Real Estate / Renting an apartment in Poland - how much commission for the agency? [3]

gumtree.pl, but the site is in Polish
If you take an agency, they can also agree to 50% of the monthly rental fee, but it might depend on the agent you will be working with (in our case it worked and we paid 50% instead of originally requested 100%). I dont regret for having the agency "in the middle", because they were really helpful.

Law / Obtaining National VISA - Poland insurance requirements [9]

Hi Fonfon,
i can tell you that finally we didnt buy any additional insurance... my husband just presented the evidence of medical insurance provided by his company (Luxmed), and nobody told us a word...

In general, now when I understand a bit more about how things work here, I can tell you the following: when you start working in Poland (and pay taxes), you will be automatically insured and will be eligible for medical help like any other citizen (the same applies to your family members, i.e. wife, children). But in case you dont start your employment contract immediately on the date of your arrival, then it makes sense to arrange travel insurance for the period before the employment starts, so you have coverage (if anything happens during that period, God forbid).

Please note that private medical insurance (which is often offered by employers) such as Luxmed, Medicover, etc... is not an ultimate solution, because they would rather provide you outpatient service, but can not offer the same medical assistance as a real hospital (for example, if you need a serious surgery). Therefore you'd better arrange a private insurance, until you are eligible for the National insurance coverage.

Travel / Health Insurance in Poland for EU citizens for a travel trip? [7]

Yes, thank you. In the link you sent me there is a list of EU-countries and corresponding links for each country with all the local rules. I already e-mailed her the german regulations. Many thanks for your help!

Travel / Health Insurance in Poland for EU citizens for a travel trip? [7]

Thanks a lot! Very helpful information!

Love / Dating a Polish man - how to impress his mother? [51]


I think this remark says it all about your mother in law... that is about character, and it will not change, unfortunately, so don't bank on it.

why should you make any efforts to learn polish, and please his mother, if she doesn't even know to value and compliment, to encourage you, but does exactly the opposite! Disgusting behavior.

I was in pretty similar situation: it is just that in our case it was even worse - neither of my parents in law accepted me... I also was not of the "right" nationality (in my case I was not german enough :-) ...), and I cooked in a wrong way, etc....... but my husband sustained all the attempts from their side to block our relationship, he just put it in a way - either you want it or not, that is my decision and you either accept it or ......

After more than 10 years of very complicated relationship with his family, I can only suggest few things.
If your husband will try to argue with his parents about you - it might not help much, but on the contrary, can lead to additional tension. Be ready for that. I also dreamt about my husband asking his parents to stop that bullsh..t against me, but at the end of the day when he did it - their reaction was like explosion...huge scandal, "how dare you? who are you? who is she? …" he ceased talking with his parents for a few years after that incident.

It is not to say that the same “show” must be in your case, but just to warn you that sometimes people react very heavily...

If you feel unbearably bad when meeting with his mother - just reduce your communication with her to the very necessary minimum. If you are really interested to keep your relationship with the current boyfriend, just accept that those are his parents, as they are, and you stop worrying about what they think about you. The most important is only what happens between you and your boyfriend.

Real Estate / Polish Nieruchomości (real estate) commission madness! [25]

If you don't speak Polish and your friend is not lawyer - then I can tell you from my own experience that I reluctantly (but with understanding) paid the real estate agent for helping us to find a flat 50% of the monthly rental fee. Today I don't regret that we had their help, and I saw that they really worked on our contract (came with us to the meetings with owner few times, until we came to an agreement about everything), made very detailed description of even small imperfections found in the flat, before we signed a contract). The agency took care of settling all the formalities with the flat-owner, plus negotiated for us additional equipment we wanted to have (and of course provided rental agreement in both English & Polish).

I also tried Gumtree, Gratka (and many others), but the best "assortment" was presented by agencies.

Travel / Snow in Zakopane in Summer? [13]

Merged: Summer holidays in Zakopane

Hi,

We are living in Warsaw, and planning to take 1 week in August for family vacations. Our children are 10, 8 & 2.5 years old.
I wonder if Zakopane & surroundings would be a good choice in our case?
Besides extremely beautiful nature seen on various pictures, what else this area has to offer for families with kids during summer-period?

