In short
For a mortgage you need your passport and residence document, PESEL, proof of income (an employment certificate or tax returns) with bank statements, and the property documents. Documents in a foreign language usually need a sworn translation. On top of the down payment, plan roughly 2–4% of the price for buying costs on the resale market and less when buying from a developer.
Documents for the mortgage application
Identity and residence
- passport, or an ID card for EU citizens,
- residence card, or the certificate of registration of residence for EU citizens,
- PESEL number,
- for Ukrainian citizens: confirmation of UKR status or the CUKR card, see the guide for Ukrainian citizens.
Income
- Employment contract: an employment and salary certificate from your employer, usually on the bank's form, and bank statements showing your salary for the last 3–6 months.
- Self-employed or B2B: certificates from ZUS and the tax office that you have no arrears, your annual tax return (PIT) with confirmation of filing, and current results.
- Income from abroad: contract, payslips, annual tax statement and bank statements, often with sworn translations. Only some banks accept it.
Other
- agreements for other loans and credit cards, if you have them,
- proof of the down payment, for example a bank statement,
- marriage certificate or a prenuptial agreement, if relevant.
Property
- Resale market: preliminary sale agreement, land and mortgage register number (księga wieczysta), and the document by which the seller acquired the property.
- From a developer: developer agreement or reservation agreement and the developer's prospectus.
- House with land: if you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, usually also the MSWiA permit, see buying property as a foreigner.
Certificates are usually valid for about 30 days, so order them once you have chosen the bank.
Translations
Banks accept documents in Polish. Documents in other languages, such as a foreign employment contract or a marriage certificate, usually need a translation by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły). At the notary, if you do not speak Polish, a sworn interpreter must be present and translate the deed for you. Book the interpreter early, usually for a few hundred złoty.
Costs of buying a flat
An example for a resale flat priced at 600,000 zł, bought without an estate agent:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tax on civil law transactions (PCC), 2% of the price | 12,000 zł, or 0 zł for a first home if you meet the conditions |
| Maximum notary fee including VAT | about 1,950 zł |
| Court fees for entering ownership and the mortgage in the land register | 400 zł |
| PCC on the mortgage | 19 zł |
| Copies of the deed, property valuation | a few hundred złoty |
| Sworn interpreter at the notary, if needed | a few hundred złoty |
The 2% tax does not apply if you buy your first home and meet the conditions for the exemption. The notary will ask you to confirm that you have never owned a home, and ownership abroad may also count, so check this with the notary in advance. For the sale of a flat the maximum notary fee is half the standard rate on both the resale and the new-build market. When you buy from a developer, the price already includes VAT and you do not pay the 2% tax, but you also share the cost of the developer agreement at the notary. An estate agent usually charges 1–3% of the price plus VAT.
The bank may also charge an arrangement fee, require life and property insurance and charge a higher margin until the mortgage is entered in the land register. We show all these costs in the written comparison, so you can see the total cost and not only the instalment.
Frequently asked questions
Do my documents need to be translated?
Banks and notaries work in Polish. Documents in other languages usually need a sworn translation, and at the notary a sworn interpreter must be present if you do not speak Polish.
How much are buying costs in Poland?
On the resale market roughly 2–4% of the price: 2% tax (unless you qualify for the first home exemption), notary, court fees and valuation. Buying from a developer is cheaper, because there is no 2% tax.
How long are certificates valid?
Usually about 30 days. Order them once you have chosen the bank.
Sources
- Regulation on maximum notary fees (Polish legal database ISAP)
- Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF): Recommendation S on mortgage lending
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.