Mortgage in Poland - Frequently Asked Questions

A big part of our job as a mortgage broker is answering customers’ questions. Over the years, we noticed you ask some of them more often, so we compiled them into one article for you to have a comprehensive guide on Polish mortgage.

Remember, the information below is general and reflects the market situation as of 14th November 2026. We always need to understand your specific circumstances at a specific point in time to advise how this information applies to you personally.

1. Am I eligible for a mortgage in Poland as a foreigner?

• Does my nationality or residence status affect my eligibility?

Yes, both nationality and residence can affect your mortgage outlook in Polish banks.

Nationality shouldn't be the deciding factor, but people from countries under international sanctions may be blocked from processing at certain banks because of their internal risk policies.

Residency status, on the other hand, is a major factor in whether you can apply at Bank A or B, as each bank has clear rules on what type of residency it accepts.

• Can I apply with a temporary residence card (karta pobytu czasowego), or do I need permanent residence?

Yes, a temporary residence card is enough to apply for a mortgage in Poland. In fact, one bank accepts no residence card at all.

• How long does my residence permit need to remain valid?

That depends on the bank’s policy. Some banks require the card to be valid only on the day we submit the mortgage application; some require it to be valid for at least 3, 6, or 12 months from that date, while one bank requires no permit at all.

• Do I need a PESEL number?

Yes, a PESEL number is a basic requirement across all banks when applying for a mortgage.

2. Which Polish banks are most likely to approve my mortgage application?

• Which banks currently offer mortgages to foreigners with my specific circumstances?

That always depends on your circumstances, so we need to know them first before we can answer. If you wish to check, you can contact us at office@loan-brokers.pl

• Are there banks that are more flexible regarding nationality, residence status, or employment?

There is no general rule for that. Each bank in Poland creates an internal scoring matrix for its customers and updates it periodically, so each case is about finding the bank or banks most likely to accept the customer under their current scoring matrix. That is a significant part of our scope as a certified mortgage broker: finding it for you.

• Will you approach several banks to maximize my chances?

Yes, in most cases, the mortgage application is submitted to 2-3 banks at the same time. Doing so has no negative impact on the customer’s chances, but it provides more flexibility and safety.

At the same time, the customer can choose to prioritize the offer from Bank A or B, depending on their preference.

3. How much mortgage can I realistically get in Poland?

• What is my estimated borrowing capacity based on my current income?

That depends on your income amount, but also its type (for example, the same net amount coming from employment and from a sole trader will be calculated differently by the banks), how long you have been receiving it, and how stable the bank considers it. We would need to know your exact data to answer this question precisely. You can inquire via office@loan-brokers.pl

• How do Polish banks calculate affordability?

Similar to residence status policy, each bank creates its own internal calculators which determine a customer’s affordability. As a mortgage broker, we have access to each bank’s calculator and can assess your affordability across the market.

The differences between the banks are significant. For example, as of 3rd November 2026, a household of a couple with a child earning 12 thousand PLN net together could receive a maximum of 667 thousand PLN at Bank A and 970 thousand PLN at Bank B.

There is one general rule that all banks must follow, set by the Polish Financial Authority (KNF): a DTI (debt-to-income) ratio that cannot exceed 65% (or 50% for households earning a national average salary or lower). However, this is the maximum allowed; some banks can reduce the DTI ratio depending on their customer scoring and/or their current appetite for granting mortgages.

• Do they consider bonuses, commissions, foreign income, or additional sources of income?

Yes, generally speaking, banks in Poland do consider other income in their creditworthiness calculations.

However, for example, a yearly bonus is less stable than a monthly salary for the bank, so they will give less weight to this income component in the overall affordability calculation.

Foreign income is often dismissed by banks; for example, they do not accept income from a business registered and taxed abroad.

It is a case-by-case situation, and each detail can be decisive in whether and how the bank considers non-standard income.

• How do existing loans, credit cards, and financial commitments affect my borrowing capacity?

They can have a significant impact, as they affect the DTI ratio we explained above.

While loan payments are self-explanatory, if you have a credit with an installment of 1000 PLN per month, it would consume roughly 1:1 of your monthly affordability for a mortgage.

It becomes less straightforward with a credit card because banks consider the total available limit as potentially used in the future and reduce your creditworthiness accordingly. So even if you used 200 PLN on your credit card, but its limit is 20 thousand PLN, it will have a significant impact on your mortgage affordability.

