My first post on this matter was here
which was back in 2009 when I dreamt up a crazy idea to make the British banking system even more fragile than it was using my shiny new Polish passport. I still don't have the passport but I'm hoping it will change this year :)
One of the first things you will need to do when you settle down in Poland is apply for your 'Adres Zameldowania'. This is basically your 'official' address, and yes your actual address can be different but the government will generally communicate with you to your 'official' address. The idea is a communist relic but it serves a purpose today as being the governments way of communicating with you, serving official documents as well as being the first place they look if you've been naughty.
Why do I need to get an 'Official' address? Well, it shows the Polish government that you have somewhere to live and so they will grant you permanent residency (which I'll talk about in a later blog post) and secondly you need it in order to complete the correct tax registration. Also, I have read that without an official address you're, in theory, required to pay tourist tax for everyday you're in Poland, although of course this is impossible to prove - many people survive in Poland without an official address but from my experience life is just easier if you have one. If your long term plans are in Poland and you're thinking of a passport like me, it's best to get it all over and done with.
You can read loads of blog posts and forums with commentary on the topic but the one flaw is that people assume their experiences are the 'correct' experiences however all newcomers to Poland should realise that bureaucratic procedures can vary immense between regions and tax authorities. So today I have tried to collate and collect all the best information possible to give newbies a fighting chance against Polish bureaucracy.
To get your Zameldowanie, you need to find someone that is willing to let you be registered officially at their house. There's no requirements concerning who this person is or isn't - it can be anyone. But finding this person can be difficult because once you're registered to one official address you always have right to abode and it can be difficult for the landlord to revoke this. For me, I used my father in law - but I know others that have just paid random people for the permission.
Once you've found this person - you need to head to your local Urząd Miasta and go preferably with the landlord of the property you will become resident at. Take your passport with you and if you can take an extra body who can help translate between all the involved parties!
The main point of my story here is that there are many conflicting ideas to as of whether the landlord need to be there in person. In my experience they do so I think it's just best to assume they are necessary than to have loads of wasted journeys.
Finally you need to do this in office hours so it can be challenging to get everyone in one place and be prepared to ask loads of random questions concerning you, your background and your family. And if your registering to an address in a small town or village don't expect the person in the tax office to have any idea what to do. I remember when I first went to my local tax office and said I wanted to apply for an official address - the women looked like I had just eaten her child or something... pure terror.
I am Korean and to recieve my official address was simple and as you say but I must pay processing fee (about 150pln) and had to take all of my documents - this was advice from my friend because at different times they ask to see different documents.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem was for my korean landlord, it took a very long time for her to complete her documents to register me. Very long time even with help of polish translator!
I wish anyone good look in this process but it is possible! Have optimism!
It must be a nightmare for anyone outside Europe to do anything at the local Urząd in Poland. Well done to you!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of a fee being paid for Zameldowanie though?
Why did you go to your tax office to apply for an official address? No wonder she looked at you strangely :)
ReplyDeleteI own my own house and so the address zameldowania is not such a problem. Now Karta Pobytu (Residence Permit), now there's a circus :)
I had my first temporary for 5 years and now I’m on my second one (ten year) which is in theory permanent. I am an EU citizen and married to a Polish citizen and so have every right to be here, but still had to do everything in triplicate :)