Law / Retirees immigration regulations in Poland [34]


You're retired, which is enough for them. Poland isn't bothered about the why - they are only interested in the how - which means having enough money to support yourself.

The problem with this route is that you'll have to apply for temporary residence permits every year - and the cost of these soon adds up.

Work / POZNAN STANDARD EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS PACKAGES [2]


Normal? Absolutely nothing, apart from the work contract which entitles them to health care from the state.

Given that there is quite a decent supply of young, unemployed workers on a conveyor belt here, there really is no need to pay anything much in Poznan - you'll attract them without any trouble. Certainly among young "arts" graduates, jobs are very thin on the ground.

UK, Ireland / British or polish Passport ' Advice feedback [47]


Do you actually know much about the Polish countryside? Unlike the UK - the Polish countryside is often plagued with huge social problems, unemployment and very antiquated attitudes towards life. It often seems quite tranquil on first glance - but when you look beyond the first image, you can see huge problems bubbling under the surface. The education is very often sub-standard in the countryside too - the schools simply don't have the money to do much at all.

As for you personally - can you really afford to live in the rural countryside here?

Wildrover on here could tell you a fair few stories about what it's actually like to live in rural Poland.

UK, Ireland / British or polish Passport ' Advice feedback [47]


Very odd, I wonder where it's coming from? I'm looking now and can't find any reference to it at all - could be a local policy in Warsaw, maybe?

UK, Ireland / British or polish Passport ' Advice feedback [47]


Where did you get the age five thing from? There's nothing in British nationality law about the age - except the somewhat strange rules surrounding a British citizen who wasn't born in the UK passing on citizenship, in which case, you need to make sure that the child's birth is registered within 12 months. But it doesn't apply in this case.


They can if they meet certain criteria, usually that the parent has lived in the UK at some point - but as I understand it, every case is considered on its own merits. It's a stupid system - though I guess it stops South Africans and the like gaining easy British passports.


Even more clearly - when in Poland, if you have Polish citizenship, then you are Polish, end of story - irrespective of what else you might be.

It must be said - Polish citizenship law is much more straightforward!

Law / Retirees immigration regulations in Poland [34]

I'll have a look - but the Foreigners Office in Poznan has told me before that the criteria is all dependent on received income - they don't care where the income is from, as long as it is stable and reliable. Or of course - you simply have enough in the bank account to show them when you apply for residency.

Work / Moving to Poland from the USA. Question concerning CELTA certificate.I need help [32]


They're nothing but scare stories. Quite frankly put, anyone who puts the time and effort into it won't fail it - but if you go drinking every night after classes, then you will.

Law / Retirees immigration regulations in Poland [34]


I'm positive that you can - my understanding is that you can apply for residency on the basis of income received. But be aware that as living standards rise here, what is sufficient today may not be in 5 years time, especially if Poland adopts the Euro and prices start to dramatically rise.

UK, Ireland / British or polish Passport ' Advice feedback [47]


No, not at all. You can claim it whenever you want - unlike certain countries, Britain has no time limit on the claiming of British citizenship.

To the original poster - it really doesn't matter. She'll be a dual citizen from birth, as British citizenship will pass to her from you and Polish citizenship from the mother, irrespective of birthplace.

In terms of bureaucracy surrounding the birth - it'll be slightly easier to have the child in Poland if you intend to live there.

Law / Retirees immigration regulations in Poland [34]


Plus all the other benefits and tax credits.

Travel / WARSAW OLD-TOWN RESTAURANTS? [25]


I've never met him personally, but I've heard a few stories from different (unconnected) people, along with seeing a few things that made me really question his motives here. Then again, if his place is going down the pan like a few people have said, it's no surprise.

(certainly - it explains why he was trying to use HospitalityClub/CouchSurfing for a NYE party - obviously he wasn't going to get the business elsewhere!)

Indians are the same everywhere from what I can tell, it doesn't surprise me that the same old nonsense is going on in Warsaw too.


Either that, or people are seeing through the gimmicks?

Law / Retirees immigration regulations in Poland [34]


There will be, but I'm uncertain as to the rules. It is certainly possible, I know it's becoming a tempting option for retired Polonia as it's a much cheaper (and easier) place to live. There'll also be the usual health insurance restrictions however - which could be difficult.

Work / I got a job in Krakow for 3500 zl Brutto...is it ok ? [33]


That's the thing - for us foreigners, we very often find ourselves wanting more than we would have back home - for instance, living in a nicer flat, or eating in nicer restaurants.


I don't know how it's done either, but quite a few people in Poznan do just that. 1500 is almost a standard "graduation salary" for those who didn't study something that gives you the big bucks upon graduation.


You can't look at it like this though - for a start, most people living in half decent places will have partners taking in a decent salary too. 2000zl a month is nothing if you're taking in 8000zl a month netto. And if they don't have partners, they're far more likely to be sharing a place with someone, or living in a much cheaper place.


Berlin is bankrupt and quite frankly economically ****** though. No matter how hard they try, Berlin is still quite unappealing if you don't have a public sector job or if you're young - all the big business is really elsewhere. After all, look at how the German government had to beg and persuade DB to stay in Berlin!

Work / I got a job in Krakow for 3500 zl Brutto...is it ok ? [33]


You can do it for far less than that - basic costs can be covered on 1500zl a month easily.

Language / Etymology of samochod and other related automotive words [12]


Slovak would be easier. Or if you want a ridiculously simple Slavic language, choose Macedonian.

Travel / Staying in Krakow, any comfortable and good quality hotel? [20]


Do you really need to ask?

This isn't Belarus!

