Moving to Poland is easier to plan once you know which rules apply to you. The main question is where you are moving from: within the European Union, belongings move freely; from the UK, Switzerland or Norway, your household goods cross a customs border. This guide walks you through the key steps – from registering your stay to shipping furniture to Poland – and tells you where to check the details.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules depend on your circumstances, so always confirm the specifics with the relevant office.
Who this guide is for: EU citizens and UK or other non-EU citizens
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have the right to live in Poland. You don’t need a visa or a residence permit, but you do have to register your stay if it lasts longer than three months (see below). Your belongings move between EU countries without customs formalities.
UK and other non-EU citizens follow different rules. Since 1 January 2021, British citizens moving to Poland are treated like other non-EU nationals: to stay longer than a visa-free visit allows, you need a legal basis for your stay – usually a temporary residence permit issued by the voivode (the regional governor) for your area. The application must be submitted no later than the last day of your legal stay in Poland – check the current procedure with the voivodeship office well in advance. If you lived in Poland before Brexit, different rules under the Withdrawal Agreement may apply to you.
Moving from the UK also means that your household goods are imported from outside the EU customs union. The good news: they can usually be brought in free of customs duty – read on.
Registering your stay and your address in Poland
There are three separate formalities, and it helps to keep them apart.
Registration of residence for EU citizens
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and stay in Poland for longer than three months, you must register your residence with the voivodeship office (urząd wojewódzki) responsible for where you live. The deadline is the day after the end of the three-month period from your entry into Poland. You normally apply in person.
Depending on your situation, you will need proof that you meet the conditions of residence – for example an employment contract, proof of self-employment or, if you are not working, health insurance and sufficient resources. The application also requires biometric photographs and a valid passport or ID card. Registration is free, and the certificate is valid for 10 years. Not registering can lead to a fine. EU citizens who come to Poland to look for work may stay for up to six months without registering, as long as they are actively seeking a job.
Address registration (zameldowanie)
Separately, everyone who lives in Poland registers their address at the municipal office (urząd gminy or urząd miasta) – this is called zameldowanie. If your stay will not last longer than 30 days, you don’t need to register.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members must register no later than the 30th day after moving in. They can also register online through gov.pl with a Polish trusted profile (profil zaufany) or a qualified electronic signature.
- Other foreigners, including UK citizens, must register no later than the 4th day after moving in, in person at the office.
You will need a valid passport or ID card (non-EU citizens also need the document that entitles them to stay in Poland) and proof of your right to live in the property, such as a rental agreement. The registration itself is free.
PESEL number
The PESEL is Poland’s personal identification number. You will need it for many everyday matters. In most cases it is assigned automatically when you register your address for a stay of more than 30 days. If you cannot register but need a PESEL, you can apply for one at a municipal office.
Bringing your household goods and furniture to Poland
Moving within the EU
If you are moving to Poland from another EU country – for example from Germany, the Netherlands or Ireland – your furniture and belongings are not subject to customs duty and there is no customs clearance. You simply plan the removal.
Moving from the UK, Switzerland or Norway: customs relief for household goods
The UK, Switzerland and Norway are outside the EU customs union. Belongings coming from these countries go through customs, but your household goods (mienie przesiedlenia) can be released free of customs duty under the transfer-of-residence relief. The main conditions according to the Polish tax and customs administration are:
- Residence abroad: you must have lived outside the EU for at least 12 continuous months before moving.
- Ownership and use: apart from consumables, the goods must have been in your possession and used at your previous home for at least six months before you left, and you must intend to use them for the same purpose in Poland.
- Timing: the goods must be declared within 12 months of you settling in Poland. They can be brought in several consignments within that period.
- No sale or rental: you must not sell, lend or hire out the goods for 12 months after they are released.
- Exclusions: alcohol, tobacco, commercial vehicles and non-portable professional equipment are not covered, and the goods must not be commercial in nature.
The relief is claimed when the customs declaration is made. Documents typically needed include:
- an inventory list of your belongings, with quantities and values, in two copies,
- proof of your residence abroad, for example an employment contract, a rental agreement or utility bills,
- proof of your new residence in Poland, for example a residence document, address registration, or a rental or employment contract.
Customs duty relief does not automatically mean exemption from VAT or excise, so check how these apply to your goods. Goods also leave the UK customs territory, so check the UK-side requirements on gov.uk as well.
