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LUBLIN, POLAND
Things to know
about Lublin
South East Poland's Largest City
Lublin is the ninth-largest city in Poland and the second-largest city of historical Lesser Poland.
It is the capital and the center of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of approximately 336,339.
Lublin is the largest Polish city east of the Vistula River and is about 170 km to the southeast of Warsaw by road.
Noted for its green spaces and a high standard of living; the city has been selected as the "2023 European Youth Capital".
Its historical Old Town is one of Poland's national monuments (Pomnik historii) tracked by the National Heritage Board of Poland.
Founded as a stronghold in the late 9th century, the settlement grew up around the castle and received town rights in 1317. It served as a joint meeting ground for Poland and Lithuania, and in 1569 the Union of Lublin between the two kingdoms was signed there.
Located on the route between Kraków, Warsaw, and Russia, Lublin is the industrial and cultural centre for southeastern Poland. Agricultural machinery, chemicals, automobiles and trucks, foodstuffs (especially sugar), and beer are produced.
The city houses the Catholic University and the Marie Curie-Skłodowska University, as well as schools of medicine, agronomy, and engineering, and supports many museums, theatres, and music centres.
A place where past and present collide.
As with many Polish towns and cities, Lublin has a particularly impressive Old Town.
What is special about the Old Town in Lublin is that it is more enclosed than most other Polish cities, and there is a starker and more obvious contrast here between the old and the new.
Head through the main gate to the Old Town Square, admire the Old Town Hall and check out the many poky side streets and alleys while sampling some of the coolest bars, cafés and restaurants in Eastern Poland.
Its notable landmarks include the medieval castle, which was restored in 1954; built in the 14th century, it was remodeled in a neo-Gothic style during the 19th century and was later used for a time as a prison.
Its Chapel of the Holy Trinity houses the Lublin Museum and contains some remarkable Byzantine frescoes from 1418.
While spending time in Lublin, you will want to know what culinary delights are on offer, and there are a huge range of restaurants, mostly within the Old Town and Krakowskie Przedmieście.
Head to Bar and Restauracja Starówka for some excellent pierogi domowe (homemade Polish dumplings) and regionalne piwo (local beer).
If you happen to chat with the local Polish people in Lublin, they’ll also tempt you to try a Polish vodka shot or two
How does Lublin Compare?
The average cost of living in Lublin is approximately €800, which is in the top 35% of the least expensive cities in the world, ranked 6008th out of 9294 in a recent global list and 12th out of 79 in Poland.
The median after-tax salary is €777, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1 month.
Ranked 1412th (TOP 15%) in the list of best places to live in the world and 8th best city to live in Poland. With an estimated population of approximately 340K, Lublin is the 9th largest city in Poland.
Lublin is definitely on the less expensive side when it comes to the cost of living.
Like anywhere else, however, the amount of money you spend here depends on your own preferences and what expenses you prefer to cut in order to save some money.
Rent in Lublin is higher than in most other Polish cities, and this makes sense since it’s a city with tourist spots and great historical significance.
If you want to save some money, look for an apartment outside of the city, and your rent will be around €322 per month.
If you’re looking for a larger apartment, for your entire family, count on paying around or upwards of €700 per month.
Utilities are much lower than what is considered to be the average in Poland. It mostly depends on the size of your apartment and how much electricity you spend. Basics like electricity, water, gas and garbage services in an apartment of 85m2 will cost you around €117. During winter, the bills might go up because of the heating.
Cost of Living
in Lublin
Polish income tax law provides that an individual who is considered a Polish tax resident is liable to Polish income tax on their worldwide income.
In these circumstances, the individual is considered to have an unlimited tax liability. Conversely, if an individual is a non-resident for tax purposes of Poland, they are considered to have a limited Polish tax liability.
As such, the individual is only liable to Polish income tax in respect of Polish-sourced income.
An individual is defined as resident of Poland, if at least one below-mentioned conditions is fulfilled:
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the individual has closer personal or economic relations with Poland (centre of vital interests in Poland), OR
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the individual stays on the territory of Poland longer than 183 days in a given fiscal year.
Only one of the above conditions need to be met for an individual to be considered a tax resident of Poland. The official currency of Poland is the Polish zloty (PLN).
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Eligibility to Work in Lublin
Poland immigration under the category of work is made available to non-EU citizens through five different types of work permits with a duration for which the work permit granted is constant.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland do not need to apply for a visa to enter Poland. They may cross the border on the basis of a valid travel document: an ID card or a passport.
If they are going to stay less than three months, they do not need to register their stay as foreigners but they do have to do it if their stay exceeds three months.
Students from non-EU/EEA member countries should apply for a visa for educational purposes through the Polish consulate or embassy in their home country.
Step 1 – EU/EEA citizens: register your stay in Poland
Citizens of the European Union (EU), of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries or from Switzerland planning to study and stay in Poland for a period exceeding 3 months must register their stay within the first three months of their stay in Poland.
Where to register?
Lubelskie Province Governor’s Office in Lublin
Department for Foreigners
(in Polish: Lubelski Urząd Wojewódzki, Wydział Spraw Obywatelskich i Cudzoziemców, Oddział ds. Cudzoziemców)
ul. Czechowska 15
Lublin
tel.: 81 7424559
Documents required to register the stay
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Application for registering the residence completed in Polish (1 original + 3 photocopies),
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Student status statement (issued by the Dean’s office at your faculty),
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Proof of medical insurance (e.g. European Health Insurance Card – EHIC or other),
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Proof of sufficient financial funds to live in Poland (it may be a certification from the university of origin about the Erasmus grant or a bank statement),
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Photocopy of a valid travel document (e.g. an ID card or a passport) + original document to show for verification).
Fees: free of charge
All documents submitted in foreign languages should be translated into Polish by a sworn translator.
You may access the list of Polish sworn translators at:
https://ms.gov.pl/en/translators/
After the registration the EU/EEA citizens will be given a certificate of registration of residence.
Step 2 – EU/EEA citizens: register your residence
Citizens of EU/EEA and Switzerland are required to register their new place of residence in Lublin within 30 days.
Where to register?
Residents’ Service Centre
(in Polish: Biuro Obsługi Mieszkańców)
20-071 Lublin
ul. Wieniawska 17 (1st floor, desks No 15, 16, 17)
Documents required
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Registration Form (it should be completed and signed by the student and then by the dormitory manager. If a room or a flat is rented instead, the rental agreement is required as well),
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valid ID card or passport,
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Registration of residence of a European Union citizen from the Department for Foreigners (see Step 1).
The five different types of visas, requirements, steps, and benefits to obtain a Poland work permit are elaborated below.
Types of work permit in Poland
If you are a non-EU citizen and wish to work in Poland, you will need a work permit to enter the country.
The validity of a work permit is for three years. The work permit is valid for only one job, and you can use it to perform only those tasks mentioned in your application form. If you are changing careers, you must apply for a new work permit.
Poland offers five work visa types; these include:
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Type A – If you find employment based on an employment contract or civil law contract with an employer with an office registered in Poland. This is the most famous work permit.
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Type B – This work permit is valid if you are a board member residing in Poland for a total period exceeding six months within 12 subsequent months.
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Type C –You can apply for this work permit if you are sent to Poland by a foreign employer for more than 30 days in a calendar year to work for the foreign employer’s subsidiary or branch office.
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Type D – You are eligible for this visa if a foreign employer temporarily sends you to work in export services. The foreign employer must not have a branch or subsidiary in Poland.
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Type E – You can apply for this visa if you take up work-related tasks that do not fall into the above four categories.
Requirements to acquire Poland work permit
The employer must provide the necessary documents to acquire a work permit on behalf of a foreign employee. These documents include:
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A completed application form
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Proof of the paid application fees
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Current records of the employer’s economic activity
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Proof of applicants health insurance
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A deed for the company
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Copies with relevant travel information on the applicant’s passport pages
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A copy of a statement regarding profits or losses sustained by the employer
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Confirmation and evidence of the legal status of the employer from the National Court Register
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A copy of a contract following the service being provided in Poland
Steps to apply for Poland work permit:
The employer has to apply for a work permit on your behalf. Let‘s assume that you have found an employer willing to hire you and that your stay is legalized (either on a visa you have obtained or on a residence permit).
Your potential employer must fill out a work permit application containing the name of the company you are recruiting and your future job description within this company to get a work permit.
If you have succeeded in getting a job offer in Poland, then your employer has to apply for a work permit on your behalf.
Here are a few necessary steps to apply for the work permit:
Step-1: Conducting a Labor Market Test
An employer must conduct a labor market examination before applying for a foreign work visa. This test aims to see if any Polish citizens or other EU citizens are qualified to fill the role. These people take precedence over foreign nationals.
If no qualified job seekers are available, the employer can apply for a work visa on your behalf.
Step-2: The Application Process
The employer must include documents confirming that the following conditions are met with the application:
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Conditions of employment meet all applicable employment regulations, including articles of the Labour Code.
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According to the Voivodeship Office, remuneration should not be 30% lower than the average monthly wage.
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Work permits are issued by a local “voivode” (government land head) and are given for the duration of stay needed to perform the work stated in the declaration of your employer. You need to sign an employment contract with the employer that applied for your permit to make the work permit valid.
Step-3: Issuing the Work Permit
Employees should be informed that their work permits are only valid for employment with the company that applied for them. If they decide to change jobs, their new employer will have to file for further permission.
Your employer is legally obliged to:
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Give you the employment contract in writing
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Provide you with a translation of the employment contract in your preferred language
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Check the validity and make a copy of your residence permit or visa
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Notify social security and health insurance institutions within seven days after the employment contract is signed, which gives you access to free healthcare, sickness leave, and other social benefits.
Benefits of a work permit
Once you get the work permit for Poland, you can:
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Legally work in Poland
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Legalize your stay in the country
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Do the work defined in the work permit
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Sign a work contract with your employer
The processing of the visa should take about 10 to 12 days. Once you have entered Poland on a work permit, you can legally work here.
