Buying property in Poland as a foreigner
Most of what makes buying property in Poland difficult for a foreigner is not the law. It is not knowing which step comes next, which document actually protects you, and which of the costs quoted to you are fixed by statute and which are negotiable. Our guide covers those three things.
It is written for buyers looking at Warsaw and the municipalities around it, and it is the same material we go through with our own clients before their first viewing. Free, and yours in exchange for a way to reach you.
What is inside
1. Do you need a permit?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens buy on the same terms as Poles. For everyone else the rule depends on what you are buying - a standalone apartment is normally exempt, a house with land usually is not. Plus the border zone and agricultural land exceptions.
2. The purchase, step by step
Eight stages from brief to land register entry, including why the preliminary agreement is worth signing before a notary rather than privately, and when to start the mortgage conversation.
3. What it actually costs
PCC at 2% on resale and why it does not apply to a new build, the first-time buyer exemption, the statutory notary scale, the PLN 200 register fee, and which costs are negotiable.
4. Due diligence checklist
Nine things that are cheap to check before signing and expensive to find afterwards - starting with how to read the land and mortgage register yourself.
5. Asking prices vs registered sale prices
Why portal listings tell you what sellers hope for, and how to use Poland's register of registered transaction prices instead.
6. Common mistakes
The six that cost foreign buyers the most money and time, and how each one is avoided.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Polish law and tax rates change and individual cases differ - particularly on permits and on anything involving land. Have a lawyer or notary confirm your own situation before you sign. Figures in the guide were verified on 2026-08-29.
Prefer to read on the site first? Our page on the permit rules and guide to renting in Warsaw are free to read with no form at all.