Opening a Bank Account in Poland for Foreigners — 2025

The Polish banking system is one of the most accessible to foreigners in the EU. With a PESEL, an account opens in 30–60 minutes; without one, it takes 1–2 days (some banks require a visa or karta pobytu). In 2025, competition between banks has produced essentially free basic accounts, mobile apps with translations into Russian, Ukrainian, and English, and a streamlined process for newcomers. Below — a comparison of the main players, documents required, and pitfalls to know.

Which Banks Work Best with Foreigners in 2025

Most LegalWin clients start with PKO BP or Santander — they accept almost everyone, including those on a D visa without PESEL.

Documents for Account Opening

With PESEL and karta pobytu:

• Passport (original + copy)
• Karta pobytu or its issuance decision
• Address confirmation in Poland (meldunek or umowa najmu)
• Polish phone number
• Email (any reliable domain — Gmail, Outlook, ProtonMail)

With D visa, no PESEL:

• Passport (original + copy of visa page)
• D visa or its issuance confirmation
• Address confirmation in Poland (umowa najmu or employer's confirmation)
• Polish phone number

On visa-free regime (UA, MD, GE):

• Passport
• Accommodation proof (hotel, AirBnB, lease)
• Confirmation of visit purpose (employment contract, employer's oświadczenie, document from educational institution)
• Polish phone number

In 2025, some banks (especially PKO BP and Santander) may open a basic account on visa-free regime without PESEL — but with limits on withdrawals and transactions until karta pobytu is received.

Step by Step

Step 1. Get a Polish SIM card (Play, Plus, Orange, T-Mobile — 5–15 PLN starter). No bank opens an account without a Polish number.

Step 2. Decide whether in-person presence is required or online suffices.

• In-person — mandatory for non-residents without PESEL, for everyone at Pekao, for USD/EUR accounts
• Online — possible at PKO BP IKO, mBank, ING, Millennium with active PESEL and Profil Zaufany

Step 3. Choose a branch or download the app. In Warsaw, each of the 5 main banks has 50–100 branches.

Step 4. Booking or walk-in. Branches accept by appointment (via the bank's website or app) or walk-in — but waiting time is 30–60 minutes without an appointment.

Step 5. Document signing. With PESEL — 30–45 minutes. Without PESEL — 1–2 hours due to additional KRS/CEIDG verification.

Step 6. Receiving the card. The debit card arrives at your address in 7–14 days (or a "temporary" card is issued at the branch on the day of account opening).

Fee Comparison in 2025

All 5 major banks in 2025 offer a free basic account if conditions are met:

• At least 1 transaction per month (card payments or transfers)
• At least 1 use of online banking per month
• No automatic monthly account fees (with the basic pakiet)

Additional options:

For a business account (sp. z o.o. or JDG) — 30–50 PLN/month for obsługa firmowa, with separate apps (mBank Firmy, Santander Firma).

Pitfalls — What to Know

1. AML checks on large transfers. Receiving a transfer over 15,000 PLN without a clear history — the bank may temporarily freeze and request documents (sender, source, basis). Prepare documents in advance.

2. Distinction between "konto rezydenta" and "konto nierezydenta". Until PESEL is received, you typically have "konto nierezydenta" with limits. Afterwards — switched to resident on request, free of charge.

3. Sanctions on RU citizens. In 2025 most Polish banks do not open accounts for RU citizens without an active karta pobytu. With karta pobytu — they do, but with additional checks.

4. Address verification checks. Banks often require someone to sign for your address (e.g., entrance service or postal courier). This is needed for verification.

5. Business account and VAT. If you have an sp.z.o.o. or JDG, a business account is mandatory for VAT settlements. Without one, ZUS accepts payments, but NIP-related payments do not work.

Specifics for Different Groups

Students: all banks offer a "student account" with extra bonuses (free cards, free international transfers, cashback on purchases). Required: passport, D visa or student karta pobytu, university enrolment confirmation.

Corporate employees: if relocating with a major employer (Deloitte, Accenture, Microsoft Polska), HR usually issues a recommendation letter to the bank, easing the process.

Freelancers with foreign clients: Revolut Polska + a basic Polish account is the optimal combination. Revolut for USD/EUR transfers, the Polish account for ZUS, PIT, and rent.

When You Need a Lawyer or Financial Adviser

90% of foreigners manage on their own — banks in 2025 accept almost anyone with valid documents.

A lawyer makes sense if:

• You are a citizen of RU or Belarus with a complicated situation (sanctions, bank policies on such clients)
• You are opening a business account for sp. z o.o. with tax-specific characteristics
• You have been refused by 2–3 banks in succession
• A karta pobytu is being processed in parallel and verification issues exist

At LegalWin we accompany account opening as part of the overall legalisation service (a component of the karta pobytu pod klucz package). Average time from request to account opening — 5 days.

Order an account-opening consultation →

This article is informational. Specific timelines and decisions depend on your situation. For individual cases, consult a lawyer for assessment.

Related articles:

• Checklist for newcomers to Poland
• Temporary Residence Card in Poland 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
• JDG for foreigners in Poland
• Service: karta pobytu and full legalisation support