Foreign-currency or foreign income and a mortgage in Poland
Author: Tacjana MasiukiewiczFor foreigners~8 min read
In short: income in euros or dollars, or from work abroad, does not rule out a mortgage in Poland, but the bank will assess it more cautiously than a salary in złoty. The law allows a loan only in the currency in which you earn most of your income or hold most of your assets, and banks in Poland lend mainly in złoty – so it is simplest when most of your income comes in in PLN. First check with an expert whether, and to what extent, the bank will count your income; the down payment starts at 10%, ideally 20%.
Updated: November 2026. Prepared by: TM Invest team.
Key facts
- Loan currency = the currency of most of your income or assets (Article 6 of the Mortgage Credit Act).
- A PLN loan with EUR income means currency risk: the instalment is fixed in złoty, while your income in złoty moves with the exchange rate.
- Several currencies: Recommendation S (Rekomendacja S) requires the bank to assume a 50% fall in the value of currencies other than your main currency of income.
- Income from abroad (work, pension, rental in another country) – some banks do not count it at all, others do after verifying documents and translations.
- Safest: income earned and taxed in Poland, paid into a Polish account.
What the law says
Article 6(1) of the Mortgage Credit Act states that a mortgage may be granted only in the currency (or indexed to the currency) in which the consumer earns most of their income or holds most of their funds or other assets. The rule protects against a situation where the borrower earns in one currency and repays in another – a lesson from the Swiss franc loans.
Recommendation S of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority adds rules for banks: with income in several currencies, the bank, when calculating borrowing capacity, should assume a 50% depreciation of currencies other than the one in which you earn the most (recommendation 6). The bank must also have a policy for cases where you change the currency of your income during repayment.
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Typical situations – table
| Situation | How the bank usually sees it | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in PLN in Poland | Standard assessment, loan in PLN | Length of employment, permanent contract |
| Most income in PLN, part in EUR (e.g. rental abroad) | Loan in PLN; EUR income counted with a 50% discount or left out | Documents for the EUR income, tax returns |
| Remote work in Poland for a foreign company, salary in EUR | Depends on the bank: some accept it, some do not; a EUR loan is rarely available | Paying tax in Poland, payments into a Polish account, a long track record |
| JDG/B2B, invoices in EUR for EU clients | Assessed like a JDG plus currency risk | Invoice history, PIT return in Poland, a regular client |
| Working and living abroad, buying in Poland | Narrow choice of banks; tax residence and foreign documents matter | A higher down payment, a joint loan with someone earning in Poland |
| Pension or disability benefit from abroad | Depends on the bank and the paying country | Benefit award decision, statements, translations |
Example: income in złoty and in euros
Let’s say you earn PLN 8,000 net a month in Poland and an extra EUR 1,000 from renting out a flat in another country. At an exchange rate of PLN 4.30 that adds up to about PLN 12,300. If the bank counts the rental income, then – in line with Recommendation S – it will assume a 50% fall in the value of the euro, so it will take about PLN 2,150 from that part into the capacity calculation. That leaves about PLN 10,150 for the assessment, not PLN 12,300. If the bank does not take foreign income into account at all, it will calculate capacity from PLN 8,000 only.
| Scenario | Income accepted by the bank |
|---|---|
| No discount (banks do not calculate this way) | approx. PLN 12,300 |
| EUR income with a 50% discount | approx. PLN 10,150 |
| Bank does not count foreign income | PLN 8,000 |
A difference of about PLN 2,000–4,000 in monthly income can mean a difference of several hundred thousand złoty in the maximum loan amount. That is why we set the budget for a flat only after assessing borrowing capacity. How a bank calculates capacity is described in the article Borrowing capacity.
Currency risk: a loan in PLN, income in EUR
If you earn in euros and repay in złoty, your instalment in złoty does not change, but the number of euros you need to cover it does. When the złoty strengthens, the instalment “in euros” goes up. A simple example: an instalment of PLN 4,000 is about EUR 930 at a rate of PLN 4.30, but about EUR 1,000 at a rate of PLN 4.00. Therefore:
- plan your instalment with a margin – no more than you could handle with a stronger złoty;
- keep a reserve of several instalments in złoty;
- check rates on the NBP website and the cost of currency exchange at your bank – the gap between the bank’s rate and the average rate is also a cost.
The rate in the example is illustrative; current average rates are published by Narodowy Bank Polski (the National Bank of Poland).
Income from abroad: which documents
- Employment contract or service contract and a certificate from your employer – with a sworn translation if the bank requires one.
- Statements from the account your pay goes into – usually for several to a dozen or so months.
- A tax return from the country where you declare the income, or a Polish PIT return if you file in Poland.
- Residence documents – with income from abroad, the bank asks where you actually live (see Mortgage and the residence card).
- Documents for the down payment and its source – with transfers from abroad, the bank and the notary may ask where the funds come from.
How to get a PESEL, a NIP and a Polish bank account: PESEL, NIP and a bank account for foreigners.
A mortgage in euros – is it possible?
The law does not prohibit a loan in a foreign currency if it is the currency of your income or assets. In practice, banks in Poland lend to private individuals mainly in złoty, and the offer in euros is narrow and depends on the bank. Buyers with income in euros more often choose a złoty loan with a margin for currency risk, or a larger down payment. When buying with cash from abroad, the transfers and the source of funds matter – we describe this in the article Buying a new flat in Warsaw as a foreigner.
How to improve your chances
- If you can – move your pay or the taxation of your income to Poland and build a history of several months of payments into a Polish account.
- Increase your down payment – a lower LtV reduces the risk for the bank.
- Consider a joint loan with someone who earns in Poland in złoty.
- Check your BIK report – your foreign credit history is not visible there.
- Choose a flat only after your capacity has been assessed – otherwise your reservation may fall through if the loan is refused.
How we help
Our mortgage advisers are listed in the register kept by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) – as agents of a mortgage credit intermediary; their help is free for the client. At a free consultation we will check which banks will count your foreign-currency income and to what extent, and calculate the instalment with a margin for the exchange rate. Only then do we select a flat – see apartments for PLN 800,000–1 million in Warsaw. Consultations are held in Polish, Russian and English.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a mortgage in Poland if I earn in euros?
It is possible, but it depends on the bank. The loan will most often be in złoty, and the bank will assess income in euros more cautiously. With income in several currencies, Recommendation S provides for a 50% discount on currencies other than the main one.
Can I take out a mortgage in euros?
The law allows it if you earn most of your income or hold most of your assets in euros. The offer from banks in Poland is narrow, however – we check it case by case.
Can I buy a flat in Poland with a mortgage while working abroad?
Some banks grant such loans, but the choice is narrow and the requirements for foreign documents are high. A higher down payment or a co-borrower with income in Poland often helps.
What is currency risk on a mortgage?
It is the risk that your instalment in złoty will cost you more in the currency you earn in when the złoty strengthens. It is worth planning the instalment with a margin and keeping a reserve.
Does rental income from a flat abroad count towards borrowing capacity?
Some banks take it into account, usually with a discount and after verifying the rental agreements and tax returns; others leave it out.
This article is for information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice or a credit offer. Bank terms change – we always confirm them before an application is submitted.
Sources and date of verification: 11.2026
- Ustawa o kredycie hipotecznym (Mortgage Credit Act) – consolidated text, Journal of Laws 2025 item 720 (Art. 6)
- KNF – Recommendation S, 2023 amendment (recommendations 6 and 6.1 – income in several currencies)
- NBP – average exchange rates
- BIK – your own report and a free copy of your data
- KNF – register of mortgage credit intermediaries and agents
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