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]

Nah, you'll be fine - the most expensive I've seen here (for Poles) was 1249zl. Even my own course is only costing 1650zl, which isn't a bad deal!

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]


That's because the price is for English speaking materials and instruction. Poles pay around 1000zl or even less - I know one school doing courses for 900zl in Poznan.


Insurance as an additional driver - that'll be a few hundred quid. Lessons - 20 quid an hour bare minimum. Bear in mind that the UK test is very much about driving to the test - so driving with dad isn't going to cut it except for additional practice.

Poland : 112zl for both tests, 70ish for the licence, 1000zl for the course - not a bad deal at all.

The only real ripoff in the Polish system is the need for a sworn translator.

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]


I can't remember if they have to redo the test, I think so, but I'm not certain.

The nice thing about Poland is that if you lose your licence for whatever reason, you have to see a psychologist before being allowed back anywhere near the roads. It's a good idea - I have my doubts if it works well in practice, but it's certainly not a bad idea to psychologically analyse just why the idiot lost their licence and what they intend to do once they're back on the road.

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]


But who would want to drink any American alcohol anyway? ;)

(I remember, at the time of the Salt Lake City winter games, someone from the BBC tried to get into a bar with his passport and was similarly refused!)

Real Estate / Rights To Partners Flat In Poland - Cohabiting Agreement [21]


And to stress this - think for a second, if you take her to court in Poland, what's likely to happen? The foreigner who suddenly finds himself being accused of things he didn't do in a Polish court, where he doesn't understand the system isn't going to stand a chance.

Also - there's no guarantee that Polish property is a good investment. Just ask all those Brits who got their fingers burnt in Lodz...

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]


That's no disadvantage - a full Polish licence is far more useful than an American one.


Have a look on the WORD sites - I can't remember which one said it, but as Poland and America are both signatories to the Vienna Convention, it should be a straightforward matter.

Life / Car test..The Polish equivalent of the MOT [36]


It's not a problem for LHD vehicles, I mean, half the cars on the road are from Germany anyway ;)

Work / Quiet Place to teach English in Krakow ? [24]


And more to the point - Krakow is saturated with such "teachers" who think that being a native is enough to qualify them to teach - which frankly isn't true.

News / The EU's 1 Trillion Dollar Rescue Package [144]


Plenty of people do. I'm wondering exactly who you are teaching (though it explains why you complain on Dave's ESL about struggling to live on 3000-4000zl a month - you're obviously not doing well!) - but most of my clients own their own flats or houses quite comfortably. In fact, I can only count one of my clients who doesn't own her own place - and that's because she's a student.


Perhaps the fact that there isn't actually much housing stock, combined with the fact that it's more desirable in Poland to live in cities than in villages might have something to do with it?

Real Estate / Rights To Partners Flat In Poland - Cohabiting Agreement [21]


This sounds like a recipe for disaster - you overpay quite a bit in the beginning, so the payments are reduced quite a bit. Sensible, if you both own the place - but what happens if she refuses to let you put your name on the property after 18 months? Or worse still, what if she registers someone to the property (I can see that you're not familiar with this concept) who then refuses to leave when you want to sell up for a profit?

If you can't get the mortgage now, there's no guarantee that you'll be allowed to put your name on the mortgage in 18 months. Polish banks are notoriously funny like this - it's better to avoid complications and be a joint owner from the get go.

People on here have seen it all - especially with foreign men being burnt by Polish women. I'm not saying they're all nasty and evil, but if you're serious about buying a property, then you should get married. It'll cover your arse in more ways than one - and personally, I'd be a tad suspicious of a Polish woman who wants you to invest into her property without being married to you.


Of course, in 18 months time, she won't be able (surprise) to put you onto the mortgage but you'll keep paying. Meanwhile, she'll have a nice place in Poland that you're overpaying for - so even if she comes back with 50% paid off, 700-800zl a month for a mortgage isn't going to hurt her.

Really, sinking money into a property that you have no rights over is really, really stupid.

News / The EU's 1 Trillion Dollar Rescue Package [144]


Which is the entire point of the EU, so that people don't see themselves as paying for Italians, or Germans, or whatever - they pay for Europeans.

Most people with power realise that Europe cannot afford another war and that the only real solution is ever-closer integration. They're already talking about greater powers over countries to avoid a repeat of the Greek situation - no bad thing in my view.

Right now, my prediction is that we may see some countries dropping out of the Euro, but the countries that remain in will surrender more of their fiscal powers in exchange for stability.

Real Estate / Rights To Partners Flat In Poland - Cohabiting Agreement [21]


I'd actually go one further and say that you shouldn't allow her to have her name solely on the documents under any circumstances. Non-Polish nationals have it hard enough here - you're not likely to get any sort of cohabitation agreement recognised in Poland as well.

Even if you do jointly buy the place - do *not* let her register anyone to the property. It's okay if it is a genuine arms length deal, but stay well away from letting her register a friend or family member to the flat.

To be honest, there are better places to buy property than Poland.

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]


Yep, there's an attitude among many people that even if you're banned, it's just something to be ignored and not to be worried about. And people feel sympathy for drink drivers here, which is lunacy!


As I recall, if you hold an American licence, you just have to exchange the licence and sit the theory test (and presumably pay for the theory training). Quite painless.

Life / Driving test, English speaking driving school in Warsaw? [95]

Even that is way too weak though - I saw one TV programme where one twat had managed to pull off some incredibly stupid and dangerous driving - the kind of crap that would see you taken to court for careless driving as a bare minimum in the UK. The punishment? 11 points and a 500zl fine.