Tip: start your inventory list early. A room-by-room list helps with the customs paperwork, with insurance and with getting an accurate quote for your removal.
Bringing your car to Poland
If Poland becomes your home and you keep your car here, you will normally need to register it in Poland.
- Deadline: for a car brought from another EU country, the application for registration must be filed with the vehicle registration office within 30 days of bringing it to Poland. You will also need proof of ownership, the foreign registration documents and a valid roadworthiness test (technical inspection). The office may ask for further documents.
- Excise duty (akcyza): excise duty is generally due on a passenger car that is registered in Poland for the first time. For a car acquired in another EU country, the excise declaration has a short deadline (14 days under the current form), and the rate depends, among other things, on the engine. When you register the car, you show proof that excise has been paid or that no excise is due. A car brought in as part of a transfer of residence may qualify for an excise exemption, but the conditions are strict.
- Cars from outside the EU: a car brought from the UK or another non-EU country must first be cleared through customs. As part of your household goods it may qualify for customs duty relief (the six-month ownership condition also applies to vehicles), but VAT and excise are assessed separately.
Car rules are detailed and change from time to time. Check them with the vehicle registration office (wydział komunikacji) for your area and the Polish tax and customs administration before you move.
If you would rather not drive, we can move your car for you – see car transport.
Moving to Poland with pets
Pets from another EU country
Dogs, cats and ferrets travelling within the EU need:
- a microchip,
- a valid rabies vaccination, given by a vet after the microchip – your pet must be at least 12 weeks old for the first vaccination, and you must wait at least 21 days after a primary vaccination before travelling,
- an EU pet passport issued by an authorised vet.
You can travel with up to five pets under these rules.
Pets from the UK
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you can’t use a pet passport to enter the EU. Instead, your pet needs an animal health certificate (AHC) from your vet, along with a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination (the same 21-day wait applies). The certificate must be issued no more than 10 days before your pet enters the EU. Check the current rules on gov.uk well before your moving date.
When to start planning: a moving to Poland checklist
8 weeks before
- Check which formalities apply to you (residence, customs, car, pets).
- Request quotes for your removal and fix your moving date.
- If you are moving from the UK, start your inventory list and gather proof of your residence abroad.
- Book a vet appointment if your pet needs a vaccination – remember the 21-day wait.
- Decide whether you need storage, for example if your new home in Poland won’t be ready in time.
4 weeks before
- Sort out what you are taking, selling or giving away – less volume means a smaller move.
- Arrange the documents for your car and check the registration rules in Poland.
- Give notice on utilities, internet and your current tenancy; arrange post forwarding.
- Confirm access details at both addresses (parking, lifts, stairs, narrow streets).
1 week before
- Finish packing, or confirm the packing date if you have booked a packing service.
- Put passports, ID, contracts, inventory list and pet documents in a folder you carry yourself.
- For a pet moving from the UK: collect the animal health certificate within the 10-day window.
- Confirm loading and delivery times with your moving company.
After you arrive
- Register your address (zameldowanie) and, if you are an EU citizen staying longer than three months, your residence at the voivodeship office.
- Register your car within the deadline.
What affects the cost of an international removal
There is no fixed price for a removal to Poland, because every move is different. The main factors are:
- Volume – how much furniture and how many boxes you are moving.
- Distance – the route between your current home and your new address in Poland.
- Access – parking, floors, lifts and how far items have to be carried at both ends.
- Packing and extra services – full packing, furniture protection, dismantling and reassembly, or transport only.
- Storage – if your belongings need to wait before delivery.
- Dates – your preferred moving date and how flexible you can be.
The more precisely you describe your move, the more accurate your quote will be.
Moving to Poland with 123Przeprowadzki
123Przeprowadzki is a moving company with offices in Poznań and Warsaw, carrying out international removals throughout Europe since 2008. We move private and business customers to Poland door to door – from packing and loading to transport, unloading and furniture assembly at your new home – with a dedicated coordinator who speaks English and German, and help with customs formalities.
If your new home isn’t ready yet, we can keep your belongings in storage until you are.
Tell us where you are moving from and to – fill in our free quote form or call us on +48 668 23 24 55. We will prepare a free, non-binding quote.
Last checked: October 2026. Rules change – please confirm details with the relevant office.
