Entrepreneurs & Owners
Individuals starting or running their own business operations in Poland, including business owners and company shareholders.
🇵🇱 Poland
Business Activity Residence
Residence for International Entrepreneurs & Business Owners
← Back to Poland
Poland provides a Temporary Residence Permit for the Purpose of Conducting Business Activity for qualifying third-country nationals who genuinely conduct business activities in Poland.
The pathway can be relevant for entrepreneurs, business owners and certain foreign nationals actively managing Polish companies.
CETO Global Immigration Consulting & Partners assists international entrepreneurs in assessing their Polish business residence options and coordinates the immigration process together with qualified legal, immigration, corporate and tax professionals.
What is Business Activity Residence?
The Temporary Residence Permit for the Purpose of Conducting Business Activity allows qualifying third-country nationals to reside in Poland for the purpose of genuinely conducting business activities.
The residence purpose must justify staying in Poland for more than 3 months.
- Personal Immigration Requirements
- Requirements Concerning the Polish Business Activity
Who Can Apply?
Depending on the business structure and individual circumstances, this pathway can potentially be relevant for:
Company Directors
Management Board Members of Limited Liability (Sp. z o.o.) or Joint-Stock companies.
Legal Representatives
General Partners managing certain partnerships and Commercial Proxies (prokurenci) actively managing a business.
Foreign Investors
Actively managing a business and fulfilling the required management functions.
Qualifying Business Activity
The residence pathway covers qualifying business activities conducted under Polish law, either through eligible individual business activity or through certain Polish commercial companies.
- Eligible Individual Business Activity
- Polish Commercial Companies (e.g., Sp. z o.o.)
Company Management
The pathway is particularly relevant for those performing functions such as serving on the Management Board of a Limited Liability Company or Joint-Stock Company, or acting as a General Partner or Commercial Proxy, where statutory requirements are satisfied.
Economic Substance Requirements
Registering a company, purchasing shares, or investing capital does not automatically create a right to reside in Poland.
The business must demonstrate economic substance by satisfying at least one of the applicable economic criteria.
COMPANY FORMATION ALONE DOES NOT GUARANTEE RESIDENCE.
Economic Qualification Options
Option 1: Business Income
The business generated income in the preceding tax year equal to at least 12 times the average monthly gross remuneration in the relevant voivodeship.
- Varies by Business Location
- Based on Statistical Data
- Calculated by Year of Application
Option 2: Employment Creation
The business has employed at least 2 qualifying full-time employees for an indefinite period for at least 12 months immediately before the application.
- Employees must belong to qualifying categories
Option 3: Future Economic Potential
Newer businesses may qualify by demonstrating adequate resources or genuine activities that show the ability to satisfy economic requirements in the future.
Economic Development & New Businesses
Authorities assess factors such as investment growth, job creation, technology transfer, and innovation.
Newly established companies must demonstrate credible economic potential through available resources, investments already made, and planned development.
NEW BUSINESSES ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY EXCLUDED.
- Available Financial Resources
- Investments Already Made
- Expected Return on Investment
- Planned Employment
- Market Potential
The Business Plan
Where a company does not yet satisfy income or employment criteria, a strong business plan is essential. It must be supported by credible evidence of financing and genuine economic potential.
- Business Model & Market Opportunity
- Financing & Revenue Forecast
- Employment Strategy
- Economic Contribution
Personal Residence Requirements
Financial Resources
Evidence of personal income, business income, bank statements, or corporate financial documentation.
Health Insurance
Qualifying health insurance or confirmation that medical treatment costs in Poland will be covered.
Accommodation
Documentation concerning the place of residence and stay in Poland.
Professional Authorisation
Required for regulated professions or activities requiring separate authorization.
Electronic Application (MOS System)
Applications for temporary residence are now submitted electronically through Poland's official MOS – Case Handling Module.
The procedure includes creating an account, digital photo submission, and electronic signature. For company directors, the entity must often co-sign digital attachments.
Major Procedural Change as of 27 April 2026
- Digital Photograph & Passport Copy
- Required Supporting Documents
- Proof of Applicable Fees
- Biometric and Identification Procedures
Residence Permit Validity & Real Activity
The permit is granted for the period necessary to achieve the business purpose. The Polish company must represent genuine economic activity, and authorities assess actual operations rather than just paperwork.
- Commercial Activity & Operations
- Financial Resources & Investment
- Clients or Contracts
- Development Strategy
Comparisons With Other Programs
vs. Company Formation
Formation creates a legal structure; residence requires satisfying immigration and economic requirements.
vs. Work Residence
Business Activity is for entrepreneurs and managers; Work Residence is primarily for employment with an employer.
vs. EU Blue Card
Blue Card is for highly qualified professional employment and has separate qualification and salary requirements.
Our Coordination Process
- 01
Entrepreneur Assessment
We review the applicant's nationality, immigration history and proposed role in the Polish business.
- 02
Business Structure
The appropriate Polish corporate or entrepreneurial structure is assessed.
- 03
Economic Eligibility
We determine whether the business potentially qualifies through income, employment, or future potential.
- 04
Business Documentation
Corporate, financial, investment and business-development documentation is coordinated.
- 05
Immigration Documentation
Personal, financial, healthcare, residence and immigration documentation is prepared.
- 06
MOS Application
The residence application is coordinated through Poland's electronic MOS system.
- 07
Residence Procedure
Additional documentation and immigration formalities are coordinated where required.
- 08
Business Development
Coordination of accounting, tax, and operational requirements through partners.
- 09
Renewal & Long-Term Strategy
Future residence extensions and long-term Polish immigration options are assessed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I simply buy a Polish company and get residence?
No. Company ownership alone does not automatically qualify a foreign national for Polish residence.
Can I apply with a new company?
Potentially yes. A new business can qualify by demonstrating sufficient resources and genuine activities showing it can satisfy conditions in the future.
Do I need two employees?
Not necessarily. Employment of two qualifying employees is one route; the business may instead satisfy the income criterion or future potential criteria.
Is there a minimum investment?
There is no fixed 'invest X' rule. The authorities assess the business against statutory economic criteria like income or employment.
Do I need a business plan?
It is particularly important for new companies. It must be supported by credible evidence of financing and investment.
Can I open a start-up?
Yes, but Poland uses the general Business Activity Residence framework rather than a specific start-up permit.
Can I work in other EU countries with this permit?
No. A Polish Business Activity Residence Permit does not automatically provide employment rights in Austria, Germany, or other EU states.
Related Polish Pathways
Build Your Business in Poland
Entrepreneurship & Residence in Central Europe
Poland provides international entrepreneurs with opportunities to establish and develop genuine commercial activities within one of the European Union's largest markets.
CETO can assess the applicant's business model, corporate structure and residence strategy and coordinate the process together with qualified legal, immigration, corporate and tax professionals.