Mortgage in Poland with a Temporary Residence Card (karta czasowego pobytu) in 2026
Author: Tacjana MasiukiewiczMortgages~8 min read
A foreigner with a temporary residence card (karta czasowego pobytu) can get a mortgage in Poland, but the bank will assess the application more cautiously than for someone with permanent residence: a temporary residence permit is issued for 3 years at most, while a mortgage runs for 25–30 years. Besides income, the bank therefore looks at how long the card will remain valid, how long you have worked in Poland and whether you have a PESEL number. This article narrows the general guide mortgage in Poland for foreigners down to the most common single situation: a temporary residence card.
In brief
- A temporary residence permit is issued for a period of up to 3 years (work, study, family, running a business), so the bank has to judge whether you will keep earning in Poland for the whole term of the loan.
- Formally, a temporary card does not rule out a mortgage: mBank's terms, for example, allow foreigners with a fixed-term residence permit, and Alior Bank allows foreigners who earn in Poland and live in Poland.
- Thresholds (minimum remaining validity of the card, length of employment, down payment) are set by each bank and can change without notice. Check them in the bank's information form (ESIS) and with an adviser rather than in "best banks for foreigners" lists.
- The minimum down payment under KNF Recommendation S is 20%, or 10% with additional security; with a temporary card a bank may ask for more.
- At the median price of a 2-room flat in Wroclaw in our catalogue (PLN 646,520, as of 4 October 2026), a 20% down payment is about PLN 129,000, the loan about PLN 517,000 and the instalment at 6.07% over 30 years about PLN 3,124.
What the bank checks when you hold a temporary residence card
On top of the standard creditworthiness assessment (see borrowing capacity in Poland 2026), the bank asks a foreigner a few additional questions:
- Validity of the card. The longer the permit still runs, the calmer the bank is about the risk that you lose the right to stay during repayment. Some banks set a minimum validity from the date of the application; the length depends on the bank and changes over time.
- Purpose of stay. Work, business, study and family reunification are different risk profiles for a bank. See the table below.
- PESEL and an account with a Polish bank. Without a PESEL number most banks will not accept a mortgage application. Salary paid into a Polish account makes it easier to document income. See PESEL, NIP and a bank account before buying a flat.
- Income in zloty and its stability. The Mortgage Act allows a loan only in the currency in which you earn most of your income. If you work in Poland, that is the zloty.
- Employment history and BIK. If you have just arrived you may have no credit history in BIK. This is not negative, but the bank has less data about you.
Temporary residence card and source of income: table
| Your situation | What the bank usually assesses | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Employment contract (stay and work permit) | Type of contract, time with the current employer, salary, card validity | An open-ended contract is usually viewed more favourably than a fixed-term one; ask the bank what length of service it needs |
| Own business (sole trader, B2B) | Track record of the business, income in tax returns, form of taxation | Banks usually want a longer track record than for employees; see mortgage for sole traders and B2B |
| Stay for study | Income from work in Poland (if any), card validity | For a bank this is usually the least stable situation; often only a change of status helps |
| Family reunification (e.g. a spouse) | Income of each borrower, status of the co-borrower | The fact that the authority did not require income for the permit does not change the bank's assessment; a joint application with a person of stable status is common |
Documents for a mortgage with a temporary card
The list is close to what Polish citizens need, with a few additions. For a full list by form of employment see documents for a mortgage in Poland.
- passport and residence card (the bank may ask for your application for an extension if you filed it before the card expired);
- PESEL number;
- employer's certificate of employment and earnings or, for a business, tax returns and certificates from ZUS and the tax office;
- bank statements for recent months (usually 3–6, depending on the bank);
- a document confirming your down payment and where it comes from;
- a sworn translation of documents in a foreign language. When it is needed is explained in sworn translator at a Polish notary.
Example: a 2-room flat in Wroclaw
According to the TM Invest catalogue as of 4 October 2026, the median price of a 2-room flat in Wroclaw is PLN 646,520 (median area 41.1 m²). We calculate the instalment at the average interest rate on new residential loans in zloty according to the NBP, 6.07% in July 2026, and, for the creditworthiness test, with a 2.5 percentage point buffer and a 25-year term, as in Recommendation S.
| Option | Down payment | Loan amount | Instalment (6.07%, 30 years) | Test instalment for creditworthiness (8.57%, 25 years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% down payment | PLN 129,304 | PLN 517,216 | about PLN 3,124 | about PLN 4,189 |
| 10% down payment | PLN 64,652 | PLN 581,868 | about PLN 3,515 | about PLN 4,713 |
For a foreigner with a short right of stay, a larger down payment often improves the chance of approval. If your budget is smaller, see new flats in Wroclaw or investments in Warsaw; we update prices and availability daily.
What to do if your card expires soon
Sort out your residence first, the flat second. If the card expires within a few months, file for the next permit before it ends and ask the bank how it treats a card with an extension application pending. Do not sign a reservation agreement or a developer agreement until you know the bank will consider your application: the reservation fee is refundable only on the terms of the agreement (see reservation agreement with a developer). The order of steps when buying with a mortgage is in mortgage in Poland step by step.
Not sure which bank will accept your type of permit and contract? Book a consultation with a mortgage expert. We will compare offers from several banks for your status before you apply. The consultation and the selection of offers are free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a mortgage with a temporary residence card?
Yes, but not at every bank and not on the same terms as with permanent residence. The terms of some banks expressly allow a fixed-term residence permit (for example mBank), and the result depends on the assessment of the individual application: income, length of service, card validity and down payment.
How long must the temporary card be valid for the bank to accept the application?
There is no single rule. It is each bank's policy, and the bank may change it. Ask the bank or a mortgage adviser for the current requirement before choosing a flat.
Can the loan run for 30 years if the card is valid for 3 years?
Yes. A shorter card validity does not shorten the loan, but the bank assesses whether you will extend your stay and keep earning in Poland for the whole repayment period. Length of service, type of contract and earlier permit extensions matter.
Do I need a PESEL number?
In practice yes. Most banks will not accept a mortgage application without a PESEL number.
Do I need a bigger down payment than a Polish citizen?
Recommendation S sets the same limits for everyone (20%, or 10% with additional security), but a bank may require more from someone with a short right of stay. More on the down payment: mortgage down payment in Poland.
Summary
A temporary residence card does not close the door on a mortgage, but it takes preparation: a PESEL number, an account with a Polish bank, stable income in zloty, a sensible down payment and a well-planned card extension. Terms and thresholds differ between banks, so compare them on ESIS forms for identical parameters. Once you know your budget we can also help with buying a flat from a developer, in most cases without a commission for you, because the developer usually pays our fee.
Position as of 4 October 2026. Bank requirements come from their public terms and may change. The calculations are indicative and are neither a credit offer nor legal advice; the decision is made by the bank after assessing the application.
Sources
- Mortgage Act (Ustawa o kredycie hipotecznym), consolidated text (art. 6, 21, 23).
- KNF, Recommendation S: down payment, interest rate buffer, loan term.
- Act on Foreigners (Ustawa o cudzoziemcach), consolidated text, Dz.U. 2025 item 1079 (validity periods of temporary residence permits).
- Temporary residence permit, gov.pl (Zielona Linia): purposes of stay and the maximum period of 3 years.
- mBank, terms for mortgage loans, in force from 15 January 2025.
- Alior Bank, "Megahipoteka" loan terms, for agreements concluded from 10 June 2023.
- NBP, interest rate statistics (MIR): new residential loans in PLN, July 2026.
- Flat prices: TM Invest investment catalogue, Wroclaw, as of 4 October 2026.
