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POZNAN, POLAND 

Things to know
about Poznan

Poland's Former Capital City

 

Poznan was once the capital of Poland and is still the capital of the Wielkopolska region.

As Poland's 5th largest city, Poznan lies midway between Berlin and Warsaw, which has helped make it an important town for centuries.

Badly damaged in World War II, the city (especially its Old Town) has been beautifully restored. The huge Old Town Square (Stary Rynek) is one of Europe’s nicest and is lined by fabulous historical attractions, restaurants and nightlife, which combines a unique heritage with a rich cultural offering, lively 

atmosphere and spirit of entrepreneurship.

 

This is the very place where Polish statehood was born in the 10th century. It is believed that Duke Mieszko I was baptised here, joining the ranks of medieval European rulers.

 

Among the must-see attractions, you will find Stary Rynek (The Old Market Square). With its magnificent Renaissance Town Hall and Billy Goats, it remains the city’s biggest attraction since the 13th century.

 

Poznan might also surprise you. You will see an enormous medieval-like castle, which in fact is the youngest castle in Europe, built in the early 20th century for German emperor Wilhelm II.

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Poznań is a centre of trade, sports, education, technology and tourism. It is an important academic site, with about 130,000 students and Adam Mickiewicz University, the third largest Polish university

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A gem in Poland not to be missed! 

 

Under the typical tourists' radar and just the right size to explore, Poznań is full of surprises, from cafes in hidden courtyards to riverbank summer pop-ups. Its bourgeois facade masks its anarchic, rebellious side and it has friendly people, an entrepreneurial spirit and an artistic vibe. 

The city has a unique intimacy with its flat, bike-friendly geography giving the sense that everything is nearby, including the countryside.

 

One of Poznan's many strong points is its distinctive, regional cuisine which will please even the pickiest of palates! as well. Many of Poznan's hundreds of restaurants are recommended by the Polish edition of the prestigious Gault&Millau Yellow Guide.

 

Poznanians live in a city of greenery with numerous parks, like the Citadel Park and large recreation complexes with Lake Malta just 3 km from the city centre. You may call Poznan a compact city suitable to discover on foot or by bicycle.

 

Poznan is a host to international festivals, such as the International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition (the oldest event of its kind in the world), Malta Festival, Ethno Port (deemed to be one of the 25 best world music festivals in the world) or the International Ice Sculpture Festival.

 

Last but not least you cannot forget that Poznan is a city with a long tradition of international trade. Poznan International Fair, with its nearly 100 years of history, is the largest organiser of fairs and congresses in Central-Eastern Europe.

How does Poznan Compare? 

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The average cost of living in Poznan is €845, which is in the top 37% of the least expensive cities in the world, ranked 5863rd out of 9294 in a recent global list and 8th out of 79 in Poland.

 

The median after-tax salary is €900, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1.1 months.

 

Ranked 956th (TOP 10%) in the list of best places to live in the world and 7th best city to live in Poland.

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With an estimated population of approximately 551K, Poznan is the 5th largest city in Poland. 

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In general, prices in Poznan are lower than in most bigger cities in Western Europe. However, be careful not to overspend: the amount of money you’ll spend always depends on your own personal priorities and lifestyle.

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Rent is expensive in Poznan, which is why many people share flats, but renting a small room in an apartment isn’t cheap either. The rents, in general, have skyrocketed over the last years due to an increase in tourism and, of course, AirBnB.

 

If you’re looking for a cheap apartment, you’ll have to settle for one outside of the city centre, which will cost you around €315 per month.

If you’re looking for a larger apartment for your entire family, count on paying around (or over) €700 per month. 

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The cost of utilities 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 approx. €150-€165. During winter, the bills might go up because of the heating.

Cost of Living
in Poznan

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.

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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

  • 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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CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Eligibility to Work in Poznan

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.

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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?

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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

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Documents required to register the stay

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  1. Application for registering the residence completed in Polish (1 original + 3 photocopies),

  2. Student status statement  (issued by the Dean’s office at your faculty),

  3. Proof of medical insurance (e.g. European Health Insurance Card – EHIC or other),

  4. 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),

  5. 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.

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Step 2 – EU/EEA citizens: register your residence

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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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  1. 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),

  2. valid ID card or passport,

  3. 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:
 

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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:
 

  • A completed application form

  • Proof of the paid application fees

  • Current records of the employer’s economic activity

  • Proof of applicants health insurance

  • A deed for the company

  • Copies with relevant travel information on the applicant’s passport pages

  • A copy of a statement regarding profits or losses sustained by the employer

  • Confirmation and evidence of the legal status of the employer from the National Court Register

  • 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:
 

  • Conditions of employment meet all applicable employment regulations, including articles of the Labour Code.

  • According to the Voivodeship Office, remuneration should not be 30% lower than the average monthly wage.

  • 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:
 

  • Give you the employment contract in writing

  • Provide you with a translation of the employment contract in your preferred language

  • Check the validity and make a copy of your residence permit or visa

  • 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.
     

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Benefits of a work permit

Once you get the work permit for Poland, you can:

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  • Legally work in Poland

  • Legalize your stay in the country

  • Do the work defined in the work permit

  • 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.

Want to work in Poznan? Click here now for information on all multi-lingual roles in Poland

Poznan
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