The history of Poland has been difficult and turbulent. Poles were losing their sovereignty and had to fight hard to regain their country. This was also the case in the 18th century. Poland lost its independence for many years. Three partitions (1772, 1793, 1795) resulted in the division of Poland between three powers: Russia, Prussia […]

Nine years after its opening, the building of the Szczecin Philharmonic was appreciated and awarded. As the only one from Poland, it was included in the list of 200 significant works of architecture in the world. The list was created by the global guide C.guide, authored by the Spanish Foundation of Contemporary Architecture.  The design […]

The 5th of July marked the 78th anniversary of the Polish administration taking over the government of Szczecin.  On this occasion, like every year, a joint celebration of the City’s birthday was held. One of the traditions associated with the birthday of Szczecin is the awarding of the honorary title of Ambassador of Szczecin. It […]

Western Pomerania has been subjected to numerous tests. The position between strong neighbours: Brandenburg, Denmark and Prussia did not make it easy to maintain independence. The ruler who knew it best was Boguslaw X, coming from the old Griffin dynasty. Boguslaw’s fate resembled life during a storm. He fought, and he won, but he also […]

The right to access our medical records is our inalienable right. No medical facility that takes care of our health has the right to refuse us access to this documentation, receiving a copy of it or sending it in electronic form if it is kept in this way. As a rule, the right to issue […]

Issues related to the acquisition of properties by foreigners in the territory of the Republic of Poland are regulated by the Act on the acquisition of properties by foreigners (Act of March 24, 1920) and in the case of agricultural real estate – by the Act of April 11, 2003, on shaping the agricultural system.  […]

The Szczecin Civic Budget is a special type of public consultation whose aim is to involve residents in the decision-making process about how to spend part of the City of Szczecin’s budget. Every year, at least 0.5% of the commune’s expenses included in the latest report on the implementation of the city’s budget are allocated […]

In the Community law of the European Union, there is no legal regulation regarding the mutual “translation” of disability certificates, and the Republic of Poland is not a party to an international agreement allowing for mutual recognition of documents confirming the status of a disabled person from other European Union Member States. That means a […]

The winter wave of refugees, caused by the war in Ukraine and its subsequent stages, is estimated at 200,000 to even half a million people.  More people will come for whom basic, real-time communication in a foreign language will become crucial. That is why we present a new initiative of the Faculty of Humanities of […]

Like every citizen, foreigners can acquire an inheritance, both in the form of intestate succession and under a will drawn up by the testator. In this case, there are no differences between Polish citizens and foreigners.  The only restrictions are related to the acquisition of real estate or shares in it, and not in every […]

The apostille clause is a confirmation of the authenticity of the signature on an official document drawn up in the country concerned. At present, such confirmation is very important, especially for Ukrainian citizens.  Ukraine is a signatory of the Hague Convention, which means that there is no need to authenticate documents at Ukrainian consulates in […]

In Polish healthcare, the first rung is the primary health care, a general practitioner. Such a doctor should be selected at the clinic by submitting a written declaration. We register for them, in case of illness, for periodic check-ups and vaccination appointments. As part of the insurance, you can also make an appointment for periodic […]

The terms Black Friday and Black Week have appeared in Poland since 2015, and since then, the last Friday of November is when you can take advantage of many discount prices, both in traditional stores and online. Over the years, this day has become an important marketing event awaited by both sellers and customers. Retailers […]

The lease agreement for premises should be concluded in writing and include, above all: personal data of both parties – the landlord and the tenant,  data on the subject of the lease, any terms and conditions of the contract (duration of the contract, amount of rent, payment dates, termination details, etc.). Practice and experience show […]

A properly drawn up contract should be made in writing with utmost care and precision in order to avoid possible unnecessary disputes in the future. The contract should include such information as: precise details about the seller and the buyer: name, surname, place of residence, PESEL number, NIP, type and number of the identity document […]

After concluding a purchase contract, each consumer may, by law, submit a complaint about goods that do not comply with the contract. The complaint is submitted to the seller since it is the seller who is responsible to the buyer for the compliance of the goods with the contract. The goods comply with the contract […]

The purchase and sale agreement is our most “everyday” agreement. We conclude it in every grocery store, in the cinema, in a taxi, but also when buying furniture or a mobile phone. We buy both goods and services. We should remember that it is the consumer who chooses the product and decides what features it […]

There is no need to hurry !! The changes in the traffic law will be painful for our finances. According to the new tariff, the fine for speeding by 71km/h will be PLN2,500,000. We will have to pay PLN500 for having a conversation on the phone while driving a vehicle.  Fines for violations against pedestrian […]

Due to the current political situation related to the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the mass arrival of the country’s inhabitants in Poland there has been a rise in usury activities at currency exchange offices. In certain cases there were recorded attempts at exchanging the hryvnia at a PLN 0.01 rate. One hryvnia worth […]

Pursuant to the Act on the principles of registration and identification of taxpayers and payers, the PESEL number is the identifier of persons which:  are included in the PESEL register, do not run a business, are not registered VAT payers, are not tax payers, are not payers of social security and health insurance contributions. In […]

In Poland, there is an annual obligation to settle accounts with the Tax Office. It is a common obligation and failure to do so may result in penalties. PIT can be settled independently using the available tools. Here is a step-by-step instruction: 1/Select e-Tax Office on the website of the Ministry of Finance podatki.gov.pl/pit/. 2/Log […]

A census is a basic research and data source for population statistics that aims to collect information about its condition and structure. In Poland, this census begins on 01.04.2021 and is obligatory for all residents of the Republic of Poland – therefore also for foreigners. Below are the guidelines for the census. If you have […]

Among the foreigners residing in Poland there are people who have lost their jobs and temporarily losing their livelihood. The Guild JADŁODZIELNIA SZCZECIN organizes food for people in need. At the headquarters of the organization – Żółkiewskiego 4 Street, you can get food. It is also collected in cabinets located in the city of Szczecin. […]

The Academy of Cultural Educators (Akademia Edukatorów i Edukatorek Kulturowych, AEK) is a training course for foreigners living in Poland to prepare them for the activities in the field of (inter)cultural education. The participants of the Academy will gain knowledge and skills necessary for conducting educational activities related to their culture and intercultural phenomena, as […]

To receive a booklet for sanitary and epidemiological purposes, first, you need to go to the sanitary and epidemiological station (ul. Wincentego Pola 6, al. Wojska Polskiego 160, ul. Spedytorska 6/7), where the faeces samples will be examined for Salmonella and Shigella sticks and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Samples should be delivered from three consecutive days. Results […]

In Poland, compulsory vaccinations apply to children and young people up to 19 years of age, as well as people particularly vulnerable to illness (students of medical universities, healthcare workers, employees of veterinary services). Obligatory vaccinations in our country include one against tuberculosis, pneumococcal infections, diphtheria, pertussis, polio (poliomyelitis), measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, hepatitis B, […]

Below you will find a list of offices and tips on what issues you can handle in them: – West Pomeranian Voivodship Office – here you can apply for a temporary or permanent residence card, an invitation, benefits for people who have a Pole’s Card and have applied for permanent residence – Szczecin City Hall […]

If you are planning to stay in Poland for over 30 days, you are required to register in within 4 days of your arrival. You can register when you have a flat rental contract. For your visit to the Office, you should prepare: a renting agreement, a valid passport with a document that legalizes your […]

The purpose of this program is to create in Szczecin and partner municipalities a friendly living space for families with children and senior citizens by eliminating differences between residents and creating conditions for using various forms of preferences, discounts and amenities. There are two types of cards entitling to receive discounts as a part of […]