Foreigners

Are you a foreign national planning to buy a house, land or an apartment in Poland? Do you need help obtaining an MSWiA permit to buy property in Poland? Or have you already submitted an application and received a request for additional documents or explanations?

Verdict Partners Law Firm helps foreign buyers obtain an MSWiA property acquisition permit in Poland. We have handled dozens of applications resulting in permits being granted. We also assist with MSWiA applications concerning the acquisition of shares in Polish companies by foreign nationals and applications for a promise of a property acquisition permit.

We will assess whether your planned property purchase requires an MSWiA permit. If a permit is required, we will prepare the application and supporting documentation and represent you throughout the proceedings before the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration (MSWiA).

Our law firm is based in Warsaw. We handle applications concerning properties anywhere in Poland, including for clients living abroad. We also provide legal assistance in English.

How can we help with your MSWiA property permit application?

We provide comprehensive legal assistance throughout the MSWiA permit procedure, from assessing whether a permit is required, through preparing the documentation and representing you, to obtaining a certificate confirming that the decision is final and no longer subject to ordinary administrative or judicial challenge. Our services include:

• Assessing whether a foreign buyer needs a property acquisition permit: we check whether your planned purchase requires an MSWiA permit or qualifies for an exemption under the Polish Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners.
• Gathering the required documents: together with you, we identify the documents that must accompany the application, help obtain missing certificates and information, check that the attachments are up to date and identify which documents require translation by a sworn translator.
• Preparing the permit application: we identify the property covered by the application, the right to be acquired and the size of any ownership share. We draft the application and its factual and legal justification, present your circumstances clearly and organise the supporting documents relating to the buyer, the property and the proposed acquisition.
• Demonstrating ties with Poland and sources of funding: we select evidence appropriate to your personal, family, professional and financial circumstances. We help establish which facts matter in your case and how to document them, helping you avoid common mistakes in MSWiA property permit applications.
• Submitting the application to MSWiA: we file the application on your behalf.
• Representing you before MSWiA after the application is submitted: we handle correspondence with the Ministry, respond to requests, submit explanations and additional documents where necessary, and monitor the progress of the proceedings.
• Keeping in touch and providing progress updates: throughout the case, we keep you informed about the proceedings and every action we take. We respond to emails on the same working day and return missed calls. We promptly forward correspondence received from MSWiA, explain what it means and set out the next steps. This ensures that you always know how your application is progressing and can be confident that we are looking after your case.
• Assisting with delays in MSWiA proceedings: we examine why the case has not been concluded within the statutory time limit, take steps to obtain a decision as soon as possible and assess whether a formal reminder concerning inactivity or excessive delay is justified.

We explain the procedure and documentation requirements in more detail in our comprehensive guide to obtaining an MSWiA property acquisition permit in Poland.

How long does it take to obtain an MSWiA property acquisition permit?

In our experience, a properly prepared and complete application is often processed within two to four months. This is an indicative timeframe and may be longer depending on the circumstances of the case and the course of the proceedings.

The time needed to obtain a decision depends primarily on the completeness of the information in the application and the supporting documentation. If the application is incomplete, MSWiA will request additional information or documents, which can extend the proceedings and delay the decision, sometimes by several months. An approaching deadline for signing the property sale agreement does not guarantee an earlier decision. Preparing the application correctly and including the appropriate supporting documents is therefore essential.

How much does legal assistance with an MSWiA permit cost?

We agree our legal fees before starting work, taking into account factors such as the complexity of the case, the type of buyer (an individual or a company), the scope of work required and the legal status of the property.

The agreed fee does not increase during the proceedings, even if the case proves more complex or MSWiA requests additional documents, information or explanations. Preparing and submitting these as part of the case is included in the agreed fee, so you know from the outset how much our legal services will cost.

Official fees are separate from our legal fees. The stamp duty for issuing a property acquisition permit is PLN 1,570, while the fee for a promise of a permit is PLN 98. You should also allow for stamp duty of PLN 17 for submitting a power of attorney and any sworn translation costs.

What documents are required for an MSWiA property permit application?

The documents required to obtain an MSWiA permit to buy property in Poland depend on the buyer’s citizenship and residence status, the type of property and the source of financing.

At the start of our work together, we prepare a tailored checklist of documents and information needed for your MSWiA application. The checklist is adapted to your circumstances and the property you intend to acquire.

We aim to submit complete documentation and explain all material circumstances fully when filing the application. This helps reduce the risk of requests for additional information or documents and the resulting delays.

We obtain documents directly from the seller, developer and public authorities wherever we can act under the power of attorney you have granted us.

There is no single fixed list of documents and information to be submitted to MSWiA. We determine the requirements individually, taking into account the buyer, the property and the proposed transaction. In more complex cases, the application may require several dozen documents, including:

• documents relating to the foreign buyer, confirming identity, citizenship and residence status and, for companies, registration details, authorised representation and the control structure,
• evidence of the foreign buyer’s permanent ties with Poland, selected according to the applicant’s personal, family, residence and professional circumstances,
• documents concerning the legal status of the property,
• documents concerning the seller and the intention to sell,
• financial documents confirming the declared sources of funding and the lawful origin of the funds.

Foreign nationals buying, renting or owning property in Poland often face legal rules and procedures that differ from those in their home countries. We support international clients in property matters in Poland, from reviewing a property’s legal status and analysing contracts to handling purchase transactions, advising on leases and representing clients in disputes.

We assist foreign nationals and foreign entrepreneurs planning to start a business in Poland. We also help foreigners who are already running a business in Poland and need ongoing or occasional legal support. We provide comprehensive legal services to companies operating in the Polish market, from selecting the appropriate legal form and registering the business, through ongoing advice on commercial law, to representation in proceedings before courts and government agencies.

We understand that Polish labour law and its practical application may differ from the systems familiar to foreigners in their home countries. Combined with the language barrier, this can lead to uncertainty and the risk of making unfavorable career decisions.

That is why we provide comprehensive legal services in the field of labour law in Poland, including the analysis and negotiation of employment contracts, advice on employee rights and obligations, and representation of foreign nationals in disputes with employers before labour courts. We assist clients in pursuing claims, including in cases involving termination of employment, compensation, and violations of employee rights.

We also assist foreign nationals in criminal cases conducted in Poland. Thanks to our litigation experience and knowledge of court procedures, we provide reliable and dedicated representation at every stage of the case.

We represent clients both during preliminary proceedings before law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor’s office and in criminal proceedings before courts of first and second instance.

We ensure that our clients’ legal position is properly presented in court and take steps to protect their legal rights and interests. Our goal is always to provide an effective defense, minimize legal risk, and strive for the most favorable outcome possible.