Financing Property in Poland as a Non-Pole

Citizens of the EEA and Switzerland can buy property in Poland on equal terms with Poles, with limits on agricultural and forest land. For citizens of other countries, purchasing real estate generally requires a permit from the Minister of the Interior, but there are broad exemptions. Buying an apartment (a separate residential unit) normally does not require a permit, nor does buying a plot of limited size in an urban area if you have lived in Poland for five years or are married to a Polish citizen. Houses, plots and agricultural land are where permits arise. A Polish notary will flag whether yours is needed, but check early, as the permit process takes months. See our Poland buying guide for the broader procedure and the apartments or houses pages to see what is on offer.

The National Bank of Poland's reference rate was cut to 3.75% in March 2026 and has stayed there through the summer, with inflation near 3.4% in August. Mortgage rates are variable, linked to the short-term interbank benchmark (WIBOR, which is being replaced by WIRON) plus a bank margin, so repayments follow monetary policy fairly quickly. Fixed periods of five years exist at some banks. Expect all-in rates well above eurozone levels. If your income is in euros or sterling, the exchange-rate risk of a zloty loan is yours, and foreign-currency mortgages are effectively unavailable to households after earlier problems with Swiss-franc loans. Test the numbers in the mortgage calculator.

PKO Bank Polski, mBank, ING Bank Śląski, Santander Bank Polska, Pekao and others lend to foreigners who have a work contract and residence status in Poland, and some accept EU citizens earning abroad. Typical terms:

• Loan-to-value: up to 80%, or around 90% with insurance of the low deposit, for borrowers with Polish income.
• Maturity: up to 30 years.
• Income test: stable employment, often with a minimum of three to six months in the current job for foreigners, and the contract must cover the loan period or be indefinite.
• Currency: zloty income is strongly preferred; foreign income draws a haircut.

A purely non-resident applicant with no Polish income will struggle, which is why many use cash.

On the secondary market the buyer pays a civil-law transactions tax (PCC) of 2% of the market value, plus notary fees on a tariff scale, and court fees for entry in the land and mortgage register. New-build apartments from developers carry VAT, generally at a reduced rate for residential units within certain size limits, and no PCC. Agents commonly charge up to around 3%. Annual property tax is local and modest for residential space. The rules have exemptions, so confirm everything with your notary.

1. Obtain a preliminary credit decision from a bank or broker.
2. Sign a preliminary agreement before a notary, paying a deposit (zadatek) that you forfeit if you back out.
3. Complete due diligence on the land and mortgage register (księga wieczysta).
4. Receive the bank's final loan agreement and valuation.
5. Sign the final deed before a notary and have the mortgage entered in the register.

Browse land plots and commercial property with extra care, since financing and permit rules differ from those for flats.

Many overseas buyers use equity from home, since Polish prices are lower than in Germany or the UK. See the entry-level stock under cheap properties and under 100,000 to judge the budget you need. Local market trends appear on the Poland analysis page, and the main Poland listings show current offers.