Mortgage and the residence card – temporary, permanent, EU resident, pending, visa
Author: Tacjana MasiukiewiczFor foreigners~7 min read
In short: in Poland a foreigner can get a mortgage with a temporary residence card, a permanent residence card or EU long-term resident status, and an EU citizen – with registered residence. The longer and more stable your residence status, the more banks will accept the application: people with permanent residence and EU long-term residents have it easiest, while those in the middle of extending their stay or on a visa have it hardest. Before you choose a flat, check with an expert which banks will accept your document; the down payment starts at 10%, ideally 20%.
Updated: November 2026. Prepared by: TM Invest team.
Key facts
- Temporary residence – a permit for max. 3 years; the bank checks the card’s expiry date and the basis of your stay.
- Permanent residence – an indefinite permit, the card is replaced every 10 years; the closest position to a Polish citizen.
- EU long-term resident – an indefinite permit, the card is replaced every 5 years.
- Extension in progress (stamp in your passport) – your stay is legal, but some banks will wait for the new card.
- Visa or visa-free travel – a mortgage is possible only in exceptional cases.
Why the bank asks about your residence card
A mortgage is usually repaid over 25–30 years. Recommendation S (Rekomendacja S) of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority requires the bank, when setting the loan term, to take into account the borrower’s ability to earn an income for that whole period. For a foreigner this question is tied to the right of residence: the bank wants to know whether you will be able to live and work in Poland legally. That is why the rules for accepting residence documents differ from bank to bank – and are not always public.
You do not need a residence card to buy the flat itself – a foreigner usually buys a self-contained flat without a permit from the Ministry of the Interior (MSWiA) (Buying a flat as a foreigner). It also works the other way round: buying a flat does not give you a right of residence, as we explain in the article Buying a flat and the residence card.
Apartments for PLN 800k – 1M: Warsaw and Wrocław
Developments with available apartments for PLN 800k – 1M. A mortgage expert will work out the instalment and borrowing capacity for the flat you choose.
Apartamenty Metro Wilanowska
Osiedle Bokserska 71
Kijowska Vita
Swobodna Living
By budget: Apartments for PLN 800k – 1M in Warsaw · Premium apartments from PLN 1.5M in Warsaw · Apartments for PLN 800k – 1M in Wrocław · Premium apartments from PLN 1.5M in Wrocław
Mortgage: Free consultation with a mortgage expert
Types of residence and a mortgage – table
| Residence status | For how long | How the bank usually sees it | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit (temporary card) | Max. 3 years, the card – for the period of the permit | Accepted by many banks; what counts is the remaining validity and the basis (work, business, family) | Card expires in a few months – apply for the next permit first |
| CUKR card (former UKR status holders) | 3 years | Like a regular temporary card | Details in a separate guide |
| Permanent residence permit | Indefinite, card valid for 10 years | The best position, close to a Polish citizen’s | Keep an eye on the card replacement date |
| EU long-term resident | Indefinite, card valid for 5 years | A very good position | Keep an eye on the card replacement date |
| EU/EEA/Swiss citizen | Right of residence; after 5 years – right of permanent residence | Usually like a Polish citizen, with income in Poland | A stay longer than 3 months must be registered |
| Proceedings in progress (stamp in your passport) | Legal stay until the final decision | Some banks will accept the application, others will wait for the card | Depends on the bank; we check case by case |
| National visa or visa-free travel | Usually up to a year, or 90 days in 180 | Usually too short for a 25–30-year loan | A cash purchase or a joint loan with someone with stable status is more realistic |
Temporary residence card
This is the most common situation among our clients from abroad. A temporary residence permit is issued for the period needed to fulfil the purpose of the stay, but for no longer than 3 years (Article 98(2) of the Act on Foreigners). The bank usually checks:
- how many months are left until the card expires – requirements vary, so if your card expires within a few months it is better to apply for the next permit first;
- the basis of your stay – work, business activity, family reunification, studies; the bank assesses whether your income will be lasting;
- your residence history – whether successive permits were extended without gaps.
The loan term can be longer than the card’s validity – this is the bank’s decision, not a legal rule. Details: Mortgage with a temporary residence card.
Permanent residence and EU long-term resident
Both permits are granted for an indefinite period – only the card is replaced: every 10 years for permanent residence and every 5 years for EU long-term residents (Article 243 of the Act on Foreigners). For the bank these are the strongest residence statuses, and the application is usually assessed much like a Polish citizen’s. If you already meet the conditions – for example 5 years of legal, uninterrupted stay for EU long-term resident status – changing your status before the mortgage may widen your choice of banks.
No card: extension of stay in progress
If you file your application for the next permit on time and without formal gaps, your stay is legal from the day of filing until the day the decision becomes final – this is confirmed by a stamp in your passport (Article 108 of the Act on Foreigners). The proceedings can, however, take many months. Some banks will accept a mortgage application on the basis of the stamp and your previous card; others will wait for the new card. This is one of the situations where it is worth asking an expert before you sign a reservation agreement.
Visa and visa-free travel
A person staying in Poland on a visa or under visa-free travel usually has too short a residence horizon for a bank to lend over several decades. Solutions can include buying with your own funds, a joint loan with a spouse who has stable status, or postponing the purchase until you obtain a residence permit. We write about buying without a mortgage and buying remotely in the article Buying a new flat in Warsaw as a foreigner.
Beyond the residence card
The residence document opens the door to an application, but the loan amount is decided by your borrowing capacity: your income in Poland and its form, your BIK history, other instalments and your down payment. Recommendation S assumes a 20% down payment, or 10% with additional security. The bank may expect more from someone with a shorter right of stay. We have gathered which banks publicly describe their rules for foreigners in the overview Banks offering mortgages to foreigners.
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 accept your residence status and what amount they will realistically finance. Only then do we select flats – for example in the PLN 800,000–1 million segment in Warsaw. Consultations are held in Polish, Russian and English.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a mortgage with a temporary residence card?
Yes, many banks accept a temporary residence card. Requirements for remaining validity, length of employment and income depend on the bank – we check them individually before an application is submitted.
Does a permanent residence card give better loan terms?
It usually gives a wider choice of banks and a simpler assessment, because the permit is indefinite. The interest rate and margin, however, depend on the bank’s offer and your borrowing capacity, not just on your status.
Can I apply for a mortgage while waiting for a new residence card?
A stay with a stamp in your passport is legal, but some banks will wait for the new card. It is worth checking this before reserving a flat.
Does an EU citizen need a residence card for a mortgage?
No card is needed, but a stay longer than 3 months must be registered; the bank will usually also ask for a PESEL number and income in Poland.
Can you get a mortgage on a visa?
Rarely – a visa gives too short a residence horizon. More often, a purchase with your own funds or a joint loan with someone with stable status is possible.
This article is for information only and does not constitute legal 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 cudzoziemcach (Act on Foreigners) – consolidated text, Journal of Laws 2025 item 1079 (Art. 98, Art. 108, Art. 243)
- Office for Foreigners (gov.pl) – residence permits
- KNF – Recommendation S (loan term, down payment)
- Ustawa o kredycie hipotecznym (Mortgage Credit Act) – consolidated text, Journal of Laws 2025 item 720
- KNF – register of mortgage credit intermediaries and agents
TM Invest team
Talk to a mortgage expert
We will check your borrowing capacity, compare offers from several banks and guide you through the application until the loan agreement is signed.
See how much home you could afford →
- Free for the client
- Mortgage adviser registered with the KNF
- We also help foreigners; consultations in Polish, Russian and English
Prefer to talk? +48 573 568 888 · WhatsApp
