Law / No residency permit or PESEL number - worried that I'm here illegally [15]


Jon, what do you understand under that one? Because, the more years I live in Poland, the more people I meet who have different ID docs....

Never heard of that EU residents' card...I have that salmon-pink flimsy piece of paper which tells you have a permanent right of residency - but itself is only valid for 10 years.

But which is not a karta pobytu, and from what I heard very few people have this.

In the past I had a karta pobytu, the plastic one.
And Harry way back mentioned something about having got something printed on a white A4 (I could be mistaken here) ?

And then my Canadian friend has something called "European Card" which looks like a karta pobytu but is still something else :)

Law / No residency permit or PESEL number - worried that I'm here illegally [15]


I am already here quite a long time, I have a PESEL. Frankly speaking my life here would have been much more difficult without having one.


I am little bit surprised by this. Living here on a passport only for example would be - I think - impossible.
Did you ever try to get for example a mobile phone or internet contract on the basis of not having any residence documents?
Or to import your car into Poland?
And how did you manage to get registered for voting?

Anyway, I always prefered to have my paperwork (Pesel, Nip, meldunek...) in order since day one I arrived here.
I admit it caused me many frustrations way back, but that's all behind me since some years.

Law / Looking for a shipping agent based in or around Warsaw [3]

This has to be a genuine world record for a senseless posting.... Shipping agent for cargo where/from? What kind of cargo? When? Means of transport?

Travel / Want to know Hotel with Escort services in Poland [21]

Exactly.
I often wonder if they would try to do the same back home in the UK, USA....Do they come to Poland specifically for this purpose? If yes, disgusting because it shows how they think of Polish females. If not, sad as well.

Classifieds / D&D Group for Expats in Warsaw needs one more player... [69]

If you have to make friends this way....very. very poor.

Genealogy / Military Archives are temporarily closed, is there some other way of getting information? [7]

You would have to go to Rembertów for that one.
Or check with the Army Museum?

Travel / Best way to get from Metro Mlociny to Chopin Airport? [22]


It is just a matter of getting out of the metro, go the direction of Warszawa Centralna, and directly descend to Warszawa Śródmieście.

Travel / Best way to get from Metro Mlociny to Chopin Airport? [22]


Honestly speaking I also would opt for the train. Much more comfortable as the 175 bus. No hassle at all.

Travel / Best way to get from Metro Mlociny to Chopin Airport? [22]

It would be best for the OP to buy a 90-minute ticket, to be on the safe side. The price difference is not so big, and no problems with greedy ticket inspectors.

175 goes only 4 times per hour, so he could otherwise already loose 15 minutes just by waiting.

And be careful for your bags - 175 is supposedly popular with pickpockets - at least that's what I heard.

Law / Is there a difference between karta pobytu and Europa card? [15]

And very good they do this.
In my view they should come without telling in advance.

Travel / Best way to get from Metro Mlociny to Chopin Airport? [22]


Jon, from this year, only one ticket is necessary. It is valid for 70 minutes, with unlimited stops. 70 minutes should be enough from Metro Młociny to the airport.

ztm.waw.pl/?c=516&l=1

Unfortunately this link is in Polish, but it states clearly that you can buy a 70-minute ticket (City) or a 90-minute ticket (city and suburban). Should be enough to get from Młociny to the airport.

P.S. Crow, maybe you could enlighten us about the sarmatian influence on Warsaw ticket tariffs? After all you seem to be very informed about everything Polish?

News / Parliament in Poland clears way for nuclear plant [78]


As always you have a prime understanding about Poland, not hindered by any real knowledge about this country...


Perhaps it should be a sarmatian project?


Perhaps you could share this information...where in the world cold-fission reactors are operating? In your warped Jedwabne mind that must be in Israel for sure.

Travel / Visiting Warsaw In April - museums / galleries? [14]


I have been there once. Looked like something out of "Dynasty". Dreadfully new-rich and show-off...Like Paparazzi (don't know if it still exists) and that show-off place in the Sheraton.

Give me the viewing terrace on St. Anna's anytime, and a stroll to my expat-free pub.

Law / Is there a difference between karta pobytu and Europa card? [15]

I think she means the "European Card", which is issued to non-EU citizens who reside in Poland for 5 (?) years or more, who have a job etc....

I think it gives you the right to work here without problems, e.g. not needing a work permit (and residence permit) for every new job.

It entitles them to stay in Poland. A Canadian friend of mine use to have it.

Travel / Visiting Warsaw In April - museums / galleries? [14]


Though a bit far-off if you don't have a car...That said and done we often go there in Summer...
The University Botanical Gardens on Ujazdowski are much closer by and also worth going to.