If you have any additional ideas for active holidays (child-oriented) in other areas of Poland - will gladly accept your recommendations :-)

Thanks a lot!

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

Olaf, thanks a lot!

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

thank you. In terms of procedure there is a lot information, but I also would like to understand how and if it's possible to speed up the process? Probably some forum-members can share their personal experience :-)

Work / Poland Work Permit / Study Visa Processing Times [191]

[Moved from]: Work permit in Poland (how long does it take?)

Dear All,

would appreciate your advice - what is the procedure and how long it might take to get work permit in Poland, in case I already hold National "D"-type visa for 1 year and currently stay in Poland? I have a job-offer, and would like to start asap - is there any way to accelerate the process?

Many thanks!

Law / 'Karta Pobytu' & long-term visa [27]

Many thanks for all the comments


Sorry for the ignorance, but what is PESEL?

Law / 'Karta Pobytu' & long-term visa [27]

Harry, he got the visa already, but the Consulate granted it only until the end of May 2012...4 months.

Law / 'Karta Pobytu' & long-term visa [27]

I'm quite sure that I'm mixed up...this issue is very new to me...
The employer applied for the work permit of my husband, and already got it. It was also transferred to the Consulate in order to get the visa. The issue is that the employer was absolutely sure that my husband will get visa for 1 year.

My husband is of german origin, although he doesn't hold german citizenship at this moment (he is in the process to restore it, but it will take another few months to get the "ausweis", and he starts working in February, so until then he will need this Visa, karta pobytu or whatever it is...)

Law / 'Karta Pobytu' & long-term visa [27]


sorry, I haven't seen this sentence first time I read your message
I understand that visa and "karta pobytu" are 2 different things, although both of them legalize someone's stay in Poland for certain period.

what I'm trying to figure out is - does "karta pobytu" gives you any advantages as a resident vs standard working visa?

Law / 'Karta Pobytu' & long-term visa [27]

thank you for the input

is there any difference in rights for those who holds long-term visa and those who have the residence card?

Law / 'Karta Pobytu' & long-term visa [27]

what is the difference between long-term visa and 'Karta Pobuty', from legal and practical point of view?

Law / Obtaining National VISA - Poland insurance requirements [9]

Hi Sandeep, thank you for your input.
It sounds frightening...does it mean that we have to pay 5 person x 12K each?

I still can not understand - this costly insurance is the same medical insurance, or is it something else?

Work / Monthly income for family - Warsaw [71]

Pip, thanks for your detailed answer


so I conclude that in case you come as a private customer and pay on the spot - you get much better attitude...

but I assume that in case of hospitalization or surgery in their clinics - it might be too costly without insurance package?

Work / Monthly income for family - Warsaw [71]

Thanks to all for your inputs.


could you pls explain the difference between basic package and the full coverage in a few words? what are the important things which appear in "full coverage", and are missing in the basic package?

The company offers 2 options - Medicover or LuxMed - can you say anything about those two?

Work / Monthly income for family - Warsaw [71]


Boy is 9.5 and girl is 7.5
which private schools we should consider? but again, from previous feedbacks I got an impression that no private schools are available under 2,000PLN/month/per child.

Is that is the minimum rate - our budget will not stand it :-(

Work / Monthly income for family - Warsaw [71]


which neighbourhoods in Warsaw are considered good for families with children? can you recommend please?

Work / Monthly income for family - Warsaw [71]

thanks to all for so many comments, i'm starting to learn...


so I understand that I have to start looking for good public school, if looking realistically on the numbers...private schools we won't be able to cover

I would not mind them starting to learn in the public school, but they have "zero"-knowledge of Polish, and I'm afraid that even though they are young and learn quickly, it might be shocking experience to start from the scratch in unfamiliar environment.

Is there any special support for foreign children when it comes to Polish language studies?

Work / Monthly income for family - Warsaw [71]

hi, no need to show off the status... the main concern is about children's education expenses