How to rent an apartment
as a foreigner in Warsaw
Renting an apartment as a foreigner in Warsaw is completely possible, even without knowing Polish or having a PESEL number. But there are a few pitfalls that cost people weeks of time and thousands of zlotys. This guide will walk you from the first ad to keys in hand — with all documents and real numbers for 2026.
01 · What you need to know before searching
Citizenship does not affect your legal right to rent a home in Poland — the Civil Code applies equally to everyone.
✓ Your rights as a tenant:
• Conclude a lease agreement based on a foreign passport
• Register your residence (meldunek) without the owner's permission
• Obtain a PESEL number after registering your residence
• The owner cannot enter the apartment without warning
02 · What documents a foreigner needs
- The main document for the contract
- The owner cannot ask for more
- Mandatory for all
- Employment contract or B2B
- Income should be 3x the rent
- De facto mandatory
- Visa, residence card or UKR
- Confirms legal status
- Mandatory for non-EU
- Increases owner trust
- Makes banking easier
- Optional, but desired
03 · Step-by-step rental process
Prepare the tenant's portfolio
Passport, income proof, and residence documents saved in one PDF file.
First contact (write, don't call)
Send a ready message along with the tenant's portfolio in PDF format.
Verify in the Land Register (KW)
Check the owner on the ekw.ms.gov.pl portal, making sure who you are signing the contract with.
Notarial deed and translator
Finalizing the Najem Okazjonalny at the notary (with a sworn translator if necessary).
04 · Najem Okazjonalny (Occasional Lease)
The most popular contract format. Over 90% of contracts are Najem Okazjonalny, protecting the interests of both parties, including forced eviction to a previously designated alternative address.
05 · Alternative Address (Lokal zastępczy)
This is the most common difficulty for foreigners in Poland who do not have close friends with their own apartment.
1. Friend's address: A friend signs a declaration at the notary.
2. Employer: Some companies lend an address to relocated employees.
3. STAYX: As an agency, we provide a ready and verified legal address for the Najem Okazjonalny contract.
06 · Renting without a PESEL number
You can legally sign a contract, pay the notary, and register your residence (then the office will assign you a PESEL number anyway). The lack of a PESEL at the time of signing the contract is not a legal barrier under the Polish Civil Code.
07 · Start Costs (The "Entry Ticket")
What you need to be financially prepared for when renting a 1-bedroom apartment for 4,500 PLN.
08 · Pitfalls for Foreigners
09 · FAQ
We will find an apartment for you
STAYX takes over all conversations in Polish, verification of owners, arranging the notary, and providing an alternative address.
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