In short
An EU citizen with a PESEL number, a certificate of registration of residence and income from work in Poland gets a mortgage in most banks on the same terms as a Polish citizen, and buys a flat, a house or a building plot without a permit from the Ministry of the Interior. It gets harder when you earn in your home country: a salary in euro or in Czech koruna is accepted by some banks, usually with a currency buffer and a 20% down payment, income in forints by few banks, and income in lei usually not at all.
Not sure which bank will accept your income? An expert will check it with banks for your citizenship and income currency. Free and with no obligation.
Ask an expert which bank accepts your incomeDocuments you need
- Certificate of registration of residence of an EU citizen. The basic document for the bank if you stay in Poland longer than 3 months. The voivode issues it on the spot or within a few days.
- Document confirming the right of permanent residence. After 5 years in Poland. Banks treat it as the strongest residence document.
- ID card or passport of your EU country, for the contract and for the BIK check together with your PESEL number.
- Proof of income in Poland: an employer’s income certificate, or the PIT return and company documents if you run a business.
- Statements from a Polish bank account for 3–6 months, showing your salary.
An EU citizen does not need a residence card or a work permit. Documents in another language are usually accepted with a sworn translation.
What differs by country
For a salary paid in Poland the rules are the same for every EU citizen. Differences start when you earn in your home country’s currency.
| Citizenship | Income currency | Banks counting it |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | euro | some banks |
| France | euro | some banks |
| Italy | euro | some banks |
| Czechia | Czech koruna | some banks |
| Slovakia | euro | some banks |
| Romania | Romanian leu | usually not |
| Hungary | Hungarian forint | few banks |
| Bulgaria | euro (since 2026) | some banks |
- Germany. Some banks accept a salary in euro from a German employer, often only in part or with a currency buffer, and more often with a 20% down payment. Polish banks do not see German SCHUFA data.
- France. Remote work for a French company: the bank looks at the contract, the payer’s country and where you pay tax. Prepare French payslips, the employment contract and the tax notice with a sworn translation.
- Italy. Own business in Poland: banks usually want 12 months of activity (24 in some banks) and the PIT return for the previous year. Income from Italy is accepted by some banks only, usually with a higher down payment.
- Czechia. Living in Poland and working in Czechia: some banks accept income in CZK, converted to złoty with a currency buffer, and more often ask for 20% down.
- Slovakia. A salary in euro from Slovakia is accepted by some banks, converted to złoty with a currency buffer, usually with a 20% down payment.
- Romania. Civil-law contract or agency work: the bank checks that contracts run without breaks, usually for 6–12 months. Income in lei is usually not counted. A Moldovan citizen with a Romanian passport is an EU citizen for the bank.
- Hungary. Few banks count income in forints, usually only in part and with a higher down payment. A salary in złoty or a co-borrower earning in Poland makes it easier.
- Bulgaria. Bulgaria has paid in euro since 1 January 2026, so banks assess income from Bulgaria like any income in euro: some banks accept it, usually with a 20% down payment.
Typical bank requirements
- Employment. As for a Polish citizen: with an employment contract, usually after the probation period or 3–6 months with the employer.
- Down payment. Usually 10–20%. With income from abroad banks more often want 20%.
- Credit history. A Polish bank does not see foreign credit registers. A short history in the Polish BIK does not rule you out.
- Affordability test. As for everyone, the bank checks the instalment at an interest rate at least 2.5 percentage points higher, and all instalments may usually take 40–50% of net income (KNF Recommendation S).
- Language. The loan agreement and the notarial deed are in Polish. If you do not speak Polish, a sworn translator must be present at the deed.
Buying a flat or a house
As an EU citizen you buy a flat, a house and a building plot in Poland without a permit from the Ministry of the Interior, just like a Polish citizen. Separate rules apply to agricultural and forest land, but they apply to Polish citizens too.
The Polish version of this page has a mortgage affordability calculator and a section for each country: Kredyt hipoteczny dla obywatela UE.
Frequently asked questions
Can an EU citizen get a mortgage in Poland?
Yes. An EU citizen who lives in Poland, has a PESEL number and a certificate of registration of residence gets a mortgage on terms close to a Polish citizen, if they earn in Poland.
Will a Polish bank accept my salary in euro from another EU country?
Some banks will, often only part of it or with a buffer for exchange rate changes, and with a down payment of at least 20%. Income in Czech koruna is accepted by some banks, in forints by few, and income in lei is usually not counted.
Do I need a permit to buy a house in Poland as an EU citizen?
No. Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland buy flats, houses and building plots without a permit from the Ministry of the Interior. Separate rules for agricultural and forest land apply to Polish citizens too.
Can I take a mortgage in euro?
Banks lend in a foreign currency only to people who earn in that currency, and few banks offer it today. A loan in złoty is usually more convenient.
Can the notarial deed be in my language?
The deed is in Polish. The notary arranges a sworn translator and records in the deed that it was translated.
Sources
- Act of 24 March 1920 on the acquisition of real estate by foreigners (Polish text)
- Ministry of the Interior (MSWiA): FAQ on the purchase of real estate by foreigners (Polish)
- Mortgage Credit Act of 23 March 2017 (ISAP, Polish)
This guide describes general rules and typical bank practice as of October 2026. Details
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.
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