I never liked Zachęta...they always want - as in my opinion all modern art museums try - to show how brave they can be with showing empty air and proclaiming to be art.


John, let's be honest...The museum is good for 45 minutes max...and then...? Though the park is really nice...I never thought it to be a winner...

Love / I am in a serious relationship with a girl i met on-line from Poland - advice needed [19]


Gives you to think about how the OP was serious...3 days ago he planned to live in Poland, sell all his possessions in Down Under etc.. for somebody he never ever met in real life, who barely is 20 yrs old...And now the whole show migrated to the US....??? And still for the same internet babe?

Anyway, I would advise everybody who head over heels wants to move to Poland for his/her partner...to come and stay here for some considerable time (as f stop wrote), including winter....and then make a decision...

Law / I have an Israeli Driving License. What do I have to do to get a Polish driving license? [19]


A driving license is not an ID card. You can want everything until hell freezes over, but it won't work.
Israel is not in the EU, meaning your driving license has zero value in the EU.
No EU country would accept a driving license as a substitute for an ID card. (would yours, by the way?)

Life / Are there any Muslim areas in Poland? [173]


So why did you come to Poland in the first place?

News / Does Poland support the idea of Slavic unity? [129]


You mean we all - non serb, non imaginary sarmatian, non balkan (Btw Bismarck had a wonderful idea about the balkans...build a wall around it and forget it)...We all have to start in this case to use mass rape as a political tool? Too bad NATO did not bomb you back into the Stone Age.

Love / Do I need to be Confirmed in order to get married in the Catholic church in Poland? [41]


I do not get this one...If you marry let's say at the pałac slubny in Warszawa Stare Miasto...you are legally married, wherever you go later on...If you decide to do a repeat in church that's your business, isn't it?

Main thing is to have the legal paperwork done?

Travel / Pub Quiz in Warsaw? [19]


But then, I very much prefer gastronauci.pl, which gives a local intake. Lots of places mentioned there are not even known on the expat fora

Love / Do I need to be Confirmed in order to get married in the Catholic church in Poland? [41]

I do not agree with you on that point. There is no state religion in Poland. If you marry your beloved one in your local pałac ślubny, you are married and that is it.

Travel / Pub Quiz in Warsaw? [19]

This confirms me what I since ages think about InYourPocket and other expat product placement publications. They pretend that bar is the best ever happened to Warsaw...Suddenly Bradley's is not the place to be anymore....I suppose it has to do with the editors not getting any freebies anymore...

Love / Do I need to be Confirmed in order to get married in the Catholic church in Poland? [41]


So people who got married in the Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican...church are not married at all?

Law / How to get a private NIP number in Poland (for a foreigner) ? [28]


From my own experience, I would say...all communication with ZUS for example...
And if you want to apply for a Karta Warszawiaka as a foreigner (I know this does not concern you) your NIP is also necessary.

Law / I was fined for not having a tram ticket in Poland. How does this affect me? [68]

Still, if you don't have a valid ticket, pay up. For me it is simple.
Btw, when I see them on the bus/tram/metro they always work in pairs.Maybe I missed out the third one during all these years?

Speaking of having to pay up...a few years ago on a 15th August on the intersection of Leśmiana and Kasprowicza here in Bielana, I crossed the street when the pedestrian light was red. Absolutely deserted streets, empty dzielnica...Just I did not see the police car approaching. Got fined 100 PLN, which I had to pay by bank transfer within a few days. It was clearly a situation where they were waiting for me. But I thought "stuff them", and did not pay.

But unlike our friend with the invalid ticket, they found me out. One year later I got a nice letter from my bank, that on order of the Urząd Miasta they would have to block my bank account if I did not regulate the fine asap.

So I grudgingly had to pay...in the end...

Law / I was fined for not having a tram ticket in Poland. How does this affect me? [68]


And where does that leave us, law-abiding citizens who faithfully pay for their karta miejska every month?
Looking like fools? If yes, I prefer to look like a fool.

I could easily talk Dutch to a policeman and show him my Belgian ID card...but I prefer not to.

I hope they put a mark behind your name in every possible EU database.

Law / I was fined for not having a tram ticket in Poland. How does this affect me? [68]

You "forgot" your karta miejska expired. if we local people do this we have to pay up. Why should you be different?

Love / Partner wants me to come to Poland? [21]

But as we all know, Iron is the definitive authority on everything concerning contemporary Poland.

Life / How do the Polish feel about air pollution in their cities? [35]

Maybe Crow, Iron or Kondzior could shed a light on this one? After all they all consider themselves experts on Polish society?