What are the legal requirements for a UK citizen to live in Poland?

What are the legal requirements to live in Poland, It seems a minefield of Red tape. I am from the UK.

1) A registered address as evidenced by a short-term maldunek. You get this at your local gmina offices by going there with your passport, your landlord and a copy of the rental contract you have with him/her.

2) A certificate proving your right to reside in Poland. You get that from the local foreigners office by going there with your passport, your maldunek and a filled out version of their application form. The certificate is good for five years.

3) If you want to be completely legal, you can get a long-term maldunek (i.e. one that's good for five years).

However, you can live perfectly happily without any of the above. I certainly did for a number of years. It is a crime to not have a maldunek but Poland doesn't prosecute people for it. It's also a crime to not have a certificate proving your right to reside in Poland but you can't be deported for not having one.

Thanks Harry. Is It a case of, not registered then no Pesel, no pesel then not able to work legally. It seems to be an absolute nightmare with employment law, different types of contracts, various levels of taxation depending on what type of business you may run, hire and fire at will.

If that is the case, it's a new law and one that I have never heard of. I personally do not have a PESEL and have never had one. However, I think that PESEL numbers are generated at the same place as where you get your maldunek. Personally I have a NIP number and whenever people want a PESEL number I just tell them to either use my passport number or my NIP number or make up a number or simply not do business with me (nobody has ever chosen the last option).

Same here.

Any employer saying you need one is just plain wrong.

Or looking for an excuse to not pay him.

Merged: Applying for Polish citizenship through descent from the UK.

Hi,

So I want to apply for Polish citizenship. I am aware of the other threads on this forum and I have read them.

I am in the UK. How do I directly apply for citizenship if I have all the documents and have completed the application form?

Who do I send it all to?

I would like to have a go at applying without the use of other bodies to see how I get on.

Thanks.