Occasional Tenancy for Foreigners — Introduction

Poland attracts an increasing number of foreigners — workers, students, entrepreneurs, and their families. According to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), over 2 million foreigners reside in Poland, a significant portion of whom rent apartments. Many landlords prefer or even require occasional tenancy agreements due to the better legal protection they provide.

Can a foreigner enter into such an agreement? Yes — but they must meet the same requirements as a Polish citizen, and in some cases face additional challenges. In this article, we explain step by step how a foreigner can conclude an occasional tenancy agreement in Poland.

Can a Foreigner Conclude an Occasional Tenancy Agreement?

Yes — the law does not limit occasional tenancy to Polish citizens. Article 19a of the Act on the Protection of Tenants' Rights contains no requirements regarding the tenant's citizenship. A foreigner can be a tenant on exactly the same terms as a Polish citizen.

The formal requirements are identical:

Tenancy agreement — concluded in written form
Declaration of submission to enforcement — drawn up in the form of a notarial deed
Indication of alternative address — a premises in Poland where the tenant will move after the agreement ends
Declaration of the alternative premises owner — written consent for the tenant's residence

The only differences concern practical matters: identity documents (passport instead of ID card), PESEL number, and the potential need for a sworn translator.

Documents a Foreigner Needs

To conclude an occasional tenancy agreement and make the declaration at the notary, a foreigner needs:

1. Identity Document

A passport is the primary identity document for foreigners in Poland. EU/EEA citizens can also use their national ID card. The document must be valid — the notary will refuse to draw up a deed based on an expired document.

2. Residence Card (if applicable)

Citizens of non-EU countries should possess a valid residence card (temporary, permanent, or EU long-term resident). The residence card confirms the legality of stay in Poland. EU citizens do not need a residence card — registration of residence is sufficient.

Important: legal residence alone is sufficient to conclude an occasional tenancy agreement. No work permit or any other document besides an identity document and residence card is required.

3. PESEL Number

The PESEL number is required by the notary to draw up the notarial deed. Every foreigner residing in Poland can obtain a PESEL — the procedure is free of charge.

How to obtain a PESEL:

Where — at the municipal office (city hall) responsible for the place of registration or residence
Documents — application for PESEL assignment + passport (or other identity document) + document confirming the basis of residence (visa, residence card, EU citizen residence registration certificate)
Cost — free of charge
Waiting time — usually immediately or within a few business days

Ukrainian citizens covered by temporary protection receive a PESEL automatically upon registration in the system.

4. Alternative Address in Poland

This is usually the biggest barrier for foreigners. The alternative address must be located within the territory of Poland — a foreign address is not accepted. More on this below.

The Biggest Challenge: Alternative Address

For foreigners, indicating an alternative address in Poland is typically the most difficult element of the entire procedure. Here are typical situations:

Family abroad — parents, siblings, relatives live in another country. Their address cannot be used because the Act requires premises within the territory of Poland
No close contacts in Poland — the foreigner came to Poland alone and has no family or close friends here who could lend their address
Friends do not want to get involved — even if the foreigner has friends in Poland, many of them do not want to sign formal documents (alternative premises owner's declaration)
Roommates are renters — friends or colleagues rent apartments themselves and are not property owners, so they cannot issue the declaration

The lack of an alternative address means the inability to conclude an occasional tenancy agreement, and consequently — losing the chance to rent an attractive apartment (many landlords require this form of agreement).

Solution: Professional Address Provision Service

Our company was created precisely to solve this problem. We offer a professional address provision service for occasional tenancy agreements that is an ideal solution for foreigners.

What we provide:

A legal address in Szczecin — a fully legitimate residential premises address, accepted by notaries and landlords throughout Poland
Declaration of the alternative premises owner — prepared in accordance with the Act's requirements, ready for presentation at the notary
Service in 4 languages — we communicate in Polish, English, Ukrainian, and Russian. You can write or call us in your language
Help with document preparation — we advise what documents to bring to the notary and how the entire procedure works
Fast processing — documents ready in 1-2 business days, in urgent cases even within a few hours

Notary Visit — What a Foreigner Should Know

Making the declaration of submission to enforcement requires a personal visit to the notary. Here is what a foreigner should know before the visit:

Sworn Translator

If the foreigner does not speak Polish sufficiently to understand the content of the notarial deed, a sworn translator must be present. This is a legal requirement — the notary cannot draw up a deed if they are not certain the party understands its content.

Practical information about the translator:

Cost — usually 200-500 PLN per visit, depending on the language and region
How to find one — the list of sworn translators is available on the Ministry of Justice website (ms.gov.pl)
Scheduling — it is worth coordinating a joint appointment with the notary and translator in advance
Popular languages — it is easier to find translators for Ukrainian, Russian, English, or German. For rarer languages, the wait may be longer

If the foreigner speaks Polish well, they may not need a translator. The decision is made by the notary based on a conversation with the client.

What to Bring to the Notary

Valid passport (or ID card for EU citizens)
Residence card (if applicable)
PESEL number
Address of the rented premises
Landlord's details (name, surname, address)
Alternative premises address (e.g., our address in Szczecin)
Declaration of the alternative premises owner

Occasional Tenancy and Ukrainian Citizens

Ukrainian citizens constitute the largest group of foreigners renting apartments in Poland. The same rules apply to them as to other foreigners, with several facilitations:

Legal residence — persons covered by temporary protection under the Act of March 12, 2022, have the right to legal residence, work, and use of services in Poland
Automatic PESEL — the PESEL number is assigned automatically upon registration in the system; no separate application is needed
Wide availability of translators — sworn translators for the Ukrainian language are available in most cities
Our service in Ukrainian — website, communication, and documents available in Ukrainian

Many Ukrainian citizens speak Polish well — in such cases, a sworn translator is not needed, which reduces costs.

Occasional Tenancy for Citizens of Belarus and Other Countries

Citizens of Belarus, Georgia, India, the Philippines, and other countries who are working in Poland in increasing numbers can also enter into occasional tenancy agreements. The key requirements are:

A valid residence document (residence card, visa)
A PESEL number (obtainable at the municipal office)
An alternative address in Poland (our service)

Frequently Asked Questions from Foreigners

Do I need permanent registration (zameldowanie) in Poland?

No. Registration (zameldowanie) is not a condition for concluding an occasional tenancy agreement. Legal residence and a PESEL number are sufficient.

Does the occasional tenancy agreement have to be in Polish?

The tenancy agreement itself can be bilingual — Polish-English, Polish-Ukrainian, etc. However, the notarial deed (declaration of submission to enforcement) is always drawn up in Polish. If the tenant does not understand Polish — a sworn translator is required.

Can I indicate a foreign address?

No. The alternative address must be located within the territory of the Republic of Poland. An address in Ukraine, Belarus, Germany, or any other country is not accepted.

How long does the entire process take?

With efficient organization, the entire process — from contacting us to signing the agreement — can take 3-5 business days. The longest part is scheduling the notary appointment (depending on availability).

Summary

Occasional tenancy is fully available to foreigners in Poland. It requires the same formalities as for Polish citizens, with additional practical considerations: a PESEL number, a possible sworn translator, and — above all — an alternative address in Poland.

It is precisely the alternative address problem that is the biggest barrier for foreigners. Our service was created to eliminate this barrier — quickly, legally, and in your language. Contact us today — we will help you rent an apartment under the safe terms of occasional tenancy.

Occasional Tenancy for Foreigners in Poland