poland for 5 years since getting permanent residence or long-term resident status.
How long does a permit take?
Usually 2 to 4 months, sometimes longer. The permit costs 1,570 zł in stamp duty and is valid for 2 years.
What happens if I buy without a required permit?
The purchase is invalid. The notary checks whether a permit is needed before signing the deed.
Sources
This guide describes general rules and typical bank practice as of October 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and not a bank offer. Each bank sets its own criteria, and the lending decision is always made by the bank.