I have been toying with the idea of setting up a website based on the novelty of being (what feels like) the only Brit in Poland.
I thought it might be interesting and helpful to someone somewhere to know what it’s like to live here or how to go about doing things such as registering a car, or importing a motorbike.
When I get time I will do something with the Polish language lessons that I got half-way through writing too…
Anyway welcome to my blog, if you are an expat in Poland then say hello.
Ben
good to find another English-language blog about Poland out there (and by a fellow Brit no less). Thanks for the link. We’re in the process of sorting our blogroll out and I’ll be sure to include one to here.
first of all can i say a big thank you ben.
i’am moving to poland in april with my polish wife. and your website has answered lots of the questions i needed answers to.
my wife and i are both chefs and bought 6 arces of land 45k’s out side of warsaw and are planning on building holiday homes and a cookery school next year.
i was wondering we have a left hand drive car and szuki sv650s both of which are registerd to me would it be easier to registar them in poland if i register them as my wifes before we leave england?
I wish you luck in your new venture – sounds exciting!
I think that transferring it to your wife will complicate things. First you will need to document it – either something to say you gave the vehicles to her or that you sold them to her. Then you might have problems with tax becoming due on the sale or the import because your wife has effectively bought a vehicle for import to Poland, as opposed to you bringing your existing property to Poland.
I recommend you leave the vehicles on British plates until you get over here, get settled and registered etc.. then worry about it…
Hi Ben,
Great site you have here, has been a very interesting read. Just wish I could have found it a couple of months back.
Im out in Poland for 3 years, living 40km south of Katowice, and have just been through all the problems of deciding to sell my car in the UK, go on the search for a used car in Poland, buying, registering (i had to walk into the office with number plates under my arm!?). Still haven’t arranged insurance yet, but have a couple of weeks left for that.
Also went through the fun of becoming resident, travel here, fill this form in, then go there, no you need this document, etc,etc. you spend much time on the road going from one government building to another and back again. But, Im registered, i have PESEL, i have car, so nearly all bases covered. Cant find a decent loaf of bread, ‘proper’ sausages, bacon or marmite though….
Anyway, reading your blog seemed very accurate compared to my own experiences. the differences in rules on the road were an eye opener for me also. Documentation required and you must have fire extinguisher and first aid kit as well. I also have fluorescent jackets which are a requirement for Czech and Germany so im told.
Good read, keep it up.
They dont seem to have BluTak in Poland either? whats that all about…
Hi Ben,
Was really interested to find your site! Was investigating opening up a Polish bank account as I am a freelance telemarketer and getting kinda fed up havin to get wages paid into a friends account and getting it western union’d over!
I have been here in Poland for about a year now as my partner is Polish.We met in Bonny Scotland and decided to come here when he wanted to come home! I’m also in the south of Poland like yourself near sunny Tarnow. In fact the only English speaking people I have encountered here have been on a day-trip to Tarnow last year so it gets kinda lonely! Struggling with the language but hopefully I will get there soon!
The one point that kinda pees me off over here is the fact that you can’t register at the jobcentre or go on the “dole” like all the Poles can do over in the UK. What’s up with that?!?!?
But all in all it’s been great here, apart from the looooong winter! I love snow myself but I think I’ve had enough for now haha.
Hi, welcome to my blog, glad you like it.
Regarding the dole situation – I think it’s brilliant. Britain has become a dole society with people sitting on the dole for years at the tax payers’ expense. In Poland the financial support is minimal and that’s why my tax bill is so low and I think that’s how it should be.
Yeah this winter’s been dragging on… Roll on spring…!
Hi Ben
As an Englishman into his fourth Krakowian year, I’m (finally) in the early stages of starting up a business. I’m really glad I’ve found your very clear and comprehensive article at this point.
Thanks a lot. Check out http://krakowjohnradio.blogspot.com sometime.
John
hi hoping to move to poland shortly,I have had first hand knowledge of polish paper work ????? When we bought a farm in 2005 mytanka nowy zmigrod
podkapackie, anglski no chance but after 1 years hard work and threats to go to the press ( wifes dad polish war hero still alive family taken by the ruskies into siberia and murdered left starved.Letter from president putin saying sorry here’s £ 35 compo from 2004 and from lech lech walesa 1999 saying polish war hero then stamp stamp stamp ) we now have the farm and polish bank in sterling but no gas wihout residency ????????????? will keep in touch
yours vince & danni
The Polish welcome. 6 years here, do not be fooled. It is curiousity certainly round here in Kuj/Pomorskie region and having bases in a small village and two largish towns I see what happens. For the first 6 months curiousity and then every tradesman you come into contact with assumes you are very wealthy and does his best to relieve you of your money. I have two English friends nearby who have been comprehensivly turned over and ripped off. I made a decision one year after arriving basicaly I would avoid contact with English ex-pats unless absolutely necesary and try and integrate. My crap Poish and accent give me away instantly when I speak but generaly I am tolerated but thank God I am not black or Asian. Poland through its history had no colonies and the 2nd war got rid of most other minorities and the commies did there bit also. So even today pretty unique in Europe and dare I say it ethnically fairly pure. Have a read of some of the more extreme political parties manifesto’s if you want confirmation. All that aside I have with only a couple of exceptions been greeted with good hopitality and am having a great time here much better than in Blighty.