4. How much down payment do I need?

• Is 10% sufficient, or should I prepare 20% or more?

Some banks in Poland accept 10%, while others require 20% as the minimum down payment.

However, as a general rule, 10% mortgages have a higher interest rate than 20% mortgages because the so-called low-contribution insurance is included in the interest rate. So whenever possible, we recommend going with at least 20%.

There is also a running government guarantee program called “Family Housing Loan” (“Rodzinny Kredyt Mieszkaniowy”) that allows no down payment from the customer while getting a 20% down payment interest rate. We have explained this in detail in this Facebook post.

• Are the requirements different for foreigners?

No, the down payment requirements do not differ based on nationality.

• Can I use savings held in a foreign bank account?

Yes, but only if you transfer them to a Polish bank and convert them to PLN. Banks won’t consider any funds held abroad as collateral.

• How do I document the source of my down payment?

Generally, the down payment is required to activate the mortgage, so you don't need to prove it when applying for a mortgage, but you must pay it before the bank disburses its share of the funds needed to close the purchase transaction.

Any payments made to the seller as a deposit, or to the developer as a reservation fee, and so on, count toward your total required down payment.

5. Does the currency of my salary matter?

• Can I obtain a mortgage if my salary is paid in EUR, GBP, or another foreign currency?

The general rule for mortgages in Poland, set by the KNF, is that you cannot receive a mortgage in a currency other than the currency your income is in.

However, at the time of writing this article, there is only one bank offering mortgages in a currency other than PLN, to be precise, in EUR, and only to Poles working in the EU.

Above means that, virtually, as a foreign national, you can obtain a mortgage in Poland only in PLN based on your income in PLN; however, in some cases, foreign income can support your Polish income.

• Does my income need to be paid into a Polish bank account?

Yes, your income must be paid into a Polish bank account and taxed in Poland.

6. What documents and employment history do I need?

• Is a permanent employment contract (umowa o pracę na czas nieokreślony) required?

No, it is also possible to get a mortgage in Poland with other types of employment contracts.

• Can I apply with a fixed-term contract, B2B, or self-employment?

Yes, all of the mentioned forms of income are enough to apply, but not at every bank, and they are subject to specific requirements that differ greatly between banks.

• How long must I have worked in Poland?

This also depends on the bank. The shortest accepted employment continuity is 3 months, but some banks require even 12 months. For self-employment, it can be 1 year or even 2 full calendar years (meaning if you started a company in February 2025, this bank would accept your income no earlier than January 2028).

• Do I need a Polish credit history (BIK), and what if I have only recently moved here?

No, for mortgage processing, the lack of credit history is not an issue for the banks.

7. What are the total costs of taking a mortgage?

• What are the valuation, insurance, and bank fees?

The valuation fee differs between banks, but it's usually around 600 PLN for an apartment and 1000 PLN for a house.

The same applies to insurance, as each bank builds its own mechanism. In most cases, banks link promotional interest-rate offers to obligatory life insurance. Some charge it monthly for the first 3 years, some for 5 years, and some add the amount for that period to your gross mortgage amount. Prices differ significantly, but anywhere between 200 and 400 PLN will be added to your monthly mortgage cost.

Property insurance is always obligatory when the property is under a mortgage. Usually, it is charged yearly and depends on the value of the property, but commonly fees range between 500 and 1000 PLN.

Even though it’s uncommon these days, some banks might also add a one-time commission to your mortgage gross amount, which can be even 2% (especially when you choose the offer without life insurance).

Also becoming less common, some banks might charge you an early repayment fee. Under banking law, the maximum they can charge is 3% for the first 3 years of the mortgage.

All the potential fees must be disclosed to you before you apply for the mortgage.

• Will I need to pay PCC (property purchase tax)?

It depends on the type of property you are buying; newly built properties from developers are exempt from PCC.

Also, if you buy from the second-hand market and it is your first property ever, you would not need to pay PCC either.

Other than the above scenarios, PCC is 2% of the sale price.

• Are there any additional costs specifically applicable to foreign buyers in Poland?

There is one cost applicable only to foreign buyers: a sworn translation. You would need one at the notary when signing the purchase agreement, and also multiple banks will require one when you sign the mortgage agreement with them.

However, please note our current promotional offer covering the cost of a sworn translator at the bank when signing the mortgage agreement. (Applicable only to customers taking a mortgage above 500 thousand PLN with our firm’s help)

The standard cost of a sworn translator is around 250-300 PLN per hour, and a mortgage signature meeting usually takes two hours.

• How much do you charge as a mortgage broker, and how much will it cost me?

Because of how the Polish banking market was regulated, a mortgage broker is considered a certified profession, established so customers have a third party representing their interests in front of the bank. The rules were set so that brokers are paid directly by the bank where the customer takes out the mortgage using the broker’s service. At the same time, the broker’s fee does not influence the offer the bank presents to the customer; whether you come to the bank independently or via a broker, the bank will present the same offer available that day for a customer in your circumstances.

Long story short - you will not pay us anything for our help.

8. What mortgage options are available in Poland, and which one would you recommend?

• Should I choose a fixed or variable interest rate?

That depends on your priorities.

The main difference between fixed and variable rates is that the former remains the same for 5 years or 10 years at one bank (in Poland, we do not yet have mortgages fixed for the whole mortgage period), while the latter is shaped by any changes to the WIBOR indicator (or POLSTR).

WIBOR or POLSTR are indicators banks use as the cost of cash. Both are shaped by the decisions of the Monetary Policy Council, a body that meets almost every month to set Poland's monetary policy, including the interest rate.

So, a variable rate means you are influenced by the current macroeconomic situation, and any turbulence might raise your cost, but you might also benefit if WIBOR/POLSTR goes down.

You can always change a variable rate to fixed if you expect rates to go up, but you cannot change fixed to variable. You can, though, switch from one fixed rate to another if banks start offering lower fixed rates in response to WIBOR/POLSTR going down.

• What is the difference between the interest rate, bank margin, and RRSO?

The interest rate is the nominal annual interest rate the bank applies to your remaining principal amount.

The bank margin is only one component of the nominal rate in a variable-rate mortgage; the other component is WIBOR/POLSTR, and together they make up your nominal rate. The bank margin is fixed, while WIBOR/POLSTR is variable.

Finally, RRSO is the real yearly interest rate, which means the nominal rate plus side costs like insurance, translated into the total yearly cost of the mortgage. Banks in Poland are obliged to show the RRSO next to other price components in the offers they present to customers.

• Can I make additional repayments or repay the mortgage early without penalties?

That depends on the type of interest rate and the bank’s policy.

For fixed rates, the answer is simple - in all banks, early repayment or overpayment is not penalized.

For variable rates, it depends on the bank, as some charge penalties for repaying or overpaying the mortgage principal within the first 3 years, up to 3% of the amount you overpay.

9. How long does the entire mortgage process take?

• How long does it typically take to receive a preliminary assessment and final credit decision?

A preliminary assessment can come within 1-2 weeks of submitting the application to the bank.

The final decision usually takes longer, but it is possible to close the deal within a month at some banks, while at others it will take at least 2 months minimum.

• Can I obtain a mortgage pre-approval before finding a property?

No, this is not possible in Poland; you need to apply for a mortgage for a specific property.

• What happens if my residence card expires during the application process?

Depends on the bank’s policy, but it might mean the process is canceled. That’s why it is important to apply only to banks where you don't face this risk.

10. What happens if my personal circumstances change?

• What if I lose my job or change employers?

If this happens while you are applying for the mortgage, the bank will need to re-evaluate your case and might reject the application.

If this happens after the mortgage was granted, you only need to remember to pay your installments on time; the bank will not interfere with your job situation proactively. However, the loan agreement always includes a provision that the bank may verify the client's financial situation at any time.

• Can I continue paying my Polish mortgage if I move abroad?

Yes, you can; you should even continue repaying it :)

• Can I rent out the property?

Yes, there is no law blocking you from doing so.

• Can I sell the property before the mortgage is fully repaid?

Yes, the procedure is that when you sell the property under the mortgage, part of the money the buyer pays you will go directly to your bank to repay the mortgage in full, and the rest to you.

Hope you enjoyed our article. Stay tuned for more knowledge on the Polish mortgage market!

Best regards,

Loan Brokers Team

"Any content provided on this page is to be considered information only. It is not legal advice or a replacement for legal advice. The information posted here by the Loan-brokers.pl team is accurate and current to the best of our knowledge as of the date it is posted, but website users should be aware that the law and its application change frequently, sometimes without notice. You shall be fully responsible for any consequences resulting from your use of the page. Any reliance upon any information shall be at your sole risk."