How can a foreigner open a bank account in Poland?

If you are planning to go to Poland to study or work, then sooner or later you will need to open an account in one of the local banks. In this article we will tell you how to do this, and also consider the conditions for opening an account in several banks in Poland.

Opening a bank account by foreigners

First, let’s define the terms. Foreigners staying in Poland can be both residents and non-residents of this country. For example, if a citizen of Ukraine has been living in Poland for several years, he has a permanent job and a residence permit, then he is considered a resident, which means that the conditions for opening an account are the same for him. And, for example, a student from Belarus who came for a few months to study as an exchange student is a non-resident, and opening an account for her is a little more difficult, although quite possible.

Why might you need to open an account in Poland?

• – Receiving a salary/stipend/benefits.
• – Payment of utilities and other bills.
• – Issuing a card for everyday payments in stores and transport.
• – Additional legalization in the country.

In addition, the recent increase in the number of foreigners has encouraged banks to develop services available in the national languages ​​of those countries from which the largest number of migrants come to Poland.

Thus, many banks have consultants who speak Russian and Ukrainian, some websites and mobile applications allow you to choose your native language, and many printed advertising materials are translated into the languages ​​of neighboring countries.

How can a foreigner open an account in a Polish bank?

Residents of Poland must provide the following documents to open an account:

• – passport,
• – document confirming residence,
• – questionnaire/application – to be filled out at the bank.

If there is no resident card, then banks can accept a document confirming permanent residence in the country, for example, a rental agreement. For credit cards, you will additionally need proof of employment, sometimes a bank statement.

For non-residents, the list of documents for opening an account is as follows:

• – passport with visa or Karta pobytu,
• – questionnaire/application – to be filled out at the bank.

Most banks will require you to present PESEL (translated from Polish as General Electronic System of Population Registration). This is a cross between an individual’s registration number and a social security number. All visitors to the country are required to apply for PESEL if they plan to stay in Poland for longer than 30 days.

Banks often require a tax residence certificate from foreigners who do not have a resident card. It is issued by the tax office and contains information about the taxpayer’s place of residence for tax purposes. Students may be asked to present proof of study at a Polish university.

Deadline for opening an account in a Polish bank

The waiting period for a card for both residents and non-residents is 7-10 working days. As soon as it is ready, it will be sent to the address specified in the application form. The card will then need to be activated by phone or online.

Please note that not all banks are ready to work with non-residents. Employees of the institution may, at their discretion, ask for additional documents that will confirm the trustworthiness of the potential client.

Opening a bank account for Ukrainians and Belarusians

As we have already mentioned, the growing demand from migrants for banking services in Poland determines the corresponding supply.

Some Polish banks and representative offices actively cooperate with Ukrainian and Belarusian financial organizations. Ukrainians who have a card from the Polish bank BNP Paribas can withdraw money from Ukrsibbank ATMs for free.

A cooperation agreement was signed a couple of years ago by the Polish bank Pekao and Belagroprombank. True, the agreement was a framework agreement, and more specific information about the terms of the partnership was not published in the public domain.

Some Polish banks are offering initiatives to make it easier for foreigners to open an account. For example, Getin Bank has introduced a simplified procedure for opening an account for foreigners from European Union countries.

However, citizens of the countries of the former USSR can also use it: Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova.

As part of this procedure, to open an account you may need only 2 documents and a postal address in Poland.

And Credit Agricole Bank, to help foreigners who intend to open an account in Poland, has prepared a detailed list of documents in 4 languages ​​that can be requested by specialists of a financial institution. The register is divided into two parts: a list of documents for residents of EU countries and residents of other countries.

List of documents for residents of EU countries or Switzerland

— ID card, or passport, or Life Card;

— School ID (for minors).

+ one of the following documents:

→ one of the employment documents or evidence of conducting business activities in Poland (employment contract, civil law contract, etc.):

• employment contract,
• civil contract (including contacts with the manager),
• reference from the employer,
• certificate of completion of work (for example, from a recruitment agency),
• permanent residence permit,
• temporary residence permit,
• seasonal work permit,
• excerpt from CEIDG or KRS,
• written statement from the employer,
• written evidence of self-employment of a non-resident.

→ certificate of registration of the place of residence of an EU citizen or a document confirming the right to permanent residence in Poland;

→ purchase and sale agreement for residential real estate in the form of a notarial deed or rental agreement for residential real estate min. for 6 months;

→ documents on inheritance of residential real estate;

→ documents on donation of residential real estate;

→ national visa;

→ Schengen visa;

→ student card;

→ school ID;

→ certificate of admission to study;

→ a document confirming the submission of an application for extension of residence in Poland (for example, a voivode’s stamp in a foreign passport).

A document certifying the presence of a PESEL number (one of the following is sufficient):

• driver license,
• passport of a pensioner/pensioner,
• certificate of assignment of a PESEL number with an office stamp or in the form of an electronic imprint,
• residence card with entered PESEL number,
• certificate of registration (for temporary or permanent residence) with PESEL number and office stamp.

List of documents for residents of countries other than the EU and Switzerland

— Passport or Life Card;

— Consent for Acceptable Stay;

— School ID (for minors)

+ one of the following documents:

→ one of the documents confirming employment:

• employment contract,
• civil contract,
• reference from the employer,
• permanent residence permit,
• work permit,
• temporary residence and work permit,
• seasonal work permit,
• temporary residence permit for work
• in a profession requiring high qualifications,
• temporary residence permit for the purpose of
• business,
• excerpt from CEIDG or KRS,
• consent to permitted stay,
• written evidence of self-employment of a non-resident.

→ agreement for the purchase and sale of residential real estate in the name of the client in the form of a notarial deed;

→ national visa;

→ Schengen visa;

→ student card;

→ school ID;

→ a certificate of admission to study from a university or a document confirming the submission of an application for an extension of stay in Poland (for example, the voivode’s stamp in the passport);

→ certificate of assignment of a PESEL number with the entered home address (if the PESEL number is not included in the identity document) with the stamp of the department;

→ registration certificate with PESEL number and office stamp.

ATTENTION! In the case of work for a period of no more than 6 months in the next 12 months (regardless of the number of employers), a non-resident can provide: a statement of intention to entrust the work to a foreigner who is registered with the competent authority.

A document certifying the presence of a PESEL number (one of the following is sufficient):

• driver license;
• passport of a pensioner/pensioner;
• certificate of assignment of a PESEL number with an office stamp or in the form of an electronic imprint;
• residence card with entered PESEL number;
• certificate of registration (for temporary or permanent residence) with PESEL number and office seal.

Tips for opening a bank account in Poland

To ensure that your visit to the bank to open an account does not end in anything, we recommend following simple rules. These can really help save time:

1. Collect all possible documents, check their expiration dates.

• 2.On the eve of the visit, call the hotline and describe the situation, indicating your status. Check the list of required documents.
• 3. Study the bank’s offers, conditions for the account/card (for example, cost of service, additional features, etc.).
  4.If you follow these tips, your visit to the bank will most likely be successful, and you will not have to visit it several times.

What documents are needed to make a bank card?

Opening a bank card for an account is a fairly standard procedure for all European banks, including Polish ones, so no additional documents are required.

Which bank in Poland is better to open an account/card?

The question is relevant, but largely depends on what services you plan to use. If you want to make an account or card for further depositing money, check the interest rates on deposits in Polish banks. If you are planning to take out a loan, look for information on loan offers.

How to open a safe deposit box in Poland?

To open a safe deposit box in which you can store not only cash, but also valuables, you will need:

• ID card for residents,
• passport for non-residents,
• agreement with the bank.
  Here are approximate prices* for using a safe deposit box in Polish banks:
• Pekao – PLN 400 per year,
• BOŚ – 250 zlotys per year,
• Getin – PLN 250 per year.h

*This information is for reference only; please check with Polish banks for the current cost of the service.

If you are looking for a job and need help opening a bank account, contact our employment agency, we will be happy to provide you with vacancies and help you adapt to